I'm scheduled to start nursing school in the fall. This will be a second career for me - I'm 40 and recently divorced. I've always been a bit of a worrier/stresser, but the events leading up to and during the divorce brought out a new side in me - I had some panic attacks. I haven't had one in quite awhile, but dealing with the divorce fallout/being a single mom now - well, I'd say I'm more prone to anxiety than I used to be, and I'm not sure when or if that will go away. That being the case, I know starting out in Med Surg or ICU, for example, won't be optimal for me or the patients. I see posts on here about the first year being so hard/nurses feeling so lost and going home crying after their shifts, and I don't want to set myself up for failure, or risk falling to pieces.
I'm a hard worker, and enjoy being busy, but I don't want to feel constantly on the edge/out of control. Can anyone recommend some areas that might be good to start out in, where I can build some skills and confidence in a bit less hectic environment?
I'm not sure that the area has near as much to do with it as having enough orientation and a preceptor that you work closely with for months. I work with the greatest group of nurses you'd ever want to find. We work on a REALLY tough Ortho/Surg floor and we work crazy hard. None of us would make it if it weren't for the fact that we support each other through thick and thin. If you can't be a team member on my floor you got no business there. We also have very little gossip and backbiting because we support each other!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I'm scheduled to start nursing school in the fall. This will be a second career for me - I'm 40 and recently divorced. I've always been a bit of a worrier/stresser, but the events leading up to and during the divorce brought out a new side in me - I had some panic attacks. I haven't had one in quite awhile, but dealing with the divorce fallout/being a single mom now - well, I'd say I'm more prone to anxiety than I used to be, and I'm not sure when or if that will go away. That being the case, I know starting out in Med Surg or ICU, for example, won't be optimal for me or the patients. I see posts on here about the first year being so hard/nurses feeling so lost and going home crying after their shifts, and I don't want to set myself up for failure, or risk falling to pieces.
I'm a hard worker, and enjoy being busy, but I don't want to feel constantly on the edge/out of control. Can anyone recommend some areas that might be good to start out in, where I can build some skills and confidence in a bit less hectic environment?
Thanks for your insight. :)
This could have been written by me at some points in my life! So I'll share a little bit from my own experience with this. There's stress, nerves etc that everyone is subject to and then there is the crippling effect of panic attacks and the anticipation of having panic attacks which has the horrifying effect of making them worse.
Since you are just starting nursing school and already worrying about where you can work to avoid them I would guess you are fearing/anticipating. Lots of the blanks will be filled in just by the process of school and gradual introduction to the clinical area. Hopefully you will have a mentor or counselor who you can be honest with about your anxiety issues. I found that to be a huge relief because it takes away the "what if . . ." factor. It is not a personal failing to have an anxiety disorder.
Generally, those areas of nursing where you have more control over the unexpected cause less stress, such as clinic or ambulatory care. I worked both of those for a while, and though it doesn't replace the med-surg experience it can take you out of the pressure cooker.
I don't know if you have sought medical advice or not, but whenever a situation interferes with your day to day life and you find yourself making decisions to accomodate those fears it's a good idea to get some help for it. Best wishes to you and hugs -- you'll get through it
singingtothewheat
64 Posts
I'm not sure that the area has near as much to do with it as having enough orientation and a preceptor that you work closely with for months. I work with the greatest group of nurses you'd ever want to find. We work on a REALLY tough Ortho/Surg floor and we work crazy hard. None of us would make it if it weren't for the fact that we support each other through thick and thin. If you can't be a team member on my floor you got no business there. We also have very little gossip and backbiting because we support each other!