How do I fight off the nervousness as a New Nursing Student?

neldel · Jun 26, 2012

For me, it's the unknown that is making me anxious. There are so many unknowns before nursing school starts...even before my orientation next month. Unknowns about the schedule, books, uniform, classes, to name a few. I am expecting that it will take a little while to get my feet wet, and then I'll be too busy to be anxious!

In two years (or so) when we are all graduating from our programs and preparing for our NCLEX, we will laugh over the fact that we were nervous over even starting nursing school.

bribrimuffins · Jun 26, 2012

I'm super nervous too. Luckily I know 2 other people in my program already

KristeyK · Jun 26, 2012

You won't laugh about being nervous about NS, you'll be laughing over WHAT it was you were nervous about. LOL. I'm six GLORIOUS weeks from graduation and can't believe the things I was nervous about, and the stuff I wasn't. HA HA HA.

Try your best to get organized, keep up with your homework, and EAT HEALTHY!!! Yeah, throw in some junk, but eat some fruit and fresh veggies everyday. When you get your reading assignments, take it with a grain of salt. You will NEVER get it all done. (I don't know ANYONE in my program who ever managed to get all their reading done.) You'll soon figure out what you need to do to learn and retain the knowledge.

GOOD LUCK!!!

kcortez87 · Jun 26, 2012

I am starting BC RN program too, fall 2012!! I feel your nervousness!!!

lovedijah · Jun 26, 2012

I start in August. For me it helps to think about what I'm nervous about and decide if I can do anything about it.

I'm nervous about the math involved. Im going to borrow a math book and go over conversions to get a head start.

I'm worried about money. I'm probably just going to take out a small loan so I'm not worried about having gas money to get to school.

Figure out what you're nervous about and then try to do something about it. If you're just overall nervous and cant pinpoint.. I don't know. I guess it happens to the best of us. This too shall pass. :heartbeat

GreenEyedPeas1 · Jun 28, 2012

I could have written this post myself! I am so nervous too! I start August 27th and I am freaking out. I just want to do so well and hearing how hard it is scares me to death! We should make a thread for us starting in Fall 2012. We can help each other throughout the bumps... IF we even have time :uhoh3:

SBJustBreathe, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

Heyo classmate! I'm starting BC in the Fall too. I'm nervous/excited too. Just remember you're not alone. There are 59 other students in your class who are most likely going through this too. Inhale, exhale. Relax and try to enjoy the rest of your Summer. This is going to be a learning experience and it's something that can only happen one day at a time.

kcortez87 · Jun 28, 2012

I agree with all you ! We should start a fall 2012 thread!!

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2012

You will be nervous, to one degree or another, until you graduate nursing school. First, you'll be nervous about the program and your newness. Next, you'll be nervous about the overwhelming amount of work. After you've gotten used to all that, you'll be nervous about exams, finals, clinicals, care plans, concept maps, pharmacology, pathophysiology, studying, and everything else in the world. The day you pass your NCLEX, you will be nervous about your first day as an RN. You probably won't stop being nervous until you've been an RN for at least six months. I'm about to be a second year student, and I graduate in less than a year, and I'm still nervous about some things.

Crazed · Jun 29, 2012

I think the best way to minimize nervousness is simply to be prepared.

I started reviewing NCLEX questions a year before I started. Looking at the rationals for the questions helped me understand the pattern in the test questions. Because I understood them I didn't struggle nearly as much as some of my peers.

I also took time out for myself. There were some days during my first semester where I said, "Nope I am going to go watch Drag Race because I need a break." I didn't cram for exams, I took notes, I read, and in some cases, reread material, and then formulated my own questions based on my notes and reading. (This is very helpful for terms)

As far as clinicals and patients I have a background in sales so it was much easier for me to interact than a lot of people. I understood that even as a student I did have the majority of the power in the dynamic between me and my patient and I always tried to find the answer before heading to my clinical instructor. They tend to react better when you say something like, "I was looking over the labs for this patient and this value could mean this or this, am I missing something?" rather than, "Hand this answer to me please."

Keep in mind that everyone is nervous, everyone is scared, and having previous medical experience sometimes isn't helpful because a good deal of currently working students have picked up bad habits. (i.e. my clinical friend who works as a CNA in a nursing home has a very hard time not calling patients dear, sweetheart, honey, etc, and she did get dinged for it more than once.)

Understand that you are under no obligation to share your scores with other students, talking to other students before a test WILL freak you out, and know that it is a process. You will not be amazing right out of the gate, it will take time, and even after you graduate it will take at least 18 months for you to start feeling comfortable.

Oh, and always raise the bed, and then lower it when you leave, and treat HIPPA seriously. :)

veggie530 · Jun 29, 2012

Just don't sweat it. The best way to get un-nervous is to always be well-prepared and be ready to dive in face first, guns blazing.

Remember, everyone else in the program is brand new too -- only a select few will have any meaningful clinical experience.

SBJustBreathe, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2012

Never mind :-x