Terrified!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello,

I am on summer break and will start the 2nd semester of nursing school in August. I barely made it through the 1st semester. It is overwhelming to say the least. I started college in 2000 and was in an R.N. program in 2004. I did not make it. It took 3 years to get into another program. I am doing well academically. My worry, fear, and anxiety has turned into panic:bluecry1:. I have panic attacks and it started in clinicals and has carried into lecture:(. I have all kinds of physical symptoms, like, dizziness, light headedness, sweating, pounding heart, feeling like I am going to faint, frequent urgent urination. I have spent so much time crying and trying to control it. I am on break now but at times terrified of next semseter. I have always wanted to be a nurse. I have fought hard just to get to this point. I don't know what to do:imbar. I find myself being terrified of thinking of drawing blood, starting I.V.'s, giving meds, ect:cry:. I should mention that I am also a certified phlebotomist and have done over 100 draws. I have also worked as a medical assistant and given hundreds of injections. I don't know what happened to me. Once nursing school started the fear intensified and I couldn't draw blood, give shots, ect. I am stunned at this! I don't get it. I don't know what to do. In med-surg I found myself not even wanting to look into the patients rooms. I had to tell myself, "Okay this is ridiculous, they are patient's not flesh eating zombies." I cannot go on like this. Fear cannot rule. What do I do? Help?:banghead:

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Specializes in med-surg.
Hello,

I am on summer break and will start the 2nd semester of nursing school in August. I barely made it through the 1st semester. It is overwhelming to say the least. I started college in 2000 and was in an R.N. program in 2004. I did not make it. It took 3 years to get into another program. I am doing well academically. My worry, fear, and anxiety has turned into panic:bluecry1:. I have panic attacks and it started in clinicals and has carried into lecture:(. I have all kinds of physical symptoms, like, dizziness, light headedness, sweating, pounding heart, feeling like I am going to faint, frequent urgent urination. I have spent so much time crying and trying to control it. I am on break now but at times terrified of next semseter. I have always wanted to be a nurse. I have fought hard just to get to this point. I don't know what to do:imbar. I find myself being terrified of thinking of drawing blood, starting I.V.'s, giving meds, ect:cry:. I should mention that I am also a certified phlebotomist and have done over 100 draws. I have also worked as a medical assistant and given hundreds of injections. I don't know what happened to me. Once nursing school started the fear intensified and I couldn't draw blood, give shots, ect. I am stunned at this! I don't get it. I don't know what to do. In med-surg I found myself not even wanting to look into the patients rooms. I had to tell myself, "Okay this is ridiculous, they are patient's not flesh eating zombies." I cannot go on like this. Fear cannot rule. What do I do? Help?:banghead:

Have you talked to a trusted instructor about how you feel? We all get panicky at times. The best place I have found to get a reality check is by talking to classmates (many of whom turned out to be more stressed than I was) and by this forum here. You are not alone.

Another thing you might want to consider is talking to your family physician if the anxiety has been disturbing your life excessively.

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I have tried to talk to classmates and it just seems like everyone is excited about the things that terrify me. I haven't talked to an instructor I feel like they would think I was crazy. In med-surg I had to go to the G.I. lab I cried like crazy before having to go to clinicals. I was just gonna call in and quit. I got there, cried and made it through. I was so glad that I did not have to go to ortho clinic and see an amputation like my other classmates did. I do not want to go to the O.R., E.R., ect. God I just don't know if I can do it. I really want to become a nurse but I am terrifed of the responsibility, the stresses, and I am terrified to make a mistake because I could really hurt someone. When school started I was terrified, scared to fail and scared to pass. I don't want to give up. Am I crazy, I mean the nurse can't be the one fainting. It is like the fight or flight thing. I just want to run for my life, ya know!

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Breathe in, breathe out slowly. Repeat.

My first day in uniform scrubs I had a major panic attack. Something just got to me about the uniform. It was a lab day (not at the hospital), so it wasn't the patients, I was just tripping out on the whole "What? Me? A NURSE??!!!??" thing.

I hope you have access to some qualified help. Do not be afraid to seek out help to distinguish between the various issues at work in your head. Stress reactions can be very strong and very disruptive, so you need to seek help to maintain your health.

Sorry if this is not so very helpful to you. I just wanted you to know that I once felt just like you do now. It ended. I love what I'm doing and will graduate very soon.

Take care and keep us posted. :1luvu::stdnrsrck:

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Have you tried to practice some relaxation techniques or meditation exercises? It takes practice to quiet your mind but the payoff is it works! In your nursing school, are there mental-health nursing instructors and if so meet with one and express your fears. What you are experiencing is NORMAL! Not all people with fear will admit it. I applaud you for wanting to face your fears and for reaching out for help. I remember in my program a fellow student dropped her notebook on the floor while we were at the hospital the first day. SHE FREAKED! She had a germ thing. She began shaking and crying. We ended up wiping her notebook off with lots of alcohol and we spent hours through our schooling with me talking with her about her germ fears. She doubted herself the entire program (BSN) and had alot of anxiety and panic attacks. She learned relaxation techniques and meditation. It wasn't easy and she still had anxiety at times yet she made it through the program and graduated. AND YOU WILL TOO...JUST HANG IN THERE AND KEEP REACHING OUT!

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Specializes in med-surg.
I have tried to talk to classmates and it just seems like everyone is excited about the things that terrify me. I haven't talked to an instructor I feel like they would think I was crazy. In med-surg I had to go to the G.I. lab I cried like crazy before having to go to clinicals. I was just gonna call in and quit. I got there, cried and made it through. I was so glad that I did not have to go to ortho clinic and see an amputation like my other classmates did. I do not want to go to the O.R., E.R., ect. God I just don't know if I can do it. I really want to become a nurse but I am terrifed of the responsibility, the stresses, and I am terrified to make a mistake because I could really hurt someone. When school started I was terrified, scared to fail and scared to pass. I don't want to give up. Am I crazy, I mean the nurse can't be the one fainting. It is like the fight or flight thing. I just want to run for my life, ya know!

(((((gesm9)))))

I start orientation Monday. My first nursing job. I still have to get through the NCLEX.

And its OK. This forum has taught me that I am only human and I will make mistakes. I just need to learn from them. It has taught me that I need to communicate my needs and concerns to people I trust instead of being a stoic. Search around for threads in the student forum. That is where I have found alot of peace of mind over the last 2 years.

Many people have periods in thier lives when they are totally unable to perform well-known tasks, maintain concentration, etc. When it gets to the point one does not function well and is destroying thier whole summer break, something needs to be done. Please talk to your advisor, a trusted professor or a nurse mentor if you have one about your concerns. Try some meditation and relaxation techniques. Take the time to engage in exercise that you enjoy.

If you still feel horribly anxious, you might want to consult your regular physician.

Be at peace!

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You should speak with a mental health professional. You may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

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Specializes in Im interested in ob,L&D, crna, and np.

Hey,

I'm not in nursing school yet, but plan to go in the spring or next fall. Im not even in nursing school yet and Im nervous! I can imagine how you feel right now and you're not crazy.

The best advice I can give you is to just pray and have faith. You have to believe in yourself no matter what. If you make a mistake, it's okay. Thats what being a human is all about. Nobody is perfect, but things will get better.

Good Luck

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Specializes in L&D, PACU.

I was sick to my stomach before every clinical I was ever in (oh, wait, not community health). I was sick to my stomach before every day in my senior practicum. I was sick to my stomach during orientation...and when I first went out on my own.

BUT.

If it is overwhelming you, help is available. Most colleges have counseling that you can access for free. Student health may be able to get you meds if you need them.

And....take one day at a time. Don't think of ALL the clinicals. Don't think of ALL the things nurses do. One day at a time, one task at a time. Break it down single task by single task if you have to. If you tell yourself, all I have to do is take a blood pressure (or whatever) and NOT the 100 other things you might have to do that day....that one task doesn't seem so insurmountable. Narrow your focus. You can do ANYTHING for five minutes. For 10 minutes. It isn't about nursing for the rest of your life. It's about getting through the day/hour/minutes. You CAN do it. Honest!

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Specializes in NICU.

I too get anxious, and I suspect that that will amplify once I actually enter my nursing program in October. Many people have posted some great replies-, what alleviates my stress is a little different.

First try and identify what exactly you are stressed about. Then choose one thing that you can do today to make the situation better. (ie - Today I'm going to study Psych meds for my rotation, next week.)

If I can't identify the source of my stress right away, I do something physical. I put on some headphones, rock out to some angsty music, and work up a real sweat. It really helps to get rid of the nervous energy that builds, and I'm too physically tired to be stressed.

Find what works for you, even if that means seeking a professional to help you identify how you can work though this.

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OP mentioned amputations.. that would be pretty awesome to watch. Also OP, what made it so difficult that you failed your first RN program and barely past your previous semester?

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Let's look at some pros here:

You did well academically last semester

You are a Medical Assistant so clearly you have aptitude in this area

You are an experienced phlebotomist

I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit and I am much the same way. I worried myself sick in clinicals that I would be the worst one, that I'd be the dummy, that I'd always fall behind, etc. and sometimes I did have the roughest day and then it was someone else's turn to have it rough. It's how we learn and grow. DON'T QUIT. YOU CAN DO IT. I also think you know in your heart you can do it but your anxiety overrides it.

When I get nervous I always remind myself that they day will pass and it isn't going last forever. That somehow calms me as I imagine myself home with family and my dog doing normal things. Try it and see if it helps.

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