I'm scared

I think it is very normal. You are a student. You are still learning basics. Emergent care requires you to be able to put this learning to use quickly and critically think through many scenarios in your head as you quickly assess. This is not possible until you are further along your learning curve. TV shows are usually not terribly accurate when compared to real life, although I don't watch these shows so I might be wrong with the specific show you are watching.

I am one who believes in learning solid care and then expand to critical services.You can only be quick when some things are automatic.

Frist off, don't confuse the TV with real Nursing, not every nurse is not hopping into be with other nurses or doctors.

Second you are not even there yet, It may be easier that you think. have you any experience working with real patients, I'm not talking about school, I am taking about CNA, volunteering. Well it doesn't matter. Just follow your instructor and the licensed nurses. Ask any question the things that you don't understand. Keep calm and you will do find

What are your fears? What specifically about a trauma situation scares you?

Thank you for your assurances! I definitely don't confuse real world with tv world, but I would imagine the level of chaos in a trauma case may be similar.

Where are my fears specifically? Well... It's the fear itself. It's crazy, isn't it? But it's the fear. I'm afraid of anxiety creeping in if I don't feel confident enough to go on automatic pilot and see a trauma case through. I'm afraid that anxiety will creep in and turn me into a deer in the headlights. I'm actually more afraid of that than making a mistake.

nothing says you have to work in an ER when you get out of school...I think we only do one or two clinical days in the ER so that may be the most you get exposed to it - and if you don't like it, well you don't apply after you graduate! Now if your patient codes, well that is a different story but no one is prepared for that (unless they're going downhill anyway)...

Thank you for your assurances! I definitely don't confuse real world with tv world, but I would imagine the level of chaos in a trauma case may be similar.

Where are my fears specifically? Well... It's the fear itself. It's crazy, isn't it? But it's the fear. I'm afraid of anxiety creeping in if I don't feel confident enough to go on automatic pilot and see a trauma case through. I'm afraid that anxiety will creep in and turn me into a deer in the headlights. I'm actually more afraid of that than making a mistake.

Sweet Soul, the level of work is chaos sometimes but you will have times when nothing is going on. We all went though it. But you have something that I didn't when I work the ER, you have us. We will always be here. If you have a smart phone that can connect to the internet, and Ipad, or carrier pigeon named, Frank. We will be here. Old nurse like me don't really eat our young but I have been know to nibble a few necks.

Thank you for your assurances! I definitely don't confuse real world with tv world, but I would imagine the level of chaos in a trauma case may be similar.

Where are my fears specifically? Well... It's the fear itself. It's crazy, isn't it? But it's the fear. I'm afraid of anxiety creeping in if I don't feel confident enough to go on automatic pilot and see a trauma case through. I'm afraid that anxiety will creep in and turn me into a deer in the headlights. I'm actually more afraid of that than making a mistake.

I can understand the deer in headlights feelings. You have not been there. One thing you need to remember is that unless you take a job in some tiny hospital in the boonies you are not going to be exposed to this up front and personal. You might get the opportunity to be recorder for some event. That is a good job because you can't get involved in the patient, you are to keep track of meds given, time elapsed, etc. You can grow from that to other roles. Actually it is more difficult on a regular floor where things happen and you have less support. You get to call for help and need to be able to handle it until help arrives.

Take a big breath. You are working hard in a very difficult part of your education. Live in today. Tomorrow will come and if you are doing everything now to be prepared you will be more ready to see the challenge rather than the fear.