Nervous about becoming a nurse? Any advice

[bdxoxo]

Im currently a pre-nursing student and Ive being going back and forth countless times between studying radiation therapy and nursing since I was in high school. Im doing fairly well with my prerequisites and have no worries about getting accepted into a program. Im not necessarily worried about how i'll do in nursing school, but actually working as a nurse is whats freaking me out and after some thinking, im starting to doubt my future as a nurse. Im super forgetful and even worse.... i dont work well in stressful situations. Im just scared that the day Im on my own in the nursing field that I'll end up killing a patient. Im at that point where Im thinking of changing my major.

Should I just stick with radiation therapy?

Is it normal to feel like this?

Any advice or words of encouragement?

[Devon Rex, ADN, BSN]

Hello,

Everyone is different. However, as I was going through nursing school, I had the same doubts. What if a patient of mine dies because I missed something? How would their loved ones feel about me, how I would feel about myself, and how would it affect me legally? They are all valid questions. The only thing you can do is your best, follow the policies of the institution, and make the right basic decisions a normal person would do in a specific situation. Keep your lines of communication open with your Charge Nurse and the appropriate physician. You are the eyes, ears, and hands of the physician when they are away... though you need their direction. If you think this is too much to handle, go the radiation track instead. It will give you a sense of control and purpose.

That's my two cents on the matter.