Scared so very scared

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I'm submitting my application for school this month. I feel I have a really good chance of getting in. I'm in my mid 30's, a war vet, mom to 3 and wife to a husband who is supportive. I spent 11yrs in the military doing a job I wasn't all that wild about or even good at. I've wanted to be a nurse since my sister got sick when I was 13yrs old.

I am TERRIFIED of nursing school. I'm afraid that I won't like it (nursing not school I mean who love the stress of school it's really stressful right? Of course it's stressful :uhoh21:) I'm afraid I won't be good at it.

Is this normal? I'm starting to freak out because all my hard work has brought me to the point of no return ( I mean I could return but I don't want to)

Is being scared of this process normal?

Sweet goodness I just feel so overwhelmed with the prospect of the next two years and the career that will follow(hopefully)

Please be gentle...I'm a little fragile :crying2:

Can anyone else relate?

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There's nothing wrong with being scared. It's a healthy respect for what faces you and in moderation even improves performance. Of course as in the service, being scared keeps your head down, but it doesn't keep you from getting the job done.

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oH My I feel exactly the same. I'm 24 but I've already done 2 years at a community college and feel like I've wasted all that time and money. I'm so nervous about nursing school, I'm afraid I'll freak out about the blood, vomit, and bowel movements (eww :uhoh3:). I'm afraid to start a school (I've choosen Keiser which is about $6500 a semester) and not finish, and lose money and head back to community college. I'm afraid of so many things, I even had a panic attack this morning because I really don't know what to do? I can totally relate to what you're feeling, and it's so hard for others to understand. My husband tells me I OVER THINK EVERYTHING... good luck ;)

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I'm not afraid of the poop, blood, etc...I'm terrified that I will invest all of my heart & soul and be a horrible student or I won't like nursing. I'm scared that I can't/won't cut it. :sofahider

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I have the same worries.. I'm even having doubts about the school I was accepted by..

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I'm so glad I'm not the only one feeling this way. I just applied to all the programs in my area and I'm terrified I won't get in or I might not be able to handle the program. I keep thinking of the worse.

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I'm very scared as well I start in 4 days and I am freaked out!!

I have got to STOP worrying and just buckle down and do it :/

I really want to nurse, I am just worried I won't succeed in the tests, or the juggling of family (4 kids) at the same time of being successful in the program!

My dear husband keeps telling me these words, you take them as well and think about them: You were chosen to do this for a reason, everything happens for a reason, and you were not chosen for a sought after, competitive position in nursing school based on "luck" or coincidence :) You can do this, tell yourself you CAN do this, and do it, own it! We have worked so hard to get to this place with hours spent in prerequisite classes, this is where we shine!

ok, I feel a little more motivated, thanks for being so open in your post, because I was feeling the same way, and I think if students band together we can help give each other the support that we need.

Good Luck! :)

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It's really nice to know that I am not alone. I thought it was just me.

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OH DARLINGS.......ITS OK......TAKE A DEEP BREATH IN AND OUT....THEN GO HAVE A MARGARITA or CHAI LATTE!

I totally understand....But you are going to be fine...I know there are alot of horror stories out there from all kinds of people who are struggling and stressed, but your journey is an individual one (of course your husbands/wives, and children are included in that).

I am finishing up PREQ right now, and every other day I want to cancel my classes and eat my way through the kitchen. The thing I am worried about is not the BODY FLUIDS or the horrors...its that so many, many nurses are very, very stressed out! their stories scare me...I know I can be a nurse and I know I can make good grades in college, but I get worried that I won't enjoy the overwhelming stress associated with work life. Now that being said, my goal is not to work in a hospital, I want to go the community health way, like nurse-midwife or FNP...I am scheduled to do 2 years of Peace Corp after I get the BSN as a present to myself (and to help with empty nest) when my son and daughter go off to college.

I am 42 years old, I nursed a severely ill Mother for 3 years, I have almost lost my daughter twice from pacemaker failures, I held down a household while my husband went to advise soldiers in IRAQ for months, and I put all my dreams and aspirations on hold to take care of my family for the last 20 years (which I loved). So compared to all that lets keep in mind that Nothing horrible is going to happen to you if you struggle in school. and Nothing horrible will happen to you if you get out and you don't like nursing...your life is a long, long journey some of which you concentrate on today, this week and this month, and some of which you dream about for your future.

I am taking my prerqs right now for an accelerated BSN/MSN program. I have a BS degree from eons ago, in Public Policy. I have MATH anxiety, and MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST anxiety (major anxiety). BUT.....I loved, truly loved college the first go around it is so fun to learn stuff. I always avoided math and science so I am nervous about STATS and CHEM. I know the nursing program is notoriously hard and stressful, and I don't have money to burn either. But I do know that once you have the RN behind your name you can do about a gajillion different things with it. It could lead to things you can't possibly imagine.

The best bit of advice that I have gotten so far is to do several things.

1) MAKE your LONG-TERM, MID-TERM, and SHORT TERM PLANS (map everything out, all the possibilities, the requirements and options you have or want). MAke a big map, one to hang on your wall with magazine cut-outs and stuff and colors and anything that contributes to your good feelings about where you want your life to go...and put it somewhere that you see it everyday, mine is hanging right by the toilet, I add to it, and take away, but I love it it because I have pictures of my family and of things I want to do, and things I want to buy etc....ITS an INSPIRATION BOARD!

2) IMPLEMENT your SHORT TERM PLAN----that means just deal with the spring semester for now, get a tutor for your classes on the first day, they help so much, or join a study group, AND find a mentor at your school (they are so great to have in your pocket, someone older). 3) MAKE A LIST OF 7 REASONS WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS---this helps when i am overwhelmed, to read why I am doing this...stick it your mirrors, frig, dashboard in your day planner, on your notebooks etc.)

4) DREAM BIG-KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN----you may get through NS and then end up teaching or like me have to stay home and take care of someone for a while.....who knows...there are people on this forum who have had 3 or 4 MAJOR careers and are starting NS in their 50's and 60's....Who wouldve figured? WOOOOO WHOOO!

I think its wonderful to come to a site like this and get advice from people who are on similar journeys..Ive learned so much about the details of NS and nursing life. Because my friends poor things, don't have a clue what I am talking about most of the time...so it helps to talk here.

ITS ALL GOOD, and it scares the S**T out of us most of the time, but there really isn't any other choice, life is a roller coaster, its just our job to have the safety bar latched....the rest of the time we can scream our lungs out!

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:nurse: Hi It's totally normal to be scared. I just finished my 1st semester of a BSN program in Ohio, I'm starting clinicals in Jan. 09 I'm still scared. It is very challenging, but all of you will do fine. I wanted to change my major on many occasions but my fiance kept telling me if it was easy and stress-free everyone would do it. Hang in there and you will succeed. And for those of you who haven't been accepted yet......just wait til you get that acceptance letter. I cried I was so excited!!!!!!! Good-luck and best wishes.
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Hi everyone! I know the feeling that you have! I just finished my first semester in my junior year (med surgery) and trust me, you will be fine! I still freak out every semester though bc I don't know what to expect. It is hard but its definitely do-able as long as you study and understand the concepts, YOU WILL DO GREAT! Just believe in yourself and you will see!! :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

Poetry, first let me say thank you for your service, secondly let me say its an honor to have you striving (with the rest of us) to be a nurse. Now, you CAN do this...youhave been chosen for a spot in a highly competitive nursing program for a reason. They don't pick losers. I think I can safely say we were all scared but I think its more scared of not knowing what to expect then say the fear of war, perhaps. You CAN do this and I think I can gamble here and say you will love it.

I went back to school and will be 40 when I graduate with my RN. scarey? hell yeah, I was so worried about being the only old fogey but then I realized how much I could contribute and it really made it a lot more fun. Good Luck to you, you have so much to offer you will do great!!!!!

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