I'm Rose and live in Southern California. I've just recently started to seriously think about going into Nursing. I've got a bachelor's degree in Business Economics and was dead set on working in the entertainment industry. Right out of college, I worked doing facilities management because I needed a job. After realizing that I wasn't doing what I had planned out of college, I quit my job to try and break into entertainment. I worked in television production and even in celebrity PR. I recently resigned from my publicist position and decided to go back to school.
I was planning on getting my Master's in Communications, but still don't know what to do with that. Nursing has been in the back of my mind for the past few months. My mother is a nurse, but never really considered it until recently. Knowing how much hard work it takes to become a nurse and how rewarding it can be is what made me start to consider the field. I really need a career that I can jump into and feel like I'm doing something good for myself and other people, not just sending out emails or crunching numbers for 8 hours a day.
My dilemma is this... I don't think I'm totally convinced that I can handle nursing because of the needles, blood and such. What I wanted to know is if there are any nurses out there that have experience the same fear, but got over it once they became a nurse. Because of some negative experiences with bad doctors and dentists, I've associated needles, blood and pain with the medical field. Now that I am adult, I would like to try and get over that fear and try to get into nursing. I am just scared that I won't be able to do it. I guess I'm just looking to find out how much I should expect to deal with. I am convinced that I'd get over this fear because I will have to face it head-on on a daily basis.
I just feel like I'm alone on this boat. If you've been in the same boat, I'd love to hear from you and what you went through. I'm currently going to start taking my pre-requisite classes for the Accelerated BSN program. I really want to do this program, but I'm still scared that I won't be able to get over my fear and will not finish or like the field. I know I am the one who has to make the decision for myself, I guess I wanted to know if this was common among nursing students. I'd appreciate any insight or advice. Cheers!
Specializes in Wound and Ostomy care, Neuro, Med-Surg.
I would definitely consider working in a hospital as a nursing assistant or tech. When I was a tech the nurses were great about showing me different procedures and giving advice. Its a great way to really experience the environment (needles, blood, etc.) and to get your feet wet. I decided to become a tech before starting nursing school. That was the best thing I ever did. It really gave me an idea of what I was getting into. It also gave me the chance to really observe what nursing is and what it all entails... I was really surprised how demanding nursing was and it really opened my eyes. I highly suggest it!
It's simple, really. Just tell yourself that you have to do it for the patient. They NEED it.Don't think about " hurting" the patient. Noone comes to the hospital anymore with expectations of not being poked.
Queenbea- Have you ever googled needlestick injuries? I know that the ANA has info on it. Of course there is a risk involved if a needlestick injury occurs, but the transmission rates are very low.
One of the scariest things for me to get through was giving injections. NOW i LOVE IT!! WHenver I know there is an injection to give I will gladly do it for whoever needs it!! I esp. like ppd's, dont ask me why, I just do!!!
I know that this is an old thread but i just dealt with this. My sergeon wants to to injections of something called resilin and i hope i can go through with it....to this day...through 10 surgeries, ct scans, mris, and lots of other stuff the one thing that still freaks me out is needles.
my surgeon was flabergasted by this revelation. he did not know what to say. but he promised I would not feel it saying he would use EMLA then local then do them.
Wasn't particularly scared of any body fluid or piece of equipment. What scared me was the thought that I was too inept to figure out what I was supposed to be doing at any given point in time. Met the daughter of one of my DONs who said she quit nursing school over her reaction to blood. I told her that most people I've met find mucus secretions to be more offputting than blood. I told her that after she has a few more years on her, don't give up, she might be able to get over her aversion, and be able to go back and finish school.
I'm not really scared of them although I was nervous the first time I gave a shot. We practiced on oranges and chicken wings (for ID shots) and it's different actually doing a procedure on a patient. I think the worst thing for me so far was wiping butts in the nursing home. I know it has to be done but yuck!
Wow, this thread has really helped me a lot. Thank you to all of the nurses who responded! I am in a similar boat to the original poster. I feel a little weak in the knees after reading all these stories, but also a little better about my thoughts of becoming a nurse. :)
What a great thread! This has always worried me too. I am horrible about needles and giving blood. When I was a kid several people had to hold me down, try to distract me. I think it made my mom embarrassed because she was the nurse at the family practice we went to. The thought of a needle poking me scares the you know what out of me. I have gotten better....being pregnant and having to be poked several times, plus getting an IV, in such a short period of time really helped. But I still get nervous, sweaty, and my pulse races. I am surprised I never have passed out.
When I went to vet tech school, using needles terrified me. The first time I had to stick an animal was terrifying. But it did get easier. Now I love drawing blood and putting in catheters, and am very good at it. I am still scared of poking a human though. It will be different. A dog can't judge you, get mad, or anything like that. I think I can get past this. It is something that needs to be done, so I know I can do it. That is what I tell myself whenever I have to get poked, and most people are fine about it. The only thing I worry about is bodily fluids and cleaning that up. Animals? No problem. Kids or babies? No big deal. Adults? Ewww. But I know I can be mature enough to just do it. I like taking care of people, and it is part of life. So I just tell myself "Grow up, get over it". Because if I can't, I shouldn't even consider being a nurse.
tamari07
47 Posts
I would definitely consider working in a hospital as a nursing assistant or tech. When I was a tech the nurses were great about showing me different procedures and giving advice. Its a great way to really experience the environment (needles, blood, etc.) and to get your feet wet. I decided to become a tech before starting nursing school. That was the best thing I ever did. It really gave me an idea of what I was getting into. It also gave me the chance to really observe what nursing is and what it all entails... I was really surprised how demanding nursing was and it really opened my eyes. I highly suggest it!