Will my anxiety get in the way of becoming a nurse?

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Jun 30, 2015

I first started out going for my LPN straight out of high school. The way that my class was set up was that we had the same group of people from start to finish (well, we were missing about half of them by the time graduation day came but from what I understand this is pretty normal for many programs-people finding out exactly how difficult the theory can be/finding out exactly what they would be doing as a nurse) so this helped with the classroom aspect as we got to know each other well and it offered support through the program.

I had a very hard time in the beginning of clinicals. I would freeze outside the door, not knowing how to enter the room, approach the patient, and do what needed to be done. It didn't help that my first patient had severe dementia, was placed in front of the nurses station for supervision, and when I brought her back to her room to do an assessment and help her freshen up, she soaked me with the bath basin by throwing it at me. I never went to a physician to address my anxiety that I had since the time I was a pre-teen (It still had a lot of stigma attached to it back then and I felt that my family would see it as a sign of weakness. It's not, but I was young and impressionable). By the middle of the program it wasn't an issue. Yes, I had anxiety still, but it wasn't paralyzing. All these years later I'm pursuing my BSN too.

You can definitely become a nurse and survive the program with an anxiety disorder. It can be challenging and I would suggest seeing a doctor about your issues so that you can have the best possible treatment so that you would feel better overall (and experience less stress).

You CAN do it!!!

jmillerbtec · Jun 30, 2015

I had a very hard time in the beginning of clinicals. I would freeze outside the door, not knowing how to enter the room, approach the patient, and do what needed to be done.

That is how I expect I am going to react. How many weeks/months/ years did it take you to become comfortable in your environment? And thank you for the encouragement!

Kals89 · Jul 1, 2015

I have a very similar problem when it comes to freezing. I have been through nursing school twice and I did not make it both times. First time I failed a final test second time I failed clinicals.... It wasn't the issue of freezing outside the door but when it came to the skill (especially one that I did not do often) it seemed like I forgot how to do it completely! After I left school the second time I started digging into why I froze up and got that way. Turns out I had ADD and some anxiety mixed in. Talking with a therapist he said the best thing for me is to get exposure to get rid of the anxiety, like a face your fear type of deal. Obviously for clinicals you can't do it unless in school so the next best place would be get a job as a CNA or something similar in a nursing home or hospital so you get comfortable with the environment before hand (something I still have yet to do). As MB0382 said "You CAN do it!!" I know I can to, i'm planning to start over at an entire new program in about a year.

foureyes · Jul 1, 2015

I have found that pushing myself through nursing has been one of the most difficult and best things for my anxiety. Doing things that are so very important every day, and managing actual critical situations and crises has given me an enormous amount of perspective, which has caused me to worry less, and to realize how much I cannot control. I've had GAD ever since childhood, but my anxiety is exasperated by OCD, and a former TBI. When I started nursing prerequisites I had panic attacks almost every day, but forced myself to keep going. When I started nursing school I had spent most of the summer before it in bouts of inability to leave home for days at a time, due to obsessive worry and repetitive behaviors as a way to self-soothe. I wanted to give in, miss class, and stay home every day, but I forced myself through the first couple of semesters, and then noticed the anxiety becoming less of an issue. When I started as a new grad nurse on a very challenging unit, again I had to push through the overwhelming anxiety, but I've trained myself to do it by now, so I've done very well. The dirty little secret about severe anxiety is that you can train your brain to think and react in different ways, it just takes time, and will probably always require effort to stay on track. I recommend therapy, which has been my treatment of choice for years, and has been very effective for me.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Jul 2, 2015

That is how I expect I am going to react. How many weeks/months/ years did it take you to become comfortable in your environment? And thank you for the encouragement!

I remember gaining confidence and feeling comfortable by about the halfway point. It's been a while for me so it's hard to say exactly but I'd gauge it roughly at 9 months into a 16 month program. The christening incident with the bath water being at about the 6 month mark (start of clinical).

Now, many years later going for my RN I do fine with the clinical aspect. It's the CPEs in the lab that have me crazy. I literally break out in hives on my neck and trunk while doing the practical (real bad and extremely obvious). The good thing is we can self correct and with my anxiety making me scatter brain, it has saved me. Yeah, I know it inside and out to the point I can teach it. However, if I'm being graded, I blank out but regain composure in time to pass.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Jul 2, 2015

Yes you can do it. But it will take extra effort. You will have to work with your MD to control you anxiety pharmacologically as well as using non- pharm methods. I use multiple methods to mitigate my anxiety and keep it under control.

rnsheri · Jul 2, 2015

I have anxiety and yes, it can be done. But yes, it will be uncomfortable at times. This is only my experience but the following really made me question my ability to be a good nurse: skills testing, talking to patients, asking a particularly irritated clinical instructor questions (she looked at me with those EYES that said, "How is it possible you don't know this?"), actually taking patients, certain exams (especially HESI) and NCLEX. Is it possible to be a great, confident nurse with anxiety? Yes. There are even cerain aspects of fear and anxiety can help you--you're hyperaware, intuitive, and probably push yourself very hard. It was not easy. It was not easy even when I took medications to control my anxiety under the care of physician, but it slowed my racing thoughts enough to learn how to do the skills, the tests, the talking, etc. Many nurses take prescribed medications for anxiety and depression. If it's not for you, it's not for you. Until I got a smidge of confidence, I needed the medication. And counseling. And supportive family and friends. I am an extreme case, and if want PM me and I can elaborate. Just know: It can be done.

Marshall1 · Jul 2, 2015

Yes, it's possible but you will, as others have posted, need support such as non-pharmacological and possibly pharmacological means to help you. You are not the first, nor will you be the last nurse to need this type of support. I am one of them. Many people assume depression, anxiety etc is something that can be dealt with by positive talk, exercise, diet etc. Yes, those things can help BUT when it's genetic, chemical or physiological there is no amount of running or Kale that is going to help. You CAN do this - just get support in place and keep it there and you'll do fine.

hvymtlnursetobe · Jul 13, 2015

Im in the middle of finishing my pre reqs for lvn and ive been dealing with a huge amount of panic attacks and higher anxiety than usual (i havent seen a professional about it but ive had anxiety and a fear of interacting with people since my teen years now 25). It really does discourage me to keep my eye on the prize, your advice on this thread and the others who have commented really helped me feel not alone with my issues. Good luck to you and its good to hear you're pushing through it :-)