Severe doubts about being a nursing major

heron, ASN, RN · Oct 21, 2015

At this stage of your academic career, you can pick another profession pretty easily. Is there other work that qualifies as helping people but wouldn't trigger as much anxiety?

You also have treatment options that might let you keep nursing as a viable option. Severe anxiety is not an uncommon issue for undergrads. Your school probably has a student health service that can either help or point you in the right direction.

CIRQL8 · Oct 21, 2015

All i can tell you is that I absolutely love nursing. There are so many different areas of nursing to choose from (and you get a little exposure to lots of the areas in school; but not all). Just look at all the different forums here.

The anxiety you mention is not uncommon in university/higher education students. The pressure for success is great no matter your major or chosen profession. I would like to think that shows an inner drive that you have.

That being said, if your anxiety is running your life to the point where you begin to feel helpless against it, I would suggest speaking with a professional. A school counselor, a school psychologist, your physician. Someone.

hstutz86 · Oct 21, 2015

You're making fear get the best of you.... fear has stopped me before...... don't let fear drag you down... you fear failure but you wont fail if you work you bottom off and be committed..... and with catching something there are ways you can evade diseases ... protection, proper procedures .... hospitals provide you with care if you were exposed..... you also could work in settings were you wont be exposed to nasty diseases...

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Oct 21, 2015

I agree with the previous posters. Get the anxiety under control and then see how you feel. You also state that you are a freshman. Could part of the issue be that you are a freshman away from home. Many freshmen have anxiety issues as well as a feeling of lonesomeness. That first semester is hard on many freshmen. Talk with the counselor at school and see and do what needs to be done to help you with the anxiety. You don't want that to get in the way of any career path you choose.

KThurmond · Oct 22, 2015

Talk to somebody about anxiety medicine. As long as you use standard precautions you will be protected from illnesses.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

If you want to be a nurse you must complete nursing school.

What should you do? Only you can decide. If you are ending up in the hospital because of pre reqs you may need to think about something you can actually handle. You can't freak out while taking care of patients or you will eventually be fired. This job is not for everyone.."wanting" and "doing" are two different things.

direw0lf, BSN · Oct 23, 2015

Hold up. Your fears are all normal that I bet every nursing student or prenursing student has had. What's going wrong is the degree of your fears and anxiety obviously. But take each fear and they're ok to have and don't necessarily mean nursing isn't for you but only you can figure that out. I think though that just changing your major you might find your anxieties following you about new issues.

But have I been worried about getting sick because I'm going to enter this profession? Yes.

Was I worried about getting in the program? Yes.

Have I felt homesick? Yes.

Am I scared I won't retain the info? Yes.

I mean you aren't alone with this. Being so sick over it that you need the emergency room though imo means you should talk to a professional.

nursingnugent · Oct 24, 2015

My freshman year of college I felt like a failure. I clearly hadn't done well enough in the pre-req courses that I had taken to get in to that school's nursing program and it felt awful. I had to come home after the spring semester and tell my parents that I thought I had just wasted a year of my life and I had no idea what I was going to do. I spent most of my spring semester freaking out, sick, anxious, and overall not well. I took a good month and a half to sit down and figure out another plan. I found a school that did direct enrollment that would accept my GPA from my previous school, close to home so I could live with my family and hopefully not be sick all the time, and close to my job as a CNA. I left a public university with low tuition costs, and went to an expensive private small college and even with the costs as a new added stress, I was less stressed without the weight of having to enroll in a university and re-applying to the nursing school the next year. It made a world of difference and I graduated spring 2014 Cum Laude with two job offers. This was my experience, but it may help. As for the part about not sure if you should be a nurse: Its a calling. Those of us who say I just can't see myself doing anything else or I never thought I couldn't make it just don't find it satisfying to do anything else. Big universities aren't the only way to become a nurse. You don't have to do it full time either, even if you have to take it part time 2 or 3 classes at a time. If its truly what you want to do, there are many ways to accomplish it. I wish you the best of luck.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2015

How can you say the OPs fears "are all normal". Are you saying it is "normal" for people to go to the hospital while doing pre reqs for nursing school? The OP is verbalizing major stress and anxiety requiring hospitalization. To say this is "normal"...where is your evidence of that?

SweetandSalty · Oct 25, 2015

Do NOT let anxiety get the best of you. I have had it my whole life and it has held me back so many times. It lies to you and makes you feel weak. Can you talk to a therapist? They have techniques to help you cope. It sounds like nursing is your passion. I say do not give it up. It seems impossible now but as you start showing yourself you can handle things, it will get easier. I went from almost fainting in chemistry class because I was so anxious, to being a straight A student. I still have serious concerns about my anxiety in nursing school but now I know I can help myself through it. Im in my thirties and this is my second attempt at college. I first tried in my early 20s but my anxiety was so bad I would throw up on my way to school sometimes. Trust me.. Do not put your dreams on hold..find a good therapist and believe in yourself. Anxiety causes fear and it lies to you. I promise you can do it

Dd04321 · Oct 25, 2015

Windsurfer, Previous posters have stated numerous times that the fears the OP is experiencing are normal, but the level of anxiety the OP is experiencing in relation to those fears is abnormal.