Reality hit

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Specializes in Lactation.

Reality or something hit, I was sitting at the drive in movies last night watching Cars 2 and right in the Middle of the Movie it hit me that I was about to tkae on something that was harder and more important to me than anything else I have ever tried to do. I had a mini anxiety attack going on. MY heart sped up, and I was freaking out for a few minutes. I can't believe its finally hitting me that I am starting nursing school in a month.

I just gotta stay calm. Anyone else have something simular to this?

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I've had that feeling a few times. Right before I started nursing school, my first time giving meds, my first time holding a baby, and my first time being with a patient while they died. Nursing is a HUGE commitment, you will literally hold peoples' lives in your hands. Getting anxious about starting school shows that you realize how big it is, the importance of your studies, and some of the responsibility you'll have in nursing. Being aware of all of that will make you great! Don't let the feelings overwhelm you, just think "ok, I know this is going to be tough, but I'm going for it" and dive in! Good luck :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

I gotta agree with RKpianoman. Ya, it's scary. But you learn and you adapt. Eventually your whole life revolves around nursing; even your subconscious. People don't just fart anymore, they have great bowel motility. When people get drunk and vomit, you're not worried about the hang over, you're worried about metabolic alkalosis. You sit too long in class and your butt falls asleep because you forgot to turn q15 in your chair.

Despite the fact that it consumes your life, nursing school is what you make of it. Ya, there are a lot of rough patches. But enjoy it for what it's worth and keep a smile on your face. I'm sure you'll be fine as long as you put in your full effort :up:

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Oklahoma, I'm right there with you. I have exactly a month today before I begin. I had my first 'Oh Lord what have I gotten myself into' moment a few days ago. I'm excited....and scared to death.

But personally, I look at it like this: 1,000s before us have done it, and if God wants me to succeed, I will.

I think we will be fine. Exhausted, over worked and busy, but fine. :)

Now, if we could only discover a way to stock up on sleep...

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Specializes in N/A.

Yep, can relate. I think if we didn't feel this way from time to time that I would be concerned. What we are about to do is a complete life altering challenge. After the first "OMG what have I gotten myself into" thoughts I got over it quickly. I've wanted this for so long....no going back now! :D

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

Yup! I had a mini breakdown after my nursing school orientation. I phoned my hubby absolutely freaking out and he helped talked me down. I had worked so hard to get in and now that I got accepted, I had doubts I could do it. I had so many questions and self-doubts rolling around in my head, I was thinking of the worst case scenario in EVERYTHING. I figured I was going to have to memorize every lab value, every med, every process and do every skill perfectly too pass. There was just so much to I had learn that I did not think I was going to be up to it.

I am now nearing the end of my first semester and, to be honest, this semester has been underwhelming. :lol2: I have been learning new, interesting things but not challenged - which is what I really thrive under. Funny thing is, I'm not the only one who feels this way. In my program, which is a traditional BSN, the minimum GPA was a 3.76 - none of us are academic slouches and many are classic type A personalities (me!). We have driven ourselves for the last 2-3 years in pre-reqs and suddenly that pressure is gone - I am personally having a difficult time adjusting to the reduced pressure. I feel like I am experiencing a sense of loss - totally weird, I know. :lol2:

In pre-reqs if there was any problem most of the teachers I've had were pretty much too bad, figure it out yourself and here's your grade. The teachers in my NS are TOTALLY different. For example, we have to get 100% on our med calculations quiz, we have three attempts or we fail it. And... if you fail you can not move forward in the program. Well, I have two friends, who never got calculations in their pharm class, who both failed....3 times. They were not kicked out. They are given one on one instruction until they are able to pass the quiz on their own. The same is said in our lab exam. If you miss a required item, such as checking the arm band, you fail. Well, it happened to someone and they were not kicked out. They will have remedial instruction and allowed to take it again...until they pass 100% on their own. The professors keep telling us they are not here to trip us up, make tricky questions or weed us out, they are here to help us succeed. I have silently questioned this approach but when I see the retention rate and high NCLEX pass rate, this approach must actually work!

Anyway, what I'm trying to convey in this dissertation is that we tend to blow things out of proportion in our own minds. You are intelligent enough to have gotten into your program, you will be intelligent enough to make it through. So far, I'm loving nursing school! I have made tons of great friends, we all have a blast in class (I have never laughed so much in a class) and well... nursing is just COOL!

Good luck!!! I hope you love NS as much as I do!! :yeah:

~SD

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Specializes in Lactation.

Thank all of you for the encouragement. I really appreciate it! I have not had anymore moments, hopefully I wont before school starts. Sanddollar, thanks for the advice, I know your right :-)

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It's a sign that you're in the right place. It's something that should be taken seriously, and, yes, it's a big commitment, but it sounds like you know what you're in for and will do great.

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You just explained how I feel on an almost daily basis. I am super excited and I know it will be hard. I am also completely freaked out because I am afraid I won't be able to work and then I will have to drop out or lose my house etc. etc. My brain is on overdrive and stuck on all the things that could go wrong.

The only reason I am still sticking with it is because I have a feeling that I absolutely must go now and this is my time. My husband wants me to wait another year but for some reason I just feel an urgent need to start now. Crazy I know. Oh well I guess I will have to live with my anxiety and do my best!

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Its nice to know Im not the only one who has freak out moments with school starting in two months. Most of the time Im excited, but I do have those moments when Im very nervous about it (Seems to really hit me when I am laying in bed at night, lol.) What if I fail? What if I don't have enough money to survive? What if the teachers are horrible? Then I remind myself that it is only two years and that if I work hard, I can do anything I want. Also, someone else mentioned that they think about the thousands of nurses who made it before us. If they can do it, so can we!

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Specializes in Lactation.

You all have voiced the way I feel so well. I am excited, nervous, and oh so excited all at the same time!!! I am so glad to know there are others feeling this, its nice to know I am not alone.

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Specializes in Telemetry/ICU.
Oklahoma, I'm right there with you. I have exactly a month today before I begin. I had my first 'Oh Lord what have I gotten myself into' moment a few days ago. I'm excited....and scared to death.

But personally, I look at it like this: 1,000s before us have done it, and if God wants me to succeed, I will.

I think we will be fine. Exhausted, over worked and busy, but fine. :)

Now, if we could only discover a way to stock up on sleep...

Preach on Doodle'sMom:yeah:

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