Nursing student close to graduation and I'm terrified HELP

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

Hi guys, I'm studying towards my bsn and will be graduating in November. I'm in New Zealand and it takes 3 years to get your bachelors degree. My second year was awesome, I loved every minute of it. Now I'm in my third and final year and I'm absolutely terrified. There is just so much pressure. I can't fail anything, and this year is all essays which I'm not good to begin with. I have a 6 week primary health care placement coming which I have to use my preceptor as my reference for new graduate programme. So have to do AMAZINGLY. And then at the end of the year we work for 9 weeks full time as a nurse, we have a preceptor but we essentianlly do her job, and at the end she decides if we can graduate or not. It's her sole decision. And then 10 days later we take state finals. It's only on 3 times a year, so if you fail you have to wait a loooooooong time to retake it. And you only get 3 shots at it, then you can never be a nurse. And then you have to try find a job. Which is so hard. Im worried I've worked this hard just to end Up working in a rest home which I'll be stuck in my whole life. I'm terrified of everything. I'm so scared of failing. I'm so anxious about it all and I can't cope. I just keep thinking what if this happens or this happens. I'm so overwhelmed and somehow overnight feel like I have lost all my confidence.

[jennylee321]

What your describing is what the last year of most nursing programs entail. It sounds like you're getting ahead of yourself and assuming you are going to do poorly when you haven't even given yourself a chance to succeed. Keep in mind that you have gotten this far so unless you've just been squeezing by you must be doing something right.

Try to maybe reframe your attitude towards these placements. I was so excited for my final placements because I got to use my clinical skills, be in clinical full time and felt one step closer to being a nurse. You seem to be focusing on everything that could go wrong, try to make a list of what your excited for/new learning opportunities you will have.

lastly, if this anxiety you are describing is I interfering with school and other areas of your life, try to access some counselling. Look to see what your school can provide, in addition to counselling services many schools offer workshops for stress management and coping strategies.

all the best in your final year of nursing

[Summer Days]

The final year is, indeed, stressful. The mountain is not at all impossible to climb if you could manage to encourage yourself and keep a positive mind. You are your best encourager. Focus on what's due NOW and plan accordingly. Write down pending tasks, cross them off as you complete them then reward yourself. Worry not about what's due in November because, ahem, it's February. When feeling down, remind yourself why you wanted to be a nurse and let that renew your hope. I wish you the very best in your final year. Cheers :)

[Sassyrose]

Focus on what you need to do today. The next thing due.. then the next thing. If you look at it all, it IS overwhelming. Just focus on the next thing you need to do and don't count the days. The end will eventually come of its own accord.

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

Thanks for all you advice. But turns out I have every reason to be anxious. Just found out yesterday I failed my first essay. Luckily I can resit it, so all is not lost, but now means I can't fail anything else. I've gone from an A student to a D and I don't understand how. I was lucky enough to get extensions on my two assignments due in today, but I'm to anxious to even think about them. one lecturer, who failed my first essay, is being supportive and is helping me with the next assignment and the resit which is nice. However I can't meet with the other lecture to discuss my other assignment. I don't know know how to get over the self doubt. I've never failed at something so badly, and I out so much work and effort into that essay. I'm really disapointed. The only good thing is I have placement in 2 weeks time, which I'm really excited about. I'm going to a nurse lead clinic for 6 weeks where I'll be able to do/learn so much. Feel so much more confident in practice than in class writing essays. But I have to get threw the next 2 weeks and complete 3 assignments first which I'm struggling with. I thought second year was suppose to be the hardest year??

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

So you guys were right. Just needed to chill out. Passed both papers, even got an A in one of them. Almost finished my primary health placement that's gone well. Plus got a nurse lined up to be my reference, who I get on really well with. Just 84 more days!!!!!!!