Should I let the fear of failing nursing school...

Vwpenn · Aug 9, 2014

I worked two part time jobs and was raising a toddler while in nursing school. It can be done. Grant you no sleep there for awhile but I assure you, I have more then made up for it. :woot:

HelloWish, ADN, BSN · Aug 9, 2014

Many people do it and if it is what you really want, then you will pursue it!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2014

Fear has an astute way of lying to us and narrowing our options in life.

If I had acted on all my fears, distorted thoughts and misconceptions, today I'd be a thirty-something still living at home with my unsupportive parents who had also allowed their personal fears and lack of openness to new ideas hold them back in life.

Instead of acting on my fears, I took some bold risks. I'm now a thirty-something who left the nest more than a decade ago, even though I had fears about doing so. I quit my dead-end factory job to enroll in nursing school, even though I had fears about doing so.

I'm glad I took the risk of opening myself up to new experiences, because things eventually fell into place. If I had listened to my fears, I'd be too paralyzed to build a life for myself. Fear lies to you. Life is about taking calculated risks. Good luck to you.

nlitened · Aug 10, 2014

Sure they suggest cutting back your hours at work, but I know plenty of nursing students that worked full time thru the program...it can be done. Working full time, being a full time parent/spouse, and going to school full time is doable. If it is something you truly want then make it happen; don't let that fear of failing stop you from pursuing your dreams.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 10, 2014

I worked through nursing school working 30 plus hours; sometimes overtime because I had a mortgage and grown-up bills; I finished nursing school with a respectable 2.89 GPA. :yes:

Not everyone can quit working because of responsibilities; but one can balance the two successfully; there many that do so everyday. :)

missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2014

Worst case scenario: You start nursing school and you fail.

Best case scenario: You start nursing school, manage through it, pass the NCLEX, and become a licensed RN.

Either way, you won't know until you try. Best of luck!

DawnJ · Aug 10, 2014

Looking at the people in my class (we just finished).....more than half worked. Sample size=24

Of those that worked, 46% of them passed and 55% failed

Of those that didn't work 66% passed and 36% failed

Those who had been working as LPNs and joined for the bridge and kept working did better than the traditional students who worked as CNAs or in unrelated fields. Likely because the LPN work helped them to know the material.

CAN you pass nursing school while working? Yes. But your chances are better if you can devote your energy just to school

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2014

If you allow yourself to be ruled by fear, you will likely never do much of anything worthwhile. Your choice.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Aug 11, 2014

Iw as 45 when I started PRE-REQ! Yes, you can do it. Just chew the elephant one mouthful at a time. You are not expected to know it BEFORE you come to class, only afterwards.

Guests · Aug 11, 2014

Yes, I think you should let fear of failing nursing school hold you back from achieving my goal and becoming a nurse.

I also think you should let fear of heartbreak hold you back from trying to find a life partner.

I also think you should let fear of congenital defects hold you back from trying to have a child.

Pretty much, I think you should let fear rule over you... let it prevent you from doing anything meaningful in life...

Take no risks, accept no challenges, make no friends, have no lovers...

Be a rock, be an island...

~~~

Does that help put it in perspective?

~~~

Seriously... Can you overcome your challenges and become a nurse? I haven't the foggiest notion... not everybody can, to be sure.

But most people can. It's not that big a hurdle as hurdles go. And you'll never know if you don't try.

And there are risks for staying right where you are and doing nothing. So do this... or do something... just don't do nothing.

~~~

Fear is rarely a sound reasoning factor in decision making. Risk assessment, yes... fear, no.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2014

Fear has an astute way of lying to us and narrowing our options in life.
If I had acted on all my fears, distorted thoughts and misconceptions, today I'd be a thirty-something still living at home with my unsupportive parents who had also allowed their personal fears and lack of openness to new ideas hold them back in life.
Instead of acting on my fears, I took some bold risks. I'm now a thirty-something who left the nest more than a decade ago, even though I had fears about doing so. I quit my dead-end factory job to enroll in nursing school, even though I had fears about doing so.
I'm glad I took the risk of opening myself up to new experiences, because things eventually fell into place. If I had listened to my fears, I'd be too paralyzed to build a life for myself. Fear lies to you. Life is about taking calculated risks. Good luck to you.

This. 1 million times this!

I quit working not so much for school but as I had the luxury to. Now, I don't and I regret it terribly. I am back at my old job but I am still only part time looking to go back to full time with a pay cut and reduction in commission %. It's tough but knowing what I know now, I would have kept at it. It is by no means impossible. It's just something you have to reconcile with yourself as being a serious undertaking. It will take up your life but you can do it. There is nothing impossible about working full time and going to nursing school. I think the warnings about working minimal hours or none at all are meant for the less-than-dedicated (as of yet) student who hasn't been slapped around a bit by the gravity of it all. You, on the other hand, are primed to see how serious a situation it is and are more likely to take the steps to succeed, granted you don't let your fear cause you to stumble. You can do it. You will do it if you truly want to. Good luck!