Scared of NS

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I haven't started the program yet, but if things work out, I'll be starting in January. Throughout high school, I was an "average" student. My parents didn't push me to get straight As, but def didn't want me getting anything under a C. I graduated with a 2.6 and that was 10 years ago. Now that I know what I really want to do (nursing) I get nothing but As and Bs, and I study all the time. I also have a family (2kids). What I'm trying to get at, is I'm working so hard just to get accepted into NS, that once I get in...I'm so scared of failing or doing a complete 180! There's so much info to know & I get scared I'd forget it all by the time I graduate & my gosh what if I injure a patient?! I'm sure a lot of students have these fears...I'm not calling myself stupid, but at the same time, I was never a straight A student throughout grade school. Does anybody else feel this way or have felt this way??

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It's amazing how well you can do when you want to. I was a C student in high school then went to a state university and never graduated. Started per read for nursing when I was 29 and made all A's and 1 B. I'm finishing my second semester of nursing school (final is Tuesday) and have made Bs in all my classes. It's hard work but if you want it and pit the work into it, it can be done. Good luck to you!!

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Thanks aubgurl! It's just nice hearing from someone that knows where I'm coming from! I appreciate your response

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

I did the minimal work necessary to graduate high school. 9 years later I had two kids and went to community college. Kept a 4.0 throughout pre reqs and now that I'm finishing up sophomore year of BSN I have about a 3.8. I'm deathly afraid of injuring or inadvertently killing someone, which encourages me to check and recheck everything I do.

Here's a little hint: I've found being a mom gives me an advantage over all the kids straight out of high school.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

you are more mature now and more focused. I believe that has a lot of power when you really want to succeed. Plus, you only have to do nursing school one day at a time. Yes, it will be hard. Everything worthwhile is hard.

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It's normal to doubt yourself, especially when you think of something scary like NS (and all the horror stories of failing). You just have to take it one day/class/test/assignment/etc at a time. Don't commit or envision yourself failing before you have even started. Think positive and focus on the things in your power that can help you stay a good student. Do your studying in a timely manner, don't do things at the last minute, ask your instructors for help when you see problems coming BEFORE they've become issues of failure, find people you can trust that can support you in your personal life, make friends in the program (classmates can be a wealth of information), and breathe!

Hurting patients is definitely something to worry about but if you take your time with things and you follow the steps you will learn for patient care, then you will act safely. Problems pop up when you try to rush through things and you skip steps to save a couple of seconds.

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Specializes in Neuro, Trauma, and Psych.

I understand completely! I was always a C student and self proclaimed underachiever. But I realize I have a knack for medical stuff and have only made 1 B in all my prereqs (the rest are A's). I'm scared to death of nursing school too (which hopefully I will begin in August) but I am more excited than scared! I also have 2 year old who will go to day care for the first time ever. Just remember that no one expects you to be perfect and you will make mistakes, but you will learn so much. Not to mention much of the skills that you will use everyday, you will learn during orientation at your first job as a nurse! Enjoy the time with your kids before school and allow yourself to enjoy this new path that you are taking! Good luck! :)

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Thank you guys so much for the wonderful advice & words of wisdom! I will definitely take that info with me! Good luck to the rest of you as well!!

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keep up with the readings, study hard and you'll be fine. the people who fail are usually the ones who dont start studying until a few days before a test.

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I feel you. I actually did quite well in school when i was younger and have done well in prereqs... I start in a week. And I'm scared to death! I have a family as well and so much riding on this. Failure is a frightening thing for me. I have written a list of reasons for myself that I am posting on the wall. They are things to ease the stress, slow down my spinning brain, and keep me going. Keep at it!

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