2nd Year Nursing Student

[rkap09]

Hi, okay I am a second year Nursing student in a bachelor program and well, im very scared. I feel like i dont know anything.. but i do. i know my assessment and i know how to make the bed, bed bath and different focus assessments. Today I went in for orientation and just the amount of info we got thursted with scared and overwhelmed me. Seeing the utility supply room, I didnt know have of which was used for or what it even was. My other peers were relaxed and two of them knew (mainly because they are repeating second year again). I like working with people, i like to help but now im so scared, i feel like maybe im not cut out for this. this whole day i was thinking about any other career that might be suitable for me. Although I had no reason to really be scared, my instructor and all the RNs on the floor were very nice and encouraing, I can't help but be scared.

How do we start of the morning? Everymorning I understand we talk vitals, but what else would we do. and every morning what assessments would we conduct. basically what and how do I go about the day?

Im so nervous and scared i feel like I might get everything wrong. I feel stressed going to clinical once a week for 7 hours then coming home and studying for 6 other courses.

Im scared, Im nervous, i dont want to fail and I dont want to hate it. I doubt i hate nursing. Even now when I ask myself, do i hate nursing? The answer is No. i dont. Im just scared and i guess my fear is just so heavy its overshadowing my confidence. HELP!

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

First, slow waaaaaaaaayyy down.

You're a student. Your primary job is to learn. If you knew all this stuff already, you'd have no need for school.

Second, your feelings are very normal. Nursing school is like learning a new language and a new culture all its own, not to mention the skills and knowledge set that comes along with it. But that stuff all comes with time, and most new grads don't feel comfortable in nursing until they've been in it for at least a year.

Third, you don't have to know everything when you graduate. In fact, you won't! The first year of nursing, you will need an orientation, a preceptor, and a lot of time to get your feet wet and ask questions before you fly solo. I was on a 6-month orientation program. The first 2 months, our preceptors worked closely with us. The last 4 months, they were around, but we started to take our own assignments and fly on our own.

Things will start to make sense once you're working as a nurse. The information will fall into place once you have hands-on your patients and a diagnosis, labs and real, live case studies before you. Give yourself permission to not know the answer! Your coworkers and patients will respect you for admitting it and even more if you tell them you're going to look it up and get back to them.

[zzbxdo]

That's why there are care plans in school to guide your day. Don't worry about it, clinicals are both hands on and and prepping. By the time you graduate and start your new job you'll feel like you know nothing again. So relax buddy, you'll do fine.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Everyone is uncomfortable in an unfamiliar environment - everything is new and strange. This will pass as you spend more time there. It's like going to a different church... you don't know exactly what to expect so you just have to watch what everyone else is doing and follow their example. But if you keep on attending, you will eventually know what's going on and when you have to stand, sit, sing, pass the collection plate, etc.

Every patient care unit has it's own "rhythm" and standard routines. In some departments, only RNs attend report while everyone else is out taking vitals. In other units, they do walking rounds where everyone joins in and participates. Just pay attention & ask questions if you don't know what is going on. Take your cues from the staff. After a while, you will know what to anticipate & be able to pitch in without anyone asking you to do so.

Heck, if you managing to cope with clinicals & 6 other classes - you've got this!