What are you most freaked out about learning in nursing school? What makes you the most nervous? I am worried about taking blood. My hands tend to shake a little, even when I am not nervous, but really bad when I am nervous. I plan to take beta-blockers in nursing school so poor patients don't have to see shakes the clown coming at them with a needle.
I have been really trying to desensitize myself to the idea of sticking a needle into someone's vein. I look at people's arms a lot and visualize calmly and gently finding a vein, making the stick, etc. I know that seems strange, but just trying to gear up for it.
For all of you experienced students - do you usually get free time in the labs to just practice and practice on the models?? Do you practice blood draws on your fellow students?
I guess my biggest fear is that I have no experience at anything!!! No bathing ,injections, procedures at all, although I'm pretty confident I can do anything if someone will just show me how. I don't like to think about the bathing thing, I hope I can handle that. Cleaning up puke is not my favorite thing either, I did enough of that with my boys. I have a pretty strong stomach, at least with my on children, I'm not so keen about everyones elses. As far as blood goes, that doesn't phase me in the least, I've watched staples being placed on my sons scalp, stitches, in lips on eyebrows, on and on. And I guess the last thing would be failure! I think I have a helathy fear of this though, one that will inspire me not to let up, even when things get tuff.
I'm starting nursing school in August. Here are some of the fears I have.....
That patients in clinicals will think it's odd that I'm an older (37) nursing student, and won't want me to care for them.
That I'll damage my relationship with my husband and small daughters by dedicating too much time to studying. I managed to take my co-reqs early without impacting their lives too much (studying during in the early AM, at naptime and late at night), but I know nursing school will require a lot more work. I guess it's just a matter of really good time management!
I'm afraid that my teachers, classmates & hospital staff will think I'm some sort of unfocused failure for changing my career at my age. (Really - I'm not, but I can't walk around explaining my life to everyone!!)
And - I'm afraid of all the gross things I'll have to do! Baths, bedpans, etc....
The only thing getting me through my fears is that I know I want this with all my heart!!
I'm starting nursing school in August. Here are some of the fears I have.....
That patients in clinicals will think it's odd that I'm an older (37) nursing student, and won't want me to care for them.
That I'll damage my relationship with my husband and small daughters by dedicating too much time to studying. I managed to take my co-reqs early without impacting their lives too much (studying during in the early AM, at naptime and late at night), but I know nursing school will require a lot more work. I guess it's just a matter of really good time management!
I'm afraid that my teachers, classmates & hospital staff will think I'm some sort of unfocused failure for changing my career at my age. (Really - I'm not, but I can't walk around explaining my life to everyone!!)
And - I'm afraid of all the gross things I'll have to do! Baths, bedpans, etc....
The only thing getting me through my fears is that I know I want this with all my heart!!
Beth
Don't worry about age! I am 36 and have two kids and I am going to school too! :) My feeling is that patients don't really care how old you are as long as you take good care of them. In fact, sometimes I think they see the older student as 'more experienced' I mean, they don't know that you are in your first semester along with the 18 y/o and 25 y/o. Especially the geriatric patients. That is just the impression I got tho, and I could be wrong. In talking with patients they almost always say something about how I look 20 or 21 and I tell them I am much older and after that we always seem to connect better. I am not trying to put down younger students in any way but from the perspective of an older student, I find my age works in my favor.
Also, I bet you will find LOTS of people around our age going thru career changes. The instructors at my school are all only a few years older than me and it makes for a really good relationship (with most of them at least lol). They don't look down at older students; they are glad to bring more into nursing! The average age of students in the program I am in is 33 or 34; so yes, we are just a couple years older but not so much that it matters. In my program we have a few people a good 15 years older than me, if not more. Including someone who has already retired and then decided to go back to school!
Its normal to be nervous, scared and all that---God knows I am too!--but don't let the age thing get you down. :)
I'm just scared in general. I don't want to fail. I don't want to hurt someone. I am supposed to be there to help. I am 31 years old with two children (2 and 5) and a husband. Will everyone think I am a failure for going back to school.
Don't worry about age! I am 36 and have two kids and I am going to school too! :) My feeling is that patients don't really care how old you are as long as you take good care of them. In fact, sometimes I think they see the older student as 'more experienced' I mean, they don't know that you are in your first semester along with the 18 y/o and 25 y/o. Especially the geriatric patients. That is just the impression I got tho, and I could be wrong. In talking with patients they almost always say something about how I look 20 or 21 and I tell them I am much older and after that we always seem to connect better. I am not trying to put down younger students in any way but from the perspective of an older student, I find my age works in my favor.
Also, I bet you will find LOTS of people around our age going thru career changes. The instructors at my school are all only a few years older than me and it makes for a really good relationship (with most of them at least lol). They don't look down at older students; they are glad to bring more into nursing! The average age of students in the program I am in is 33 or 34; so yes, we are just a couple years older but not so much that it matters. In my program we have a few people a good 15 years older than me, if not more. Including someone who has already retired and then decided to go back to school!
Its normal to be nervous, scared and all that---God knows I am too!--but don't let the age thing get you down. :)
I get too empathetic when people are in pain, scared or whatnot. If I have to do a procedure where someone is crying and struggling, I can sometimes get woozy or shaky. I need to learn to desensitize myself and do what needs to be done.
Thanks, Coopergrrl! It's nice to know I'm not alone!!
When I decided to go to nursing school, I spoke to many women I know who are nurses. Without exception, they were thrilled with my decision and raved about how much they love their careers. Many women I know have left other careers to become nurses - one had a career as a stock broker in Manhattan and another was an assistant DA.
It's funny....I grew up hearing so much about "women's lib". My mom told me that in her generation women could only be nurses, teachers or secretaries. She said I was so lucky because I could be anything I want to be. Now, years later, many women are leaving their other careers to become nurses & teachers - often because they want schedules that allow them to raise their children. It's like we are coming full circle from where we were.
I'm starting nursing school in August. Here are some of the fears I have.....
That patients in clinicals will think it's odd that I'm an older (37) nursing student, and won't want me to care for them.
That I'll damage my relationship with my husband and small daughters by dedicating too much time to studying. I managed to take my co-reqs early without impacting their lives too much (studying during in the early AM, at naptime and late at night), but I know nursing school will require a lot more work. I guess it's just a matter of really good time management!
I'm afraid that my teachers, classmates & hospital staff will think I'm some sort of unfocused failure for changing my career at my age. (Really - I'm not, but I can't walk around explaining my life to everyone!!)
And - I'm afraid of all the gross things I'll have to do! Baths, bedpans, etc....
The only thing getting me through my fears is that I know I want this with all my heart!!
Beth
You're a kiddo! I'm 44 and have been through about 6 different careers. I have a classmate who is 52. I think all that real world experience is going to be helpful to me as a nurse. I hope so
Nursing school is really hard so you do need to be prepared and have your family prepared. But it's worth it. Hold on to that passion!
I'm starting nursing school in August. Here are some of the fears I have.....
That patients in clinicals will think it's odd that I'm an older (37) nursing student, and won't want me to care for them.
That I'll damage my relationship with my husband and small daughters by dedicating too much time to studying. I managed to take my co-reqs early without impacting their lives too much (studying during in the early AM, at naptime and late at night), but I know nursing school will require a lot more work. I guess it's just a matter of really good time management!
I'm afraid that my teachers, classmates & hospital staff will think I'm some sort of unfocused failure for changing my career at my age. (Really - I'm not, but I can't walk around explaining my life to everyone!!)
And - I'm afraid of all the gross things I'll have to do! Baths, bedpans, etc....
The only thing getting me through my fears is that I know I want this with all my heart!!
Beth
good on you, you have got the right attitude for nursing. I'm 22 and in my last year of nursing. we have many mature aged students in our course and no one judges them on their career change i love the mature age students they are great fun. Also i admire anyone who goes back into study after so many years out of school and who have small children, i can't even imagine how hard that would be. well done! Nursing has been challenging so far for me but the best thing about uni is that you have so many friends that support you thru the process they really are helpful.
Please don't be worried about your age either, that's the least of your worries. My boyfriend's mother started her RN training last year at 41 and she has 6 children two live out of home but the other 4 are at home. she still has plenty of time for her family. so please don't stress. good luck and follow your heart, because nursing to me so far has been such a rewarding profession!!
Honestly, my biggest fear is that after all of the prereqs and all of the hard work and the sacrifices my family has made to enable me to do this...that I won't be any good at it! I'm so excited about this opportunity that my very supportive family has made possible, and I really want to make them proud.
You're a kiddo! I'm 44 and have been through about 6 different careers. I have a classmate who is 52. I think all that real world experience is going to be helpful to me as a nurse. I hope so
Nursing school is really hard so you do need to be prepared and have your family prepared. But it's worth it. Hold on to that passion!
AMEN I'm right behind you at 42. The only other long term career I've had is motherhood and homemaker to a spuse and three boys, who are grown and out of the house, with one exception my 13 yr old. I have been searching for the past 7 yrs for a new career, going back to school and working at several different types of jobs. One was an assistant school teacher, another in an accounting job, and the last was sales, none of which struck my fancy. But when I was finishing up my two yr AAD last year, my biology teacher mentioned that he thought I would make a great nurse and encouraged me to check in on it. Well here I am a year later and finally feeling like I fit in and starting NS in August. I have always loved the medical side of things, always wanting to see procedures, curious about whats going on behind the door, that kind of thing. My DH always thought I was crazy, thought that I enjoyed watching people suffer. I look at it as people trying to help people who are suffering. He does support me very much for pursuing this path and reassures me not to worry about things at home, after all I took care or our home while he was out saving the world(ret. army). Anyway, I don't believe you're ever to old to pursue your dreams, as long as there is breath in your body, live!!!! Other wise you crawl in a corner and wither, and none of us wants to go there.
Tweege
112 Posts
I guess my biggest fear is that I have no experience at anything!!! No bathing ,injections, procedures at all, although I'm pretty confident I can do anything if someone will just show me how. I don't like to think about the bathing thing, I hope I can handle that. Cleaning up puke is not my favorite thing either, I did enough of that with my boys. I have a pretty strong stomach, at least with my on children, I'm not so keen about everyones elses. As far as blood goes, that doesn't phase me in the least, I've watched staples being placed on my sons scalp, stitches, in lips on eyebrows, on and on. And I guess the last thing would be failure! I think I have a helathy fear of this though, one that will inspire me not to let up, even when things get tuff.