Need Advice...Can I be a nurse?

[Alli82]

Hi,

I am planning on starting school for nursing in the fall. In most ways, nursing seems to be a good fit for me; I just have one major concern:

I do not do well in medical emergency situations (for example, if someone is having a seizure). It freaks me out, and I kind of freeze, and can't watch, much less help. I can't pinpoint why.

My mom (who is an RN) is confident that it is because I don't know (medically) what is happening to the person, and I don't know what I can do to help.

I am worried that my panic in these situations won't subside with training!

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

Help!

Alli

[nightmare, RN]

Listen to your mother! I pretty sure that as student nurses we've all freaked out at an emergency. I know I did! Man with rectal Haemorrhage..me belting down the ward looking for senior nurse who stopped me in my tracks....nurses don't run....what's his BP etc.Needless to say full emergency team after that but all were calm cool and collected and the man recovered after surgery. Years later I could hear myself giving same advice to a freaked out student during an emergency. Confidence only comes with experience so if you don't go for the training you will never know if you can cope with these things.In a training environment you will hopefully not have to deal with an emergency by yourself and you will learn from each experience until you find that you know what to do....and do it. Good luck with your training if you decide to go for it.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Listen to Mom! I was one scaredy cat nurse when I first started out...clinging to my preceptor like it was a lifeline! If she even looked like she was leaving me alone, I'd be telling her to stay with me!

I laugh about this now but it wasn't a laughing matter then. However, I did get over it. Once I had some experience, I did fine. You will too, I bet. Have fun in school.

[caliotter3]

I've had occasion to meet a paramedic who stated that he has dealings with severe anxiety during certain types of calls and he has been doing this for years now. I could see him getting slightly upset just talking about it. Yet he still functions as a paramedic. So don't talk yourself out of something that you haven't tried yet. I strongly suggest that you get a volunteer position or a job as a CNA so that you get around some medical situations. The more you are exposed to the atmosphere, the more likely that you will be able to make a wise choice concerning this matter. And remember, most of the time, in any emergency, you will have colleagues who will be your backup, you won't be working in a vacuum. Good luck with your future choices regarding the medical field.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I did not perform too well during my very first code as the result of nervousness and not knowing the steps. Another nurse even said to me, "You've got to do something!" I presume she was not aware that this was my first code ever.

Since I don't perform well under stressful situations, I refuse to become involved with emergency medicine, critical care, high-risk labor & delivery, or other specialties where I am likely to encounter emergency situations and must utilize rapid decision-making skills. I prefer slower-pace specialties such as psychiatric nursing, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, long term care (nursing homes), etc. Although I encounter emergencies in the more stable specialties, they occur infrequently...

Good luck!

[Amelie79]

I feel the same way as a pre-nursing student. I want to be a nurse badly but I'm afraid I will pass out or something during an emergency. I think your Mom is right though, once you have experience you will be confident enough to deal with it. That's what school is for right? To teach us the ins and outs. Good luck!

[male_nurse_25]

hello,

Im an RN from the philippines, just moved to the U.S. 1 year ago and would like to work in ER, I have almost 2 years experience as an ICU and PACU nurse combined. Currently working in a skilled nursing home, was wondering if you need to attend some class and undergo certain exam or just to get certified to become an ER nurse.

Thank you,

darkhero17

[male_nurse_25]

hello,

Im an RN from the philippines, just moved to the U.S. 1 year ago and new to this web site, and I would like to work in ER, have almost 2 years experience as an ICU and PACU nurse combined. Currently working in a skilled nursing home, and was wondering if I need to attend some class and undergo certain exam or just to get certified to become an ER nurse.

Thank you,

darkhero17

[bethin]

Listen to your mother!

No one walked into a nursing job and knew everything. You live and learn. I sat in a corner for my first code and now it's second nature.

Plus, you haven't even been to nursing school. You will learn what to do when someone has a seizure, what to do during codes, etc.

Stop doubting yourself! You can do it if you put your mind to it.