really really nervous

I'm currently doing my pre-req. I have a 4. so far, but for some reason I'm soooo nervous about nursing school! Did any of you question yourself constantly? I know I'm capable of learning the material, I study well, but I'm afraid of the actual hands on situations. Anyone else feel that way before school started? I start in August. Thanks! ps...I'm 38 with 4 sons ages 20, 19, 17, and 16...starting a little late in life

[EyesForward]

I'm over 38, and I've gotten less nervous with each prerequisite, starting with Chemistry, which was a hard one to start with! After gaining confidence I started piling on the load, and now I am only filled with anticipation for starting my program next week. Failure is no longer an option, and I am not scared, just ready to bear down and get on with it.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by EyesForward

Failure is no longer an option, and I am not scared, just ready to bear down and get on with it.

I couldn't have said it better ...

I'm 36, and before I started nursing school last fall I was a stay-at-home mom for several years. Many friends and family looked at me as if I had grown a 2nd head. Go to nursing school?? Be a nurse?? Whatever for???? Why would I want to do such a thing??? But I plunged ahead, for my own reasons, and there's definitely no turning back. I walked into a classroom last fall for the first time since 1990 (not counting my daughter's classrooms ...) and my confidence has continued to grow, as EyesForward said, with each class.

I think it's normal to worry, but if you've done well academically so far, there's absolutely no reason to doubt your classroom potential. And the secret is ... when you're scared - you just suck it up and GO AND DO IT ANYWAY!

Best of luck,

Leigh

[nurse2be in ny]

I know what you mean about being nervous about the hands-on things. My confidence about the classroom work has increased a lot since I sucessfully completed A&P I (after being out of school for some time), but I'm still nervous about clinicals. It takes me a while to catch onto hands-on things, and the accelerated programs (or any program) goes so fast! I do have some experience; I was a CNA, then a pysch tech for a number of years, but I'm still nervous.

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

Hello! I have the opposite fear! I'm comfortable with hands on, but scared to death about test taking. I panick. I have to take the nursing entrance exam by this April to be considered for the 2005 classes and I'm probably more freeked out than you are !

I'm envious that your "In!" That would be such a relief.

Every one in your class will have some-kind of fear about hands on, but you will all learn together . Change is usually scary, but it always gets better .

Good luck!

[CarVsTree]

I also am feeling nervous. I did really well in A&P I (98 avg.) and I still wonder if I'll make it in nursing school. Despite others struggling in my A&P I class, I keep wondering if we had an easy class. I worry about getting behind in nursing school and family distracting me from what I need to do for school.

All I can do though, is press on and do my best both with school and my family. I have a good plan and a very supportive spouse so I know I can make it.

You can too!

God bless!

[LauraLou]

I am also nervous about the hands on portion. What if I can't learn to insert catheters and IVs? My husband laughs and tells me I am being ridiculous but I am really nervous. I hope they give us written directions so I can practice. I don't do well when someone just demonstrates something and I am expected to reproduce what they did. I need written instructions or pictures to use as study aids. We have sacrificed so much for me to go to school, I simply can't fail.

[luv2yoga]

Boy, we all share so many things. Non-trad students with good grades/work habits but worried about clinicals. I am in that boat, definitely. I read some posts in the General Discussion area about new grads that can't seem to do the procedures right and I get so worried - will that be me? But then I think back to all the things I've been successful at in life, and I have 2 kids so I've been around the body and its secretions quite a bit. I think I can do this. And I just find it SOOOOO interesting...I could read medical books, wellness newsletters and watch Discovery Health all day long.

I think it's a process. By the time we get to clinicals, we'll have read/studied these subjects for many classes and then there's the classroom discussion, the labs and the practice. By the time you are there, doing it, you are a long way from here. This is what I'm counting on. And like others have said, I want it really, really bad and I will keep at it until I can do it. If I do a procedure with an instructor and feel like it didn't go well, I will say that to her afterwards and ask what I can do to get up to speed. I think willingness to learn and improve will count for a lot.

[nursemichelle]

I think the thing that helps my nerves the most is to remember that it is OK not to know anything right now.....I need to remember that all the nursing students start at the same point (unless they are already an LPN etc.) and we will all learn together. I just want to make sure I know all I can....and I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions! With 4 boys that all wrestle, there isn't much that will gross me out I'm sure, but I imagine I will eat those words one day lol!

[TweetiePieRN]

I will be finished with nursing school this May. I can tell you from experience that starting clinicals in nursing school is scary. I was afraid to give injections, put in foley catheters, etc. According to all my friends in my nursing class...we were all scared (so its normal to feel this way) After your first semester or first year....the confidence you gain is amazing!! You learn to go with the flow and trust your abilities. Believe me...you will do very well! Have faith in yourself and practice your skills. Thinking back, i never thought i would actually be able to say that i would ever be confortable in the clinical setting. I used to get sick every morning before clinicals since i was sooooo nervous. Now, i look forward to going to my clinicals!! GOOD LUCK!!!

[TweetiePieRN]

I will be finished with nursing school this May. I can tell you from experience that starting clinicals in nursing school is scary. I was afraid to give injections, put in foley catheters, etc. According to all my friends in my nursing class...we were all scared (so its normal to feel this way) After your first semester or first year....the confidence you gain is amazing!! You learn to go with the flow and trust your abilities. Believe me...you will do very well! Have faith in yourself and practice your skills. Thinking back, i never thought i would actually be able to say that i would ever be confortable in the clinical setting. I used to get sick every morning before clinicals since i was sooooo nervous. Now, i look forward to going to my clinicals!! GOOD LUCK!!!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Whew, thanks Tweetie:coollook: I'm feeling much relieved. The very idea of clinicals is scaring the bejeebers out of me.