👋Hey Nurse! Are you scared too?

Word Count: 481 | Estimated Time: ~3 minutes

Being a nurse is a courageous choice. We're talking about people who ultimately accept the profound responsibility of safeguarding other people’s health and lives. Courageous, yes—but also nerve-wracking for many reasons. Now, add the experience of being an internationally educated nurse freshly arrived in the U.S., and you have potentially created the perfect combination for work-induced stress, anxiety, and even depression. 

 Why is it important for nurses to overcome stress? 🤔 

 Nurses under constant stress cannot deliver outstanding patient care. This can lead to them being unfairly perceived as lacking competence. Internationally educated nurses (IEN) have to navigate and overcome these kinds of challenges in their new healthcare settings. Let's look at three types of fears IENs often face.

Types of fears nurses face at work

- The fear of rejection 

Have you ever been rejected or pushed to the side because you were different? Or maybe you were told that your English accent was "too strong."  Repetitive scenarios like these could damage nurses' confidence and create the fear of rejection in their hearts. 

 - The fear of making mistakes 

What if I gave the wrong medication? What if I forget to document something critical and end up harming my patient? These questions can fuel anxiety in nurses despite them being highly qualified. 

 - The fear of appearing incompetent

Healthcare professionals can be intimidated by unfamiliar clinical situations or procedures and this can also instill a type of fear in their hearts.

 From Fearful to Fearless ? ✅ 

 The point I am trying to make isn't that fear will disappear overnight after you start applying a few simple tips. Rather, my goal is to empower you so that fear does not cripple you even if it still shows up. It's therefore important to identify the origin of your fears. 

 It could be that your fears stem from gaps in your knowledge. In which case, the solution would be to address those gaps by seeking out accurate, evidence-based information. Preparation contributes to competence, and competence directly impacts confidence. 

 On the other hand, if your fear is a paralyzing emotion that just overwhelms you, this is definitely something to confront at a deeper level. Refuse to be paralyzed by that type of fear, and don't be afraid to talk to specialized clinicians (ex: therapists). If you are a believer, this is a good time to reach out to your community of faith for support. 

 Lastly, remember to adopt a positive view of yourself because negativity often thrives alongside fear. Thoughts such as “I’ll never be able to do this” or “I’m a slow learner” can foster negative outcomes that can exacerbate your fear. Choose to speak kindly to your soul and believe that: Yes, you will succeed! 

 🙌 The big takeaway: Refuse to let your fears paralyze you; instead, identify their source and use every opportunity to address each of them until fear is changed into boldness