Sorry this is so long, but I just really have a lot on my mind and any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you guys in advance.
Hey guys, so I have a bit of a dilemma and I just feel so lost and confused
So I recently graduated last month, and I'm studying for the NCLEX as we speak and am planning on taking it sometime this Summer.
The thing is that during my Nursing school years, especially in my last semester of nursing, I had this terrible anxiety whenever I needed to work with my hands, such as giving medicine through an NG or G tube, and it was so bad to the point where I couldn't even do a glucometer reading because my hands would shake so much, like my hands just have a life of their own and I literally feel like I can't control my nerves and my anxiety over having to do hands-on skills.
It makes me feel really angry and sad, and almost like I can't be a competent nurse because my hands shake so bad. It's embarrassing and frustrating, I hate it.
I think if I had better hands-on skills and wasn't so anxious about nursing skills then I would have been more adamant about doing nursing.
Another thing is that I feel like I don't really have such a huge passion for nursing like my other friends in nursing school did. Don't get me wrong, I love helping people and meeting people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. And that's one thing that I really like about being a nurse, just being exposed to so many different people.
I am passionate about other things and have a dream about doing things that I actually enjoy, and feel am good at (it doesn't require hands on skills and isn't nursing related at all, it's geared towards the art side), and I'm considering looking into those types of jobs, but they don't pay as much and aren't exactly "professional" and noble jobs like nursing.
I was seriously considering taking a year off after I (hopefully) pass the NCLEX, and try to do some other less stressful jobs such as working at a bookstore or finding some work that I might possibly enjoy more than nursing, and that doesn't require much hands-on stuff.
However, I've heard from people that I wouldn't be able to easily get a nursing job if I wanted to return to nursing and get a job as a nurse, if I took such a long break (1 year) after finishing nursing school.
Would any of you guys have any advice or life tips or really just any thoughts about my situation? I'm just extremely lost and in a whirlwind of confused emotions right now.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my long post!! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)
Except that OP will still be a year behind if she takes a year off. And who is going to want to look at the resume of a stale grad? It's not like waiting a year means she'll be handed a job when she applies- she'll still need to go through all of those applications and interviews and maybe take another year (if not more) to find a job. She needs to get out there, pound the pavement, and work through her anxiety issues. Avoidance is not the way to go.
Not to mention, waiting a year is not going to make the anxiety go away. If anything, it will make it harder to start again.
You could get a job at a clinic, Dr's Office or similar type of place for now, and it would be much less stressful. You'll get the experience interacting with patients and taking vital signs and doing minor tasks like injections, but there will always be other staff to guide you.
I think you need to take a vacation after NCLEX and breathe. You don't want to get out of the field all together, just start slow.
Work in a less acute setting. Doctors office, mother/baby unit, etc. Nursing is very diverse and you can always work your way up to acute setting if you want.
One of my clinical instructors had shaky hands. She had been working for years in an acute care setting. When she had to do something like start an IV/draw blood, she'd tell her patient: My hands shake, it's just what they do! Nothing to worry about!
She had confidence and she owned that quirk.
This perhaps isn't your same situation (as anxiety is different than quirks), however I would caution you against allowing this to control your life for an entire year. Own it and figure out your way to work through it.
Work in a less acute setting. Doctors office, mother/baby unit, etc. Nursing is very diverse and you can always work your way up to acute setting if you want.
OP has "terrible anxiety" whenever she works with her hands. A nurse will work with her hands in a doctor's office and a mother /baby unit can be very stressful.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Echoing what many other posters have said. Get help through counseling & medication. But don't put off getting a job, that will only make your anxiety worse. Confront the problem head on.
One of my clinical instructors had shaky hands. She had been working for years in an acute care setting. When she had to do something like start an IV/draw blood, she'd tell her patient: My hands shake, it's just what they do! Nothing to worry about!
She had confidence and she owned that quirk.
This perhaps isn't your same situation (as anxiety is different than quirks), however I would caution you against allowing this to control your life for an entire year. Own it and figure out your way to work through it.
Beyond a quirk. The instructor had anxiety performance. Nobody comes at my veins with shaking hands.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Beyond a quirk. The instructor had anxiety performance. Nobody comes at my veins with shaking hands.
And you arrived at the diagnosis of performance anxiety how? It could be just a tremor- I work with a neurosurgeon and a cardiac surgeon who both have hand tremors. Yet, their surgical results are just fine and neither suffer from anxiety.
Sorry this is so long, but I just really have a lot on my mind and any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you guys in advance.
Hey guys, so I have a bit of a dilemma and I just feel so lost and confused
So I recently graduated last month, and I'm studying for the NCLEX as we speak and am planning on taking it sometime this Summer.
The thing is that during my Nursing school years, especially in my last semester of nursing, I had this terrible anxiety whenever I needed to work with my hands, such as giving medicine through an NG or G tube, and it was so bad to the point where I couldn't even do a glucometer reading because my hands would shake so much, like my hands just have a life of their own and I literally feel like I can't control my nerves and my anxiety over having to do hands-on skills.
I can relate. There were times early in my career where anxiety and stress resulted in my hands shaking. In my case, it was during my first couple of codes, when I had to draw blood at the request of law enforcement, or starting lines on combative patients. As with anything in life, it got better as I became more experienced.
It makes me feel really angry and sad, and almost like I can't be a competent nurse because my hands shake so bad. It's embarrassing and frustrating, I hate it.
I think if I had better hands-on skills and wasn't so anxious about nursing skills then I would have been more adamant about doing nursing.
If it were to persist, you would probably struggle to be a competent nurse. I seriously doubt that it would persist, though.
Another thing is that I feel like I don't really have such a huge passion for nursing like my other friends in nursing school did. Don't get me wrong, I love helping people and meeting people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. And that's one thing that I really like about being a nurse, just being exposed to so many different people.
I have no particular passion for nursing but consider it a fine career which is sufficient for me. The point being, being a successful nurse does not require a passion for the job so long as one receives what is important... in my case, job security and decent compensation.
I am passionate about other things and have a dream about doing things that I actually enjoy, and feel am good at (it doesn't require hands on skills and isn't nursing related at all, it's geared towards the art side), and I'm considering looking into those types of jobs, but they don't pay as much and aren't exactly "professional" and noble jobs like nursing.
By all means, if you can support yourself in the fashion that you wish by doing something about which you're passionate, certainly pursue that.
I was seriously considering taking a year off after I (hopefully) pass the NCLEX, and try to do some other less stressful jobs such as working at a bookstore or finding some work that I might possibly enjoy more than nursing, and that doesn't require much hands-on stuff.
However, I've heard from people that I wouldn't be able to easily get a nursing job if I wanted to return to nursing and get a job as a nurse
You wouldn't be "returning" to nursing since you've never been a nurse in anything more than title (once you pass). If you forego launching your nursing career now in favor of pursuing other interests, it's quite likely that you may never have the chance.
First jobs are challenging to come by under the best of circumstances and this would be far from it.
A gap year is a great luxury but is one that should be pursued between HS and college or mid-college... not with a freshly printed diploma and nursing license.
Would any of you guys have any advice or life tips or really just any thoughts about my situation? I'm just extremely lost and in a whirlwind of confused emotions right now.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my long post!! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)
My advice would be to get a nursing job, see a counselor regarding your anxiety, perhaps consider mild anxiolytics, and get some nursing experience. While you're working, save your money, network like crazy, seriously think about what's important to you, and then take a break after 2-3 years... or even better, try to land a per-diem job after 2-3 years or do the travel assignment thing and test the other waters from a position of security.
Thanks for your reply! Yea I think that I will try to conquer my fears, insecurities, and anxiety by putting myself out there into the workforce. I think what you stated was a good idea, I feel a bit of a comfort on the idea of working at less acute areas like a doctor's office, and outpatient centers. Although I have a question, what do you mean by the health department? How would I find a job there and what would the job entail, if you have any info on that.
I was also thinking of urgent care clinics as well. What other places do you recommend that I look into that is less demanding and overall less nerve-racking for someone like me?
Thanks for your reply! Yea you're right I am trying to avoid it and I might end up being more anxious than I initially am if I wait until a year later.
I'm thinking that I could pursue my passion/hobby on the side while working as a nurse. And yea I definitely agree with you, I should move towards a job I genuinely like rather than moving away from a job I just don't want. But I would like to give nursing a try as I've studied hard to get my degree and the job is a very rewarding job, helping others and such.
Julius Seizure
1 Article; 2,282 Posts
Not to mention, waiting a year is not going to make the anxiety go away. If anything, it will make it harder to start again.