Is anyone getting "cold feet"?

3rdgenRN2B · Jun 22, 2006

I too have cold feet at times. I wonder that I won't get into the nursing program at my school (applying in November) and that I'm making the right decision. Yeah I know that I could just as easily study business, law, education, etc, but for some reason I am drawn to nursing and figure there must be a reason. Even if I don't get accepted at least I'll know I tried and I'll cross that bridge when when I come to it,\.

Good luck. Don't give up. And don't "what if" your life away.

tofutti · Jun 22, 2006

hi goingformydream,

i think about that too...i have a 4.0 too but that's all book learning. you're coding? oh let me look that up.

my fear is an instructor will think i'm incompetent at the beginning and try to ride me out of the program for it.

just this week i started a cna job. that way i can have all my stupid moments on their time, and be more calm and clued in when rn clinicals come around. i'm getting some of the anxiety out of the way early, i hope.

also i say these to myself in my head at work:

80% of success is showing up -eleanor roosevelt

if all those 18 year olds can do it, i can do it. -me

i can do all things through christ who strengthens me. -paul

hope that helps. tofutti:nurse:

ps-i think it's a sign of intelligence that you're aware of how much you don't know. someone calmer might just not understand what they're going into! : )

goingformydream · Jun 22, 2006

Thank you! I too was thinking of becoming a CNA to get some practice in beforehand. I guess I just want to know what to expect. I went over to my neighbors house (about an hour ago) and had her lend me all her nursing books. I am reading the med/surgery book now. No wonder I suffer from panic attacks.. I should live in the present, and not worry about the future.. easier said than done...

fortstressed · Jun 22, 2006

You know I am very freaked to. I am not a 4.0 student but I have learned alot and doing better with on hand learning myself is the best for me. I know that one screw up could cost me all this time it has taken me to get this far but I guess what?? Only thing I can do is my best, and I will learn from everyone that surrounds me. So don't quit. Sounds like to me that you are already thinking of the future.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

C. . .Yes, you can do this. If you fail a clinical, you merely repeat it. However, the chances of failing it are probably not good because you are scared enough to double check every thing you do before you do it and you'll most likely follow all the rules for the same reason. It's unlikely that any people in nursing school or the clinical areas where you will be learning nursing will laugh at you. And, if they do, they're nincompoops! If they're your family. . .you're on your own and you'll have to deal with them. For a number of years my biggest fear was that I would accidentally kill a patient. Hasn't happened yet and I started nursing school in 1973. If you freeze when someone asks you a question you'll answer that question again and again in your mind so that the next time you WILL be able to answer it when someone asks you. No, you are not alone in these thoughts. Most of us had them. The best thing you can do when you are scared is to face your fears. Imagine how great you are going to feel when you conquer them! One day too, you'll be able to sit at your computer and tell someone just like yourself what I'm telling you--been there, done that. Ask yourself, if a couple of million people can be successful RNs, why can't I?

all4schwa · Jun 22, 2006

it's perfectly natural to have cold feet, it's my dream also...i just graduated and it was all worth it!! now i have cold feet about starting as a nurse, passing boards, moving to the city...

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jun 25, 2006

i start classes on august 21st and talk about cold feet!! as i set about laying out tons of dough for books, shoes, uniforms, usb sticks, roller bags, etc., i spend as much time wondering how i am going to manage this financially and emotionally and what the heck was i thinking heading down this road?!?!? i have a good job; i get to sit in a nice, clean (sort of) cube, and mosey in anytime between 8 and 9 and mosey out after i put my 8 (or so) hours in; i take a 1-hour lunch if i want and sit in a restaurant and be waited on. if i screw up, the worst that happens is somebody's computer doesn't work right for an hour or two; there's no question about holidays off or weekends (for 99% of the time anyway).

on the other hand, i am bored stiff, sick of doing what feels like "nothing" all day, and when i think of moving in to something else in the business world, it ends up looking like more of the same. in it, there is currently a lot of burnout. work us harder with less pay. and a couple of the folks i have talked to lately would like to maybe move on, but age (for those 50+) is a huge concern in the business world and they feel stuck.

so, i wonder....and i'm petrified....and i hope my car doesn't cost me a ton of money or that i don't get really sick or wish i had my $50,000+/year job back in my first 16 weeks of classes.

but back to that other hand, i can't think of anything that might be more fulfilling and offer more options than this career at this point in my life. i hate m - f 8 to 5; i'm a night owl. i love long stretches of time off to do projects -- gimme 3-12's. i am tired of my behind stretching out from sitting in my cube all day and at the end of that long day, i would love to know that sometimes what i accomplished actually made a difference.

but why are my feet freezing right now?!?!?!? :uhoh3:

Kaiserstudent · Jun 25, 2006

I am SO happy someone else feels this way too. All my classmates are like "youre so smart, youll do great in clinical" But NO! clinical is not going to be the same as this book work. Critical thinking makes me very nervous at times.

Not so much the clinical portion of school. But are my study methods going to help me once we are doing critical thinking problems??

I just wont know until we get there, I just glad there are forums like this that I can rant!

:selfbonk:

nursein08 · Jun 25, 2006

I know how you all feel...I am a 4.0 student too, but I'm afraid that will change in the fall. I am so scared about starting these clinicals. My mind is now saying "What the heck am I getting myself into???!!" My feet are so cold I think frost bite is setting in. I know this is going to be totally different from what I've done in prereqs, but I'm afraid I don't know exactly how different. I guess we'll all find out in the fall. Good luck to everyone! At least we have a support system at this site!

ak127 · Jun 25, 2006

I'm nervous too. But I'm Soooooooo excited! I keep trying to focus on the fun things I am looking forward to rather than the nervousness I'll feel on my first day of clinicals.

I keep thinking about the day that will happen a few months (or years) after I get my RN that everyone forgets to treat me like the new kid... that will be a good day.

HididiScribbler · Jun 25, 2006

I'll be going into my second semester of nursing school in the fall...

When I started last semester, I was scared to DEATH. I was a 4.0 student, but was afraid, too, that I wouldn't be able to handle clinicals and that I'd be the only one with no hospital experience. I was terrified that I'd look like an idiot...

But it turned out okay EVERYONE is scared at first (even those with experience). EVERYONE thinks they're going to be the worst student in the class. I'd be more worried if you weren't scared at all Chances are that you'll do fine. Understanding the pre-reqs will help a lot, and you'll have plenty of chances to practice skills before doing them on actual patients. And most instructors are pretty understanding. I'm a clutz, but I haven't been yelled at yet

Once you meet your new classmates, chances are you'll bond. I remember, my first day of clinicals we were all scared of stepping foot in a patient's room, so about three of us went into each of our patient's rooms together. That REALLY helped. You definitely won't be alone. And once you get over that first clinical day, it'll get better. Just take a couple of deep breaths and do things as slowly as you have to. Your instructor will be there, your other classmates will be there, and everyone expects you to be nervous.

Congrats on getting into nursing school, guys! The first semester will go faster than you think possible... (I can't believe I made it through my first semester...now I only have three more to go )