Nervous about senior year!!!!

[its_meee]

It's hard to believe that my senior year is about to start! I am feeling a mixture of excitement and horror! LOL I have worked so hard to get where I am. I am a non-traditional student. I am 41, been married for 18 years and have four children in the home aged 5-17. It has been a struggle and now that it has almost come to an end I am afraid. I'm afraid of failure. I'm not afraid of failing school, I'm afraid of failing at being a good nurse. I love school, I love the clinical setting...I'm terrified of being the new nurse who is looked at as unskilled and unknowing. I understand that this comes with the territory of being a new grad, but it's still intimidating! And passing the NCLEX? That's a whole other worry. I know I need to just concentrate on getting through this last year and not worry about the what-ifs in my future. There will be plenty of time to worry about that stuff when the time comes :) Thanks for letting me vent my fears :)

[rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Feel better? Vent away, as long as you understand that it is releasing unrealistic feelings you have gathered over the years. You made it to your senior year, you are not a push over. You must know something, but you may still be far from a perfectly competent nurse. Nursing school just gives you the background and makes sure you will be safe and able to use critical thinking. When you get out into the real world you may be looked at as if you are incompetent. The key is your coworkers need to know you need a little nurturing to become a competent nurse.

Skills are skills. If it was just about skills they would train monkeys to be nurses. Nursing is making competent decisions. Nursing is being confident and looking learning about something new everyday. You will be okay, develop your confidence during your last year. You can do it.

[Everline]

I can relate. I am soon going into my last semester! I sometimes worry about finding a job and being good at it and liking it. But I try not to project too much into it and instead concentrate on what I am doing now. I think it's normal to worry a little bit. Being a nurse is so much responsibility! Congrats on making it to your final year. I wish you the best!

[RN2BE83]

I know exactly how you feel. I'm 31, married, I have a 3 and 2 year old and start my senior 8/19. Last year 27 out 60 students graduated. Up until our summer school session, we still had 58 out of 60 in our class. I'm proud to be part of such a successful group of smart and hardworking individuals. But I'm extremely nervous about whats to come. Good luck this year! I wish you continued success! Believe in yourself! You can do this!

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

10 days left in this semester then I start my final semester. I'm so so excited and very nervous:)