Fear of failing? reason to not enter nursing program?

1 I really would love to be a nurse but I feel I am not smart enough to be a nurse or pass the courses so I am holding myself back.

As you might have read from my previous post, I am a single person and so I cannot just quit work to go to school so that worries me all the more.

I am afraid I won't make it in the program and if I don't make it it means I am dumb and it will make me a failure, I will have the failure on my transcript, and people will frown upon my inability to succeed.

Should I let the fear of failure stop me or should I try it? Is being afraid I will fail in itself a sign I should not apply?
No you shouldn't let fear stop you...it should motivate you. No it is not a sign that you should not apply. And yes, the fear of failing is normal.I have never failed a class in my life, but had this overwhelming fear of failing the nursing program when I was applying. Once I started the program and became comfortable with my professors, classmates, and my classes that feeling quickly subsided. Nursing school is something foreign to you, and new experiences are scary. Go ahead and have your freak out moment and move on to applying. You will never know if you will succeed if you don't try.

Quote from nlitenedNo you shouldn't let fear stop you...it should motivate you. No it is not a sign that you should not apply. And yes, the fear of failing is normal.I have never failed a class in my life, but had this overwhelming fear of failing the nursing program when I was applying. Once I started the program and became comfortable with my professors, classmates, and my classes that feeling quickly subsided. Nursing school is something foreign to you, and new experiences are scary. Go ahead and have your freak out moment and move on to applying. You will never know if you will succeed if you don't try.

Quote from Infofreak411Thank you for the insight! And if I do not succeed, does it make me stupid or a failure?

You can never achieve anything worthwhile with out risk and hard work. As a much wiser man than I once said "All we have to fear, is fear itself".

Quote from roser13Perhaps go to counseling before attempting nursing school?

Why do you think you will fail? Do you have a learning disability or problems with something related to learning and/or completing tough assignments?

In the words of my idol, J.K. Rowling: "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all-in which case, you fail by default."I did not pass my first try at nursing school. And guess what? Life went on. I didn't die. It wasn't the end of the world. I picked myself back up, swallowed my pride, and went at it again and made it.

Quote from Libby1987Why do you think you will fail? Do you have a learning disability or problems with something related to learning and/or completing tough assignments?

Quote from Infofreak411Maybe that's a good idea, what makes you suggest this?

0P you are correct in that there are high dropout rates from nursing school programs. Especially community college programs. Some people really are not academically prepared, they find they do not have the time or ability to complete the program or they find they do not like nursing. Many programs arguably try to weed people out. Some programs just out right suck. Nursing school is difficult but nursing jobs aren't any easier. Only you can decide if you have the academic ability, the time and physical aptitude for nursing. Your ability to memorize will definitely benefit you.

Let me just chime in by saying you do not have to be "borderline genius" to pass the nursing program. It is harder to get accepted than the actual program will be. If you can get A's in the biology courses required to be admitted into nursing school then you will be JUST FINE in the program. The material isn't HARD it is just the time constraints that make it difficult to accomplish. If you can get in, you will pass. Even if it takes you a second try, you will be a nurse just like everyone else at the end of it. Just keep trying.

Hi,When I first entered nursing school it was my greatest fear to fail, and being thought of as "dumb". To this day I still have fleeting thoughts of failing and what others would think of me if I failed. What helps me is to remember why I am doing it and that every one fails at some point in their life. It is what they do when faced with failure that defines them (giving up or persevering) Life is unpredictable, your worried about failing....but what happens if you enter nursing and do AMAZING? there are many options that is entirely possible but only one options gives you a chance.Best of luck with your decision.