Starting in August - scared and nervous!!

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I am a second career student starting a Associates Degree RN program next month and all of a sudden, I am petrified. I only have 5 semesters of 2-day-a-week clinicals to get through, but I'm so nervous. I'm quitting my teaching job so that I am not so overwhelmed, and I'm panicking that maybe I'm not making the right career move. Nurses in our area make more per hour than teachers, but I'm also burnt out on teaching, so it's a combination of reasons for the change.

My father is a retired family doctor, still made house calls till he retired. But I never ever considered medicine until recently, probably to take a different path. But I've always loved medical stuff, love hospitals, don't mind blood.

I've been working on pre-requisites for about 5 years now and finally have everything done. I was sooo excited until 3 am last night when everything hit at once...

But what if I'm not good at drawing blood?

Do I REALLY want to work on holidays, every other weekend, and evenings -- something my teaching career didn't require?

What if I make a mistake and someone gets hurt?

What if I catch some awful disease and hubby (who is lukewarm on the whole thing anyway) freaks out?

What if I try to help someone out of bed and hurt my back really bad?

Am I really going to be comfortable helping someone go to the bathroom?

It's funny --- as a teacher, I can say with 100% certainty that if I knew I'd be only working with kids during nursing school, I'd be fine. But there's something about knowing that I'll be working with ADULTS that is very intimidating.

I know, some of these thoughts are stupid and rambling, but I figured if anyone could share something that would either make me feel better or cause me to rethink my decision, it'd be the awesome people on this board!

Thanks!!

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

All valid worries, but do you need to take them all on now? Sounds like you know what you will be getting into since your Dad is a doctor and you've been in hospitals. It's only natural to be worried about a big change, heck, who wouldn't be? After a semester or two you will know for sure. What's the worst thing that could happen? It's not like you are jumping off a cliff, you can always return to teaching or go on to something else. Give yourself some slack, give it a try, who knows, you might just love it!

Good luck

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Hi Thank you. Yes, I have a tendancy to overthink things and try to make sure I've covered all bases. That probably works fine for teaching, but in this situation, it's not serving me well since there are too many unknowns at this point.

I'd love to know if other people have felt this way and what you've done to kick yourself out of it...

Thanks again!!

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Unfortunately, children do get sick, so you can work with them. If you're like me, you will have hard time seeing a sick child, my biggest worry is that I am very very emotional when it comes to children. I cry my eyes out when I watch sick children.

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I am a second career student starting a Associates Degree RN program next month and all of a sudden, I am petrified. I only have 5 semesters of 2-day-a-week clinicals to get through, but I'm so nervous.

I'm a second-career student who just graduated nursing school. Like you, I was scared stiff when I started. However, I actually did OK. Having worked in another career gave me perspective, and helped make me a better nurse. Being a bit older than the average nursing school student helped me be better grounded, and was an asset in dealing with adult patients. As a second bachelor's student I found my study skills were much improved the second time around.

But what if I'm not good at drawing blood?

Join the club. Nobody is very good at venipuncture in the beginning. It is a skill. As you practice it, you will improve. I am the clumsiest man on earth, and I managed to get certified in IV therapy. You can, too.

Do I REALLY want to work on holidays, every other weekend, and evenings -- something my teaching career didn't require?

Sadly, you'll most likely have to start out working undesirable shifts. You will likely spend a significant number of holidays and weekends at work. If this represents a major issue for you, nursing may not be the optimal career choice.

What if I make a mistake and someone gets hurt?

Everybody worries about this, including me. Just keep your head in the game, be rigorous about the five rights of medication administration, and don't be afraid to ask for help. You'll do fine.

What if I catch some awful disease and hubby (who is lukewarm on the whole thing anyway) freaks out?

Statistically, the chances of catching a serious disease while working as a nurse are quite small. Even needle sticks rarely result in infection. I wouldn't worry too much about this.

What if I try to help someone out of bed and hurt my back really bad?

This is a legitimate worry, but you'll be taught proper lifiting techniques. Just use them religiously and don't be afraid to ask for help when moving a patient. If your hospital has a lift team, make use of them.

Am I really going to be comfortable helping someone go to the bathroom?

Urine, feces, blood, vomit, pus and mucus are part of nursing. You'll encounter all of these things in nursing, although we sometimes exaggerate how often you'll have to deal with them. It can be disturbing at first, but you'll get used to it.

There's something about knowing that I'll be working with ADULTS that is very intimidating.

Most patients are decent people who are in the midst of the worst experience of their lives. In my limited experience, they generally respond well to even the smallest kindnesses.

I know, some of these thoughts are stupid and rambling.

On the contrary, most of us felt the same concerns and reservations before entering nursing school. I certainly did. But I made it and so can you. Nursing school is demanding, but as long as you stay focussed and keep your eye on the goal, you'll do fine. Best of luck!

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I had some advise for you, but mossback seems to have beat me to it. ;-)

Your concerns are very normal, sounds like you will make a great nurse.

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Wow, you are all very kind. Thank you so much. I'm glad to hear other people have worried about the same things. Well, not glad that you "worried", but at least I'm not feeling along!!

Happy Fourth to all and thanks again!!

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Specializes in International.

Don't worry you'll be fine...

Just take a deep breathe, drink a bottle, or 5, of red wine, and you will see once clinicals start that nursing is a beautiful art. Hard, but beautiful, tragic yet splendid, depressing but also rewarding, that that your school would not send someone into a clinical setting who is not ready(I did see one girl get through), learn to stand strong, and learn to be able to pull yourself away from the situation and examine things without hard emotion, and you will excel in nursing school...

Also it might help to learn the location of the nearest Starbucks, and start to get on a first name basis with all the staff!

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I'm much the same way in that I can sometimes reeeeally over think things! :uhoh3: The way I get through it is by just focusing on the present. It's not always easy to do that when your mind wants to wonder; especially at night!

All you can do is start out by putting one proverbial foot in front of the other. I try to keep focused on the task at hand and everything just rolls along.

Was reading other posts, and some really great advice!!

I know you'll do great! ;)

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This all really is great, and very kind, advice. I'm very grateful. I can feel the knot in my stomach relaxing somewhat. LOL.

I guess I need to just take it one day at a time. I shouldn't worry about things that might never happen, and focus instead on learning as much as possible and having a great experience. Then I can worry about things if they happen.... it's really easy to get stressed if you think about this too much....

Many thanks.

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Dont work with adults than be a peds nurse. I dont want to take care of seniors either. just suck it up for school. when your talking about nursing MONEY should not be a reason to go to school to be a nurse. It should be the desire to help people fyi. Nursing school is serious and hard but if you honestly want to be a nurse you will make it through and become a wonderful nurse. If it wasnt meant to be you'll find out when your in the program. either by failing or just from all the clinicals we do. you will never know until you try. I will be done in May and I hate all the hours I put into nursing school and who it ruins my life but you know what I LOVE nursing and cause of that it makes it all ok

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Maybe the best of both worlds is to be a school nurse. I don't know what the pay is like, but the schedule would be great for you and it would give you a break from teaching too. The bonus would be you could substitute teach too!

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