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)
Poetry, you should search the forums for all the threads for older students. There are a gajillion of them. They are all uplifting and really encouraging. Sometimes I just read them when I need some encouragement. I have a previous degree in education but with cutbacks in our state, could not find a job after I raised my kids. So here I am with less than 2 years to go for a BSN. You can do this. If you put up with the military for 11 years, this should be a walk in the park. Do you qualify for any college benefits through all that? Good thing to check on because your service is appreciated and you earned all coming to you!! God bless!!
It is NORMAL to be scared. I was scared at 42 when I went to LPN school. I waited my whole life to go and my husband had to force me to leave the house. After the first day I was ok. It was that unknown. Not to say that NS isn't hard and that you won't be challenged, but it is doable. I also was scared when I started my first semester of RN school. Could not sleep the whole night before clinicals. Me, a LPN that has worked for 4 years. Again, once I go on the floor and knew what was expected, I was fine.
Good luck to you all. Take a deep breath. Take each day as it comes and pretty soon it will be done.
I have this constant fear of failure, since I failed out of school once before. I should have known better then to let my family talk me into college right out of high school, I wasnt ready then.
I just have to keep reminding myself that failure is NOT an option. Think of all of the people who have done it before you and remember that there is always someone who was smarter, and likely someone who wasnt as smart. Sucess, I believe, is just a testament to how hard we want to work. :wink2:
So.. I'll be taking deep breaths right along with you!! Good luck, and Im sure we will all do just fine!
I know what your going through. I petition this feb and hopefully I get in the fall no later than next spring. I want more than anything to get in but I'm afraid I won't be able to hack it. My biggest fear is when I start clinicals that I'll mess up and cause harm to a patient. The fear is killing me but I know it'll all be ok or at least I hope so.
I do feel as though this is normal, it is a new endeavour you are taking on in your life. You are stepping into the realm of the unknown, that can be a very scary thing.
But keep your courage and you will do fine. If you have the ambition you can make it through, just don't lose the drive. Losing that drive can lead to disaster.
It sounds like you have lived a full life thus far, just take a deep breath, and pray for that acceptance letter to come in the mail.
Specializes in Home Care, Psych, Education, Case Management.
I came into nursing three years ago with no medical experience and also not knowing if I was cut out for nursing. I had no idea what I was getting into. It's going to seem overwhelming at times but as long as you keep up with all the material and manage your time you will be fine. There are always students that struggle in different areas (pharm for me), but don't forget there are instructors there to help you through.
OMG!!! It is TOTALLY normal to be scared! I was a total spaz when I was submitting my application and waiting to hear....I thought that I would be better once I got accepted, but I think that I am worse!!
My boyfriend and I have been living together with his two kids for about 6 years and he is totally supportive and doesn't have a problem telling me when I am getting myself too worked up. Try to relax a little and enjoy the process....it's definately interesting!! The boards here are great to gain a little perspective now and again and to get good advice from people who have been there.
I was scared when I started also. Not sure if it was the right field for me, or if I would like it, and not sure I would cut it. The first day of clinicals, I met the most wonderful old lady who needed help and who's life I truly made a difference in, just by being there to take care of her. I never felt quite so complete before that first day, and all of my worries about it not being the career for me, faded away on that day. My CI even noted in my progress notes how much I cared about the patients.
I still worry about not making it, even though I have about a 90 average in every class (here a 93 and down to 80 something is a B). One student in my class even said something negative about how I always am so concerned about my grades and killing myself, and she did not make it past the first 9 weeks before failing out. So... there is something to be said for being afraid of failing. Fear is a great motivator. It is what keeps me from vegging on the couch the week before classes starts up again (I've been studying almost all day thus far). Fear is not bad, as long as you put it to good use. Don't let it immobilize you, just dive in and study twice as hard until you feel better about your grades. This really helped me a ton because at the end of the last semester I was really ready for a vacation and burnt out, and having had good grades throughout, I was able to skip one final (could drop any one test or the final and I did well enough on all the tests to drop the final) and the other I didn't really study for at all, and I walked away from everything with a B average (in addition to homeschooling a teen, working part time an hr from home, and caring for 2 babies).
Don't be afraid. You wont really know what you are going to like and not like until you dive in, and really, there are so many options for nurses that you could find something you don't like and totally avoid it once you get your license. (there are even desk jobs and IT jobs that specify having an RN license)
I can completely relate to you and yes you are extremely normal. I am entering into my 3rd semester of nursing school and am 30 years old. For the past 10 years I was working in a completely different field (salon/spa industry) and decided one day that it just wasn't for me anymore. So, I decided to go back to school and get my RN license. It was strange, very strange to be back in school after being away for so long. And to add to that the pressure of being in school with so many people who were so much younger than me and are freshly out of school and then there's me who had to relearn good study habits and time management. I've also had times where I've felt scared because; what if I don't like it?, what if I'm not good at it?. I started scaring myself because I'm a lot older then everyone else and this is my second career change and can I afford to waste my time on something that I may not like? It's a commitment and I had to make a choice, and I do not regret my choice at all today. All I can say is that it's a commitment and you have to decide if you're willing to take that risk. And when you do get into nursing school (good luck, by the way) go into it with as much confidence as you can! Confidence is an essential key in nursing school. And it is going to be overwhelming at times and other times you'll feel like quitting, but just keep your goals in mind and FOCUS!! As I'm sure you've heard it before... It'll all be worth it in the end. GOOD LUCK!
After the first day I was ok. It was that unknown. Not to say that NS isn't hard and that you won't be challenged, but it is doable. I also was scared when I started my first semester of RN school. Could not sleep the whole night before clinicals. Me, a LPN that has worked for 4 years. Again, once I go on the floor and knew what was expected, I was fine. 
notthereyet0
157 Posts
Poetry, you should search the forums for all the threads for older students. There are a gajillion of them. They are all uplifting and really encouraging. Sometimes I just read them when I need some encouragement. I have a previous degree in education but with cutbacks in our state, could not find a job after I raised my kids. So here I am with less than 2 years to go for a BSN. You can do this. If you put up with the military for 11 years, this should be a walk in the park. Do you qualify for any college benefits through all that? Good thing to check on because your service is appreciated and you earned all coming to you!! God bless!!