6 Common Fears About Earning an RN

Beginning a new career and starting nursing school come with a lot of emotion. For some, the overarching feeling is one of excitement but for others, nursing school brings forth intense fears. Despite how it feels, fear is a completely normal emotion when it comes to starting something new. It’s incredibly common, but it’s also possible to overcome fears about earning an RN and achieve success in nursing school. 

Here are 6 common fears about earning an RN, and some of the reasons you should let them hinder you from achieving success in nursing school in an LPN to RN Bridge program: 

1. Balancing nursing school with work and life

Know that going back to nursing school is a temporary phase. It will almost surely be difficult to balance your work schedule, care for your family, maintain a social life, and find time to study for success in nursing school. One way to help alleviate your fears about earning and RN is to ask for help. Talk to other nurses who have successfully made the transition to RN or who are in an LPN to RN Bridge program. Ask them for time management and study tips that could help you succeed. If you’re an Achieve student, you can always reach out to your instructors or your Education Advisor for help in ensuring that your courses best fit within your schedule. 

2. Where to start in terms of earning an RN

Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first one. There are a lot of options when it comes to attending nursing school to become an RN. You can pursue your ADN or BSN degree full time or study part time in an LPN to RN Bridge program while you continue to work. You can choose a traditional, campus-based program, or you can choose to complete a portion of your coursework in a more flexible online environment. 

Ultimately the choice is yours, and you have to make the decision that best fits your lifestyle and career goals, however, there are resources that can help make the decision easier - like the Education Advisors are Achieve. These advisors are experts at helping busy people find the right education program. They will work with you to create a detailed, step-by-step plan that you can follow from wherever you find yourself today all the way through gaining the credentials you need to land the job you want. 

3. How to pay for school 

One of the most common fears about earning an RN is related to money. Nursing school (any education for that matter) is an investment in your future. It definitely doesn’t come for free, but you have to put it in perspective related to your potential earnings in a new career. For example, the average LPN makes $59,730 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the average RN makes $86,070. That’s a 44% increase, or over $26,000 more per year! 

But, making more in the future doesn’t necessarily solve the problems related to the costs you will incur as soon as you begin school. It’s important to do your research and find a program that fits within your budget. There may be financial assistance available for nursing courses or lower monthly payment options that allow you to pay as you go rather than paying for a semester up front. Testing out of prerequisite and general education courses using the credit by exam method is an option that can help you save significant money on the total cost of a degree program. 

4. Failing the necessary courses

Many people worry about success in nursing school, wondering if they are smart enough for nursing school. Whether you’re afraid that the course load will be too rigorous, the material too tough to comprehend, or have a fear of freezing up on test day — a fear of not performing well enough to pass is one of the most common and most intense fears about earning an RN that many experience. 

People wonder if nursing school is hard. The answer is yes and no. Nursing school is challenging because you will literally have other people’s lives in your hands upon graduation. However, with the right plan in place and a commitment to your studies, you can find success in nursing school. Depending on your previous knowledge and experience, you may find that the curriculum in an LPN to RN Bridge program comes very naturally to you, or you may find that you need to study a little more than others. Again, it’s important to seek help if you need it. Don’t wait until you’re in over your head to connect with your instructor or find tutors to help you better grasp concepts you are finding difficult to understand. 

5. Finding a job after graduation 

It is understandable that you might fear being able to land a job after you’ve invested the money and achieved success in nursing school. While there may be certain areas of nursing that are more competitive and will require some experience to enter, certain specializations for example, the RN profession as a whole is expected to grow faster than average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for RNs are expected to increase by 6% through the year 2032. This equates to an additional 197,200 newly created RN jobs nationwide. An additional 194,500 jobs are expected to be available each year during the next decade due to the need to replace RNs who retire or move into other positions. 

There are also steps you can take to increase your chances of finding a nursing job if you don’t have experience such as knowing the best time to begin the application process, preparing for your interview, and following up with prospective employers. With the right education and preparation, you’re likely to land a great job as an RN in no time. 

6. Making a positive impact

While we don’t have specific advice on how to relieve the fear that you won’t be a good nurse, the fact that you have the passion to worry about your impact on the health of others speaks volumes to the type of nurse you will ultimately become. Your drive to begin an LPN to RN Bridge program and achieve success in nursing school, and your willingness to work to overcome fears about earning an RN almost certainly mean that, overtime, you will become a knowledgeable, caring and wonderful nurse. 

Ready to begin your RN?

If you’re ready to begin looking into nursing bridge programs, consider contacting Achieve. We provide a flexible and supportive path to earning an RN in an LPN to RN Bridge program that you can begin online. Our Education Advisors will help alleviate your fears about earning an RN by working with you to develop a detailed plan that fits your busy schedule and that outlines the exact courses you will need to complete. Contact us to start a conversation about achieving success in nursing school and working toward your goal of earning an RN.