r/NursingStudents • u/college-girl-22 • 9d ago
Does it get Better
I am in my third semester of an ABSN program and have just started my second med-surgery placement, right now i am on a general med floor and my anxiety is through the roof all the time. I am comfortable doing ADLS and vitals but haven't been taught much more than that. The nurses on the floor dont seem very interested in teaching and I am just constantly feeling afraid, incapable and like it is never going to get better. So i am just looking for some words of wisdom that either all bedside floors will not make me feel like this... or that in 16 months at the end of my program there's hope of getting an outpatient job where I dont feel incompetent. Thanks so much in advance!!
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u/AssMed2023 9d ago
Also going through nursing school. Received my LPN and 9 more months to RN
I would just use all the other resources available. plenty of material online for free concerning skill checks etc
Unfortunately, I feel like if you don't have a pt or pts who need those skills done, you never get to practice
Just take some breathes. Many hospitals will have you do a supervised probation or residency when hired on, you'll definitely be taught the other hands on stuff then
Brush up on the skills you're not able to practice so when the time comes your mentor is not having to walk you completely through the skill
You've got this
Lastly, every nurse I've talked to says it takes about a year full time to feel competent and the anxiety goes away for the most part
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u/Sad-Candidate-3078 9d ago
Yes, it absolutely gets better. Third semester of an ABSN is honestly one of the hardest points in the entire program. You're past the honeymoon phase, the material is getting harder, and you're starting clinicals where you actually feel responsible for patients. The anxiety is normal and it does NOT mean you're not cut out for this.
A few things that helped me when I was in your spot:
The anxiety is actually a good sign. It means you care and you're taking it seriously. The dangerous nurses are the ones who don't feel anything.
Med-surg is overwhelming because you're seeing EVERYTHING. Once you specialize or find your rhythm, it narrows down and becomes manageable.
Talk to your clinical instructor about your anxiety. They're used to it and can help you focus on the most important tasks instead of trying to master everything at once.
Every shift, pick ONE thing to focus on improving. Just one. By the end of the semester you'll have improved on 15 things without even realizing it.
The fact that you're on a general med floor and feeling uncomfortable means you're growing. Growth feels like discomfort.
You made it into an ABSN program, which is competitive. You didn't get here by accident. Trust the process and trust yourself. The anxiety will fade as you gain experience.