Independence/confidence?

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Is anyone else striving to get into nursing but feel that you may lack the independence/confidence to really be successful/make a great nurse? My heart is in nursing (neonatal is my goal or possibly women's care) but is this something that you would allow to hold you back? I don't doubt my ability to learn or to have compassion and care for my future patients. I guess maybe I'm looking for encouragement that those things can be learned or will come with time. Any thoughts? Thanks.

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Specializes in NICU.

Confidence is obtained by learning a task and repeatedly being successful at completing that task. Confidence is also obtained by having the ability to fail at a task and successfully recover from that failure. Confidence can not be achieved without suppressing self-doubt. No matter how many time you successfully complete a task, you will not develop confidence if you have the fear of failure the next time you attempt that task. I was a shy introvert with low self-confidence in high school. I went to college for my first degree and developed a lot of self-confidence. As life went on I attempted many new things and new jobs without the fear of failure. Many times I was successful, but a few times I failed. But I had confidence in myself that life will go on and I will recover from that failure. Each time you are successful or fail (and recover) you develop confidence in yourself. It builds throughout your life as long as you don't allow the self-doubt to play a role in your life.

This TED talk may help you.

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Specializes in NICU.

Confidence is obtained by learning a task and repeatedly being successful at completing that task. Confidence is also obtained by having the ability to fail at a task and successfully recover from that failure. Confidence can not be achieved without suppressing self-doubt. No matter how many time you successfully complete a task, you will not develop confidence if you have the fear of failure the next time you attempt that task. I was a shy introvert with low self-confidence in high school. I went to college for my first degree and developed a lot of self-confidence. As life went on I attempted many new things and new jobs without the fear of failure. Many times I was successful, but a few times I failed. But I had confidence in myself that life will go on and I will recover from that failure. Each time you are successful or fail (and recover) you develop confidence in yourself. It builds throughout your life as long as you don't allow the self-doubt to play a role in your life.

This TED talk may help you.

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Thanks!!

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Specializes in NICU.

You also need to cut negative people out of your life. Surround yourself with positive, self-confident people, especially people that nudge you out of your comfort zone. You can gain a lot of self-confidence in life by doing things outside your comfort zone.

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Hi brandi2007 -

Can I politely ask how old you are? Age can be a big factor in these issues!

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Specializes in Med-Surg and PCU.

Compassion is the solid foundation of a great nurse. If you have that, you are already well on your way. You seem like an intelligent person with a drive to care, especially for those that are so helpless. Confidence is gained by learning a skill well. You will learn many useful skills on your way and there are many ways to test them and solidify them. At my school, we are given open lab hours to practice skills. Whether it's placing an IV, drawing blood, placing a Foley, managing an NG tube, physical assessments or even talking to patients therapeutically, we are all given room to practice. Relax, take a deep breath and do your best. Finish your prerequisites and start looking for schools, assuming you haven't already.

Best of luck. Live long and prosper!

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I am 28, admittedly a late bloomer, and a stay at home mom(my kids are 6 and 1) :)

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