Hi to Everyone - I never thought I would be facing this, but I have lost my sense of confidence to be a nurse. I graduated with my BSN in December of 2013. The Board of Registered Nurses in California was backed up in processing applications to sit for the state exam due to a system change. Though I applied November 2013, I was not approved to take my exam till March 2014. The first open testing spot was in May. I took my Boards and passed. At that time I was on fire and ready to hit the ground running. But I struggled to find a new graduate position.
It has been a year to date since my graduation, which is the last time I had any clinical experience. Before I thought my problem was competing with other applicants or finding a new graduate opening. But for the past two months I have developed anxiety about getting a nursing position. I feel like I don't know anything and afraid I will be very awkward. Since I have lost my confidence to be a nurse I am afraid it will either block my job search or be very apparent in an interview.
I know that I want to do nursing because a recent opportunity passed me by (bad timing and job got filled) and I burst into tears. I'm not much of a crier so I knew it still mattered to me a great deal. But why then am I so scared; especially afraid that my lack of skill and lengthy time out of practice could harm a patient?
I signed up with Kaplan again to review nursing material to see if it would help, but it has not returned my confidence like I hoped. Would anyone have advice or words of wisdom? It's a horrible feeling to have right now and I don't know what to do about it. I worked so hard to make it this far and I can't believe this is happening.
KatherineH8
8 Posts
Hi Nola - Thank you for the tip. I will check them out. - Happy New Year!!