social anxiety

Nurses General Nursing

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Can someone who has social anxiety become a RN? I feel sometimes I do. And looking at all the classes for Nursing is making me a little nervous. I am 31 a single mom and just started back to school taking pre req's and should be able to start program fall of 2006. But why am i panicking already? I do fine interacting with people, but just the thought of people watching me(when doing clinicals) makes me a little anxious. I am a little shy, but I know I would be capable of being a great nurse, but am a little nervous.... maybe feeling like I can't do this. Is that a normal feeling? I know it's not a good attitude to have. Please give me some advise. Sometimes I may just worry too much. :imbar

Yes someone who is shy :imbar and feels a little panicky :uhoh3: can get through pre-reqs, nursing courses and clinicals. And you will DEFINITELY go onto being a GREAT nurse. Being nervous only means that you are consciencious of your technique in performing the procedure correctly. :rolleyes: This means you are probably a stickler for details which is a MUST in nursing! :nurse:

I was a single mom too, it took a few years but I have graduated with my BSN, am loving nursing and now am working on my MSN! YOU CAN DO IT!!! Your kids will admire you for becoming their role model in life on how to complete a goal (mine have),:kiss and your patients will love your nursing care as you learn. Then dance a jig for joy with your ADN

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I am so happy I found this website. Everyone is so nice. I hope I can do it with my 2 boys. I do have awhile and I will take one step at a time. That is wonderful you are going for your MSN. I know it is going to be very hard but I will be determined, I want a career and I will do it for my children. Right now I am living paycheck to paycheck. I guess I make ok money, but I just am getting tired of sitting at a computer all day, and don't see myself going farther with company. Just sometimes I feel I am reaching to high, (I was out of school for along time), at first I was thinking of medical billing then jumped to NUrsing, a degree. Well I wish you luck. How old were your children when you went to nursing school???

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It doesn't sound as if you have anxiety disorder, especially considering you interact with others without getting nervous. I THINK I may suffer from anxiety disorder. Whenever I am called upon in class to answer a question, my heart rate accelerates, I get fidgety and flat out nervous...even if I know the answer. Also, during my clinicals I was often nervous. However, I still made it through my first semester.

Even if you did suffer from AD you could still be a great nurse.

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It doesn't sound as if you have anxiety disorder, especially considering you interact with others without getting nervous. I THINK I may suffer from anxiety disorder. Whenever I am called upon in class to answer a question, my heart rate accelerates, I get fidgety and flat out nervous...even if I know the answer. Also, during my clinicals I was often nervous. However, I still made it through my first semester.

Even if you did suffer from AD you could still be a great nurse.

Oh no that is me also. I just noticed how bad it was when I went back to college. I was out of school for along time. I noticed it when I was in class and I will talk and chat with all the students, no problem. It was when class began, and discussion I would get nervous when the teacher would start calling on people. My heart to would race, I would get so nervous but I would even know the answer but never answer the question. I am starting my other 2 classes next week, I am going to try to overcome my shyness and start out in the beginning of class maybe talking a little bit more. Wow but you got thru nursing school. Or are you still in it. Good luck, I want to think I can do it. Thanks for the advice, I really find this website very helpful!!!

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

It's a pity, in a way, that they can't let you take Psych Nsg first. You learn so much about yourself!

Just about everyone in my class has had significant anxiety at some point. Some, like me, have had it pretty bad. It can be dealt with, and usually without meds. Deep breathing helps a lot. Also, discussing your problem with your instructors can be helpful. Some of my nursing instructors initially thought I was indifferent. When they understood I was about half paralyzed with anxiety, they were able to help a lot.

I do think this can help you be a better nurse. I see too much passive/aggressive behavior in nursing. Learning to overcome your shyness by being assertive may help avoid that pattern. If you can learn to confront stress directly, and early, it may not get to you the way it does some. At least, that's my hope, since I've had to overcome many of the same feelings.

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I suffer social anxiety and always have. My first clinical I remember standing outside of the patient's room for about 10 minutes, afraid to go in. Clinicals were always stressful for me, but for other folks it was the academic aspect of nursing that was their stumbling block. I always breezed through the material and aced the tests.

My advise is to embrace your fear. Everytime will be easier. Now, I easily call doctors, have an easy manner with patients, and have a good job in a hospital that I love. I still suffer anxiety when I have to do something new, such as call someone in a department that I'm unfamiliar with. I always will ask someone for instructions on what to do, everyone knows that I have a bit of a phone phobia, I joke about it all the time, so they go out of their way to help me. But, I'll always do it myself, because I know that the next time will be easier!

So, learning nursing will be hard and stressful at times, but it'll build character and self confidence. If I can do it, so can you!:)

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.
I suffer social anxiety and always have. My first clinical I remember standing outside of the patient's room for about 10 minutes, afraid to go in. Clinicals were always stressful for me, but for other folks it was the academic aspect of nursing that was their stumbling block. I always breezed through the material and aced the tests.

My advise is to embrace your fear. Everytime will be easier. Now, I easily call doctors, have an easy manner with patients, and have a good job in a hospital that I love. I still suffer anxiety when I have to do something new, such as call someone in a department that I'm unfamiliar with. I always will ask someone for instructions on what to do, everyone knows that I have a bit of a phone phobia, I joke about it all the time, so they go out of their way to help me. But, I'll always do it myself, because I know that the next time will be easier!

So, learning nursing will be hard and stressful at times, but it'll build character and self confidence. If I can do it, so can you!:)

Could have been written by me! Specifically, I have a hard time with phone calls as well as initiating conversation and "mingling", so initially approaching patients in my clinicals was challenging. I had a slow "learning curve" as I always had to read through the chart thoroughly before I went into a patient's room. I've mastered most of the anxiety as it relates to nursing. I still need to look the chart/ MAR over but now a two minute glance gives me most of the info I need for initial contact. I remember as a student being amazed and gratified at how receptive patients were to talking to a student and letting him/her examine them. But remember, most people love to tell you about themselves. A student is a legitimate part of the healthcare team plus on most busy units, when else does the patient get such intensive one-on-one attention and care? And I found I loved (and still do) hearing a new patient's story.

Oh- as for the personal aspects of my social anxiety: I would still rather have root canal than mingle at a large gathering with strangers, or even choose a table of co-workers to sit down with at lunch if I don't know them well...I've just learned to live with my own craziness, I guess, as it hasn't seemed to impact my work.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I knida know what the OP meant.

Thankfully, I had wonderful professors and awesome clinicalists :) They recognised my nervousness and anxiety and (some) went out of their way to ease me into things :D

So I won't say "Don't worry" but I will certainly say "Have a bit of faith in yourself and put your best foot forward. You may very well be surprised with the results!" :)

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I have it and take Paxil for it. It manifested itself when I was ~21 (I am 32 now) social anxiety/panic attacks is what I have. I no longer suffer from the panic attacks. I do get anxious from time to time but it's manageable.

I tried therapy, xanax (for short-term only) and tried very hard to control my s/s with breathing exercises. Unfortunately, in my case, this was not enough and my MD, therapist and I decided to try a couple of SSRI'S and ended up w/Paxil.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I think that suggesting the OP needs meds or psych help is overreacting. She only mentions a "little anxiety"and some shyness. I experienced both and didn't consider it a problem. I have always been a little shy in new situations and having an instructor watch you perform a new skill would naturally make anyone nervous. Haven't we all been nervous at sometime in a new situation?

Hang in there girl and you will find out that you can do it. Believe in yourself and best of luck.:nurse:

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As for me, (only speaking for my post) I am not suggesting he/she gets any psychotropic drugs or counseling.

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