Pre-nursing student fears??

missnursingstudent19 · Apr 26, 2016

I don't think I'd let that fear deter me from being a nurse. Needles are definitely not something you'll be able to avoid with a career in nursing, but if you're willing to tough it out and face your fear, you'll get used to it. Thanks to sensory adaptation, people can get used to things like that if they are exposed to them enough.

gere7404, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2016

I went to Army medic school, a lot of guys washed out because of fear of blood/needles/that kind of thing.

If you're squeamish around stuff like that, either get over it, or realize health care might not be the field for you.

Ioreth, ADN, RN · Apr 26, 2016

I worried about being squeamish, but really once I get into whatever icky thing it is (blood, feces, vomit, cadavers, etc) I don't have a problem. Sure it is gross, but if I have a task then I get through it.

My pre-nursing fears are:

1. Medication errors. I am terrified of this. I have heard so many stories of fatal errors and near misses. I once accidentally over medicated myself with cold medicine, but fortunately it wasn't by very much (tablespoon vs. teaspoon).

2. Shaking hands. My hands shake when I am being tested. In high school band, this kept me from being first chair clarinet although I played better than the rest of the section in practice and performances. I don't get shaky hands when I am simply performing my job unless I have very low blood sugar or iron (I have a medication condition that causes this, but I generally keep it it at acceptable levels). I am not worried about inserting IVs or other things once I am a nurse and am actually working. It is the learning and testing that really gets to me.

3. Confrontation. I hate arguments, especially stupid arguments. I really just want to do what needs to be done and not get involved in drama. I don't mind disagreements, but when the arguement gets heated or emotional I have trouble formulating coherent responses. I know healthcare can be emotional because the patient is hurt or sick and doesn't want to be there. Strangely enough, I do just fine with delusional or combative behavior when it is clearly tied to their medical condition. The gray areas when I don't know if they are angry for non-medical condition reasons get to me more. I also tend to cave faster when a collegue with more experience or a more dominant personality confronts me, even when I know I am right. I need to work on my backbone.

4. Talking on the phone. I know this one is stupid, but it does go on this list. I absolutely despise talking on the phone, especially with someone I've never met. Taking orders and coordinating care requires phones, so I just need to learn to get through it.

5. Verbal orders. I am not comfortable with verbal orders. Even when I follow though properly, I still worry that I've forgotten something because it isn't written down. I think I'll be able to compensate with this by keeping a notepad to jot things down for my own reference. I also hope that as I become familiar with common orders/procedures that I will feel more confident in this area.

soon2benurse7 · Apr 27, 2016

I was worried about needles, but I got into a position to assist a dentist to see if I could manage, and it is way better on someone else than it is on you. I'm terrified, yet I love to work with them!

Lrodrig1089 · Apr 30, 2016

I worried about being squeamish, but really once I get into whatever icky thing it is (blood, feces, vomit, cadavers, etc) I don't have a problem. Sure it is gross, but if I have a task then I get through it.
My pre-nursing fears are:
1. Medication errors. I am terrified of this. I have heard so many stories of fatal errors and near misses. I once accidentally over medicated myself with cold medicine, but fortunately it wasn't by very much (tablespoon vs. teaspoon).
2. Shaking hands. My hands shake when I am being tested. In high school band, this kept me from being first chair clarinet although I played better than the rest of the section in practice and performances. I don't get shaky hands when I am simply performing my job unless I have very low blood sugar or iron (I have a medication condition that causes this, but I generally keep it it at acceptable levels). I am not worried about inserting IVs or other things once I am a nurse and am actually working. It is the learning and testing that really gets to me.
3. Confrontation. I hate arguments, especially stupid arguments. I really just want to do what needs to be done and not get involved in drama. I don't mind disagreements, but when the arguement gets heated or emotional I have trouble formulating coherent responses. I know healthcare can be emotional because the patient is hurt or sick and doesn't want to be there. Strangely enough, I do just fine with delusional or combative behavior when it is clearly tied to their medical condition. The gray areas when I don't know if they are angry for non-medical condition reasons get to me more. I also tend to cave faster when a collegue with more experience or a more dominant personality confronts me, even when I know I am right. I need to work on my backbone.
4. Talking on the phone. I know this one is stupid, but it does go on this list. I absolutely despise talking on the phone, especially with someone I've never met. Taking orders and coordinating care requires phones, so I just need to learn to get through it.
5. Verbal orders. I am not comfortable with verbal orders. Even when I follow though properly, I still worry that I've forgotten something because it isn't written down. I think I'll be able to compensate with this by keeping a notepad to jot things down for my own reference. I also hope that as I become familiar with common orders/procedures that I will feel more confident in this area.

Im so much like you!! Ha! With The exception that i Do fear that i wont be able to stand bodily fluids and death...if i discover i Do hopeflly i get used to it with time h. So how did you manage being a cna when ive heard nurses treat them not so well??and knowing that yourmostly under their orders??im curious because im in the process of finding out if I should become a cna before nursing school despite the fact that im scared to do it since its a whole new environment t to me and I'm afraid I wont survive because of my fears like the ones you mentioned...(sigh) I guess ill never find out unless I give it a try!

Ioreth, ADN, RN · Apr 30, 2016

My nursing school requires that we are CNAs when we apply for nursing school. I was certified in December, but due to the prerequisites course load, I have not been able to work as a CNA yet. I'll need to do CNA work to renew my certification in January, so I'll let you know how it goes once I'm actually doing CNA work.

UAA2018bsngrad · May 1, 2016

Not squeamish here either. I am sure I can handle and get used to whatever I need to. I definitely feel FrozenFlame on the medication errors. I'm worried about not having enough confidence in myself and making any kind of error, especially when I have to do math. I'm not bad at math but I have a hard time doing it when I am being judged or watched or it's critical for it to be correct. I'm very thorough and anal so I'm worried I'll be slow when double and triple checking and trying to do everything perfectly RIGHT.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 1, 2016

You get used to dealing with it. You may not like it but you learn how to suppress your urge to gag or whatever response you have. Mucus is my big gross out.... Id rather blood and purulent drainage any day. But I have successfully suctioned patients without any problem overtly (in my mind I was think long "don't puke don't puke don't puke).