WorldEscapes

Thank you for sharing this!

Hi. I’ve mainly been applying to pct positions in the hospital as they would be easier for me to get to since I don’t have a car, but I’ve also been applying for cna positions are local nursing homes. I applied for a bunch yesterday in fact!

I made a similar post a while ago. Struggling with anxiety, sucking at clinical lol, struggling with grades, the whole shebang! So I understand how you feel, even though I am only in my second semester. From one nervous nellie to another (and trust me, I'm learning just how paralyzing anxiety can be!) I'd say work on getting your anxiety under control. That may include meds, relaxation techniques, and understanding that everything is a process. Every day, you are learning something. Lack of confidence is also at the root of this? I find that I struggle with this as well, and it does affect performance as you will be second guessing every little decision you make rather than trusting your gut, trusting that you can do this and just doing it. Good luck to you, you've made it this far! ❤️ I'm learning that nursing is a profession that really forces you to examine who you are as a person--flaws and struggles and all, and challenges you to improve yourself as you must if you want to survive. *hugs*

I will look into that movie. Thank you Thank you! I absolutely want to be a great nurse. Your words of kindness and encouragement mean a lot to me. Thank you again. Thank you! Yes, I have spoken about this with my doctor and I have gotten medicine. So far, so good. Keeping my fingers crossed for sure Its so funny that you mentioned this, because during the first day of lab, my instructor showed that video to us lol I've been looking for and applying for CNA/PCT jobs for a while now. I haven't had any success yet, but I know I just have to keep applying and looking. I know for a fact that I need a job like that to help me with my skills as we don't have much clinical time during the week compared to other programs. Thank you!! Indeed. I've been applying for jobs for a while now, but haven't had any luck yet. I will keep at it! Yes, I also have SA. Thankfully, I haven't been in a situation in which family is in the room...I'm usually just with the patient. I do find that I struggle with small talk and that's something that I definitely need to work on. Thank you. Its nice to know that my feelings and fears are way more common than I realized. And its nice to know that I wont feel like this forever!

Hi there @beekee! I will do just that--practice more in my free time. And I will definitely work more on my small talk skills haha. I know for a fact that trying to get my anxiety under control is of upmost importance for me right now, because I know that it is the source of so many of my issues. Anxiety truly can be paralyzing and it makes it hard to think and do even the smallest of things. @AnnieNP Thank you! I recently had a chat with a faculty member on my campus that involved learning how to switch my mind frame. Essentially I have to learn how to tell myself that I will succeed and to truly belive in myself. Hi there @Workitinurfava I will do just that. From the top of my head, this field matches a lot of what I want in a job, but I will definitely take the time to explore this further. @FullGlass Thank you for your support! @MiladyMalarkey thank you so much for this!! Deer in headlights is definitely something I'm struggling with, as are most if not all nursing students. I just worry if im more anxious that I should be, but it's nice to know my feelings are pretty normal. I resonate with a lot of the points that you made in regards to being an A-student and yes...it's all growing pains. Its so hard to keep that in mind, but I will. I've actually been browsing the forums here at AN for quite a while and I do think it helped give me a more balanced perspective on what this field could be like--the good and the bad. And I know that if I switch majors and give up on myself I will regret. When I'm calm, I feel like I can do it...but when I get anxious I start to worry if this isn't for me and I just feel so anxious about school all of the time. I'm in the process of getting help for my anxiety but it's still so hard to keep a clear mind ya know? Thanks to everyone ?❤️ You guys rock!

Hi all. I'm a second semester ADN student, set to graduate May 2020 if I keep on going. I always wanted to be a nurse for as long as I could remember and I made sure to get good grades so that I could get into a program my first try applying. I would watch nursing videos on YouTube, I'm subscribed to nurses on Youtube and I would feel so excited watching their videos. I loved being in hospitals--I loved the energy, seeing everyone work, the gadgets (I like messing around with technology), everything. I couldn't wait to be a nurse. I remember anytime I was in the hospital or at a doctors office or something like that the nurses were always so kind and calm and smart and it always put me at ease. I loved seeing nurses out and about in their scrubs and above all I've always felt that nurses are extremely intelligent and I've always respected the field. I've looked forward to possibly working in Public Health, NICU, OR or PACU, research nursing...even aesthetic nursing! It's such a flexible field. But now im in nursing school, and I'm struggling in so many ways. Last semester I almost failed Fundamentals, but luckily my final grade was rounded. This semester in Med-Surg I I'm doing better in lecture so far--We've only had one quiz (which was more like a test lol!) and I passed it with the highest grade I've gotten so far during my time in the nursing program. It felt good to not pass a test only by the skim of my teeth and I got a 77.5! When it comes to clinical, I find that I struggle. I get very anxious talking to patients, and when my instructor is in the room? Forget it. I feel like everything I know just flies out the window. I'm always afraid that I'm hurting them in some way and I find that I am too gentle. Lastly, I feel as though my assessment skills still need work, despite the fact that I am now in my second semester. In regards to me being anxious -- I never really know what to say when I'm with a patient. I've never been too good with small talk, but I do want to talk to make them feel comfortable and have them open up. When I get a patient that's not in the best mood (like today) I get so intimidated and flustered and I feel like I fall apart inside, even though I retain my composure on the outside. Today I had to give a bed bath with my instructor in the room and I felt so disorganized and my professor noticed it. I've always been slow at bed baths for some reason ever since I started doing them last semester and to have my professor bring it to my attention (which she did in an extremely respectful manner) really sucked because I felt like if I take so long to do something simple like a bed bath and if I get anxious so easily how could I ever handle working on the floor as a nurse? I second guess myself a lot and confidence it key in being a good nurse. Lab is stressful for me as well--I feel like I fumble when performing skills and always do better when I practice by myself or with a fellow student during open lab. When my professor watches me perform skills during lab I get nervous, forget steps...its awful. I always worry that I'm going to hurt my patient. Last semester we had clinicals in a nursing home and this semester so far I've had older patients (ranging from 70 to 80 years old). During fundamentals, it was stressed to us how elderly patients are more at risk for skin tears, fractures, bruises, etc. So anytime I have to turn a patient (for example, when giving a bed bath) I'm afraid that I'm going to damage their skin in some way. When I'm cleaning them up, I'm afraid that I'm scrubbing their skin too hard...so many things run through my mind. Its like I treat patients gentle and delicate like their infants, and I'm not sure how to break out of that way of thinking. And lastly, my assessment skills. There are times when my SBAR seems to be more empty than usual, like for todays clinical. I feel like I always miss things. Like I do vital signs (BP, Resp, Temp, Pulse, O2 sat), I listen to lung sounds, listen to bowel sounds, check the skin for turgor, capillary refill, ask them if they're experiencing any discomfort/pain, check pedal pulses, edema, etc. But theres always things that I forget. Like today, I forgot to check for range of motion, muscle strength, pupillary reflex, etc. I feel like every week I always miss something and on some clinical days my assessment skills are better but on other days, not so much. I feel as though I should be steadily progressing. And there are times when my professor asks me if I assessed for this, or if I assessed for that and it just makes me feel bad like it something that I should have noticed or thought to look for. I guess I'm looking to vent and I'm also looking for advice. Has anyone else felt this way before? Is it a sign that I should switch my major to something else? I've been thinking of getting my BS in Biology and then getting my masters in Genetic Counseling instead. That way I'm still in medicine, still helping, but not on the front lines of patient care so to speak. I'd had to prolong my education, but I'm going to be turning 22 in a few months so I'm still pretty young...