I don't know if I want to stay in nursing school

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Hello everyone I am in my first semester in nursing school. I was hoping for some advice on here. Before I was accepted I was so excited to start school. Now that I'm in it I'm having trouble with really knowing if I want to be a nurse or not. After class I just feel very unmotivated to learn the material. In class I feel sodisconnected from my classmates. I can tell they are really excited, outgoing and want to be there. I am an extreme introvert, shy, and soft spoken. What I liked about nursing is that when you are an actual nurse on the floor it's you and your patient. You don't have a whole audience watching you. I have extreme social anxiety. I don't do very well doing things in front of lots of people like practicing skills or presentations. I thought nursing school was gonna be more focused on making interpersonal relationships. I just feel very uncomfortable and out of place.  I really hope there's some successful nurses out there that feel the same way. I really need advice because everyday I breakdown and feel like I'm drowning. Thank you to anyone that reads this I appreciate it. 

 

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Hi there! I'm sure there have been many RNs that share those feelings. Your personality is definitely valued in the medical field. I'm beginning my program tomorrow. I'm fine performing because of my performance background, but if I were to see a soft spoken person performing a skill I'd be impressed at their courage to do something outside of their comfort zone. Put on your brave face and stand tall knowing you're exactly where you're meant to be.

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Hi, I'm also introverted, shy, and struggle with social anxiety. I totally agree that it is better when it is just you and the patient. I'm in my 3rd semester now and I get so nervous and scared. I also am very awkward so I get lost when people are watching me. My mind goes blank and I freeze up. I even mess up on things that I know I know how to do. I feel super uncomfortable. Right now I am also feeling discouraged. I'm praying for the both of us that we can get through it. You will be a great nurse one day. You're not alone in this and you got it!!

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Specializes in SRNA.

Honestly, that feeling gets masked in the hospital setting. It gets easier to deal with the more you do it, but thinking you won't perform in front of an audience once you're a staff nurse is untrue. 

For example, in an emergency or during highly stressful situations (code blues, rapid response, RSI, chemically restraining a violent patient etc...) you will be performing in front of an audience. You are never "truly" by yourself.

Nursing school and real life nursing is nothing alike. I encourage you to continue on and become a nurse. I dreaded nursing school but nursing in real life doesn't stress me out as much.

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
Lipoma said:

For example, in an emergency or during highly stressful situations (code blues, rapid response, RSI, chemically restraining a violent patient etc...) you will be performing in front of an audience. You are never "truly" by yourself

I have a slightly different take.  In clinical practice you aren't really performing in front of an audience, you're performing as a part of a group.  There is a big difference in my opinion.  Each of you has a role, each of you is doing your part, and generally speaking you're supporting each other.

 

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