7 Ways to Manage Anxiety While in Nursing School (2024)

by Chamberlain University

7 Ways to Manage Anxiety While in Nursing School (4)

It’s completely normal to have anxiety during nursing school. Whether it's a big test, a lab when your fellow students are watching or finding yourself faced with memorizing near-endless drug facts, worries and fears can creep in and take hold.

There's no doubt that stresses outside of class in your day-to-day lifecan also contribute to anxiety you may feel while in school. Issues that involve work or family are among the most common causes of stress.

It’s important to recognize the times when you feel anxious and understand that there are steps you can take to help manage your anxiety.

Many of these steps are simple actions you can do during your daily routine. You can choose to incorporate some or all of these ideas, depending on what works for you.

  1. Take a time-out

    Step back from your problems to decompress. Listen to music, practice yoga, get a massage or do some other activity which will take your mind off of the cause of your anxiety.This approach may help you return to your challenges with a different perspective.

  2. Limit alcohol and caffeine

    Though often seen as helpful in their respective ways (alcohol to relax you from stress and caffeine to help focus you), both of these substances can actually have adverse effects and may aggravate anxiety or even trigger panic attacks.

  3. Get enough sleep

    When you’re stressed, your body needs additional rest. This may seem like a catch-22, as school and other sources of anxiety in your life may require you to stay up late or get up early, but it’s important get a good night's sleep so your body is prepared to help you overcome stress in the end.

  4. Take deep breaths

    Inhale through your nose slowly for ten seconds. Take a moment to hold your breath, and then exhale slowly through your mouth for ten seconds. This will help you regulate your body’s physical reactions to anxiety when you feel stressed.

  5. Accept that you cannot control everything

    Sometimes stress is caused by factors outside your control. In these cases, shift your focus towards what you can control, such as how you react to these situations.

  6. Learn your triggers

    Some events can serve as triggers for more significant reactions. Are you more stressed by school, work or family? Think about your sources of exceptional anxiety and come up with a couple tactics to help you respond and by some ways to better prepare yourself to handle these challenges before they happen.

  7. Talk to someone

    Initially, just venting to your friends or family can make a big difference. They can listen, and maybe offer help and guidance. If your anxiety persists, talking to a professional can offer additional support.

    Chamberlain's ASPIRE program provides all enrolled students direct and confidential access to counseling professionals who can help you stay focused on your goals during tough times. This complimentary service is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help address any issues of a personal, family, financial or legal nature affecting our students. You can find out more about ASPIRE on the Student Portal.

    For additional information on managing anxiety, visit theAnxiety and Depression Association of Americaor Anxiety Disorder Centers.

By Chamberlain University

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7 Ways to Manage Anxiety While in Nursing School (2024)

FAQs

7 Ways to Manage Anxiety While in Nursing School? ›

You can use the 333 rule for anxiety in the moment something triggers you. Just look around to identify 3 objects and 3 sounds, then move 3 body parts. Many people find this strategy helps focus and ground them when anxiety seems overwhelming. The 333 rule is a common and informal technique for coping with anxiety.

What is the 3 3 3 rule for anxiety? ›

You can use the 333 rule for anxiety in the moment something triggers you. Just look around to identify 3 objects and 3 sounds, then move 3 body parts. Many people find this strategy helps focus and ground them when anxiety seems overwhelming. The 333 rule is a common and informal technique for coping with anxiety.

How do I stop being overwhelmed in nursing school? ›

How to Deal With Nursing School Stress
  1. Practice Self Care Ritually. “Self-care” doesn't mean what it's sometimes used for—skipping class to watch rom coms in bed. ...
  2. Schedule Your Sleep. ...
  3. Forgive Yourself During Clinicals. ...
  4. Remember the End Goal. ...
  5. Communicate With Others.
Mar 24, 2022

What are the 6 ways of managing anxiety? ›

Anxiety management strategies
  • Slow breathing. When you're anxious, your breathing becomes faster and shallower. ...
  • Progressive muscle relaxation. ...
  • Stay in the present moment. ...
  • Small acts of bravery. ...
  • Be kind to yourself. ...
  • Get to know your anxiety. ...
  • Related information.

How to deal with anxiety and depression in nursing school? ›

Take a time-out. Step back from your problems to decompress. Listen to music, practice yoga, get a massage or do some other activity which will take your mind off of the cause of your anxiety. This approach may help you return to your challenges with a different perspective.

What are the 4 C's of anxiety? ›

More specifically we expect positive association between caring and anxiety and a negative association between the other four Cs (competence, confidence, character, and connection) and anxiety.

What is the 54321 rule for anxiety? ›

The 54321 (or 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) method is a grounding exercise designed to manage acute stress and reduce anxiety. It involves identifying 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

How do you mentally get through nursing school? ›

5 Ways to Overcome Nursing School Burnout
  1. Reexamine Your 'Why' If you're worried about getting burned out or you're already there, follow these steps to get your physical health, mental health, and motivation back on track. ...
  2. Take Personal Time. ...
  3. Get Some Exercise. ...
  4. Nourish Your Body. ...
  5. Join a Study Group.
Nov 29, 2023

What is the biggest fear of nursing school? ›

Here are some of their biggest fears.
  • Causing Harm. ...
  • Missing Something. ...
  • Losing Your License. ...
  • Litigation. ...
  • Medication Errors. ...
  • Getting Caught in the Middle of Family Drama. ...
  • Forgetting Your Training.

What are the biggest fears while entering nursing school? ›

Anxiety in nursing school can harm academic performance. Some common anxiety triggers for nursing students include fear of failing, not living up to expectations, or fear of hurting a patient. Nursing students can lower anxiety levels by being prepared, using resources, taking time to relax, and practicing self-care.

What is the 5 5 5 method for anxiety? ›

First, you may want to start with a simple deep breathing exercise called the 5-5-5 method. To do this, you breathe in for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and then breathe out for 5 seconds. You can continue this process until your thoughts slow down or you notice some relief.

What are 5 ways to reduce anxiety? ›

5 Ways to Cope With Anxiety
  • Start with a 'growth' mindset. Some people have a fixed mindset. ...
  • Notice how anxiety affects your body. When you're anxious, do you feel "butterflies" in your stomach? ...
  • Breathe. ...
  • Talk yourself through it. ...
  • Face the situation — don't wait for anxiety to go away.

What are 3 coping strategies for anxiety? ›

For tips on coping with panic attacks, see our section on what helps to manage panic attacks.
  • Talk to someone you trust add. ...
  • Try to manage your worries add. ...
  • Look after your physical health add. ...
  • Try breathing exercises add. ...
  • Keep a diary add. ...
  • Complementary and alternative therapies add.

How can a nurse manage anxiety? ›

Nursing Management
  1. Assess the intensity of anxiety.
  2. Determine the triggers for anxiety.
  3. Assess how the patient responds to anxiety.
  4. Administer medications to relieve anxiety.
  5. Educate the patient about anxiety.
  6. Encourage patient to develop support groups.
  7. Encourage patient to seek mental health counseling.

How nurses can reduce anxiety? ›

To reduce the psychological stress of medical staff and strengthen their physical and mental health, the necessary steps must be taken to promote mental health so that they can continue their ongoing efforts against COVID-19. Do stretching exercises, outdoor walking, and deep breathing exercises.

How do student nurses cope with stress? ›

Make Self-Care a Priority. This tip is first for a reason. While it can feel like nursing school is too stressful, it is still important to take care of yourself during this time. After all, if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of your schoolwork, or eventually, your patients.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for anxiety? ›

Root the body and mind with grounding techniques

Similar is the 5 5 5 rule where you breathe in deeply for 5 seconds, hold the breath for 5 seconds, and breathe out for 5 seconds. Then, identify five things you can see, five sounds you hear, and five objects around you that you can touch.

What are the 3 P's of anxiety? ›

The 3 P's stand for Pervasiveness, Permanence and Personalisation. Pervasiveness looks at how much of your life a concern impacts – How big? Permanence looks at how long an issue is going to be of concern – How long? Personalisation looks at how much you feel you are to blame – How much?

What is the number one way to reduce anxiety? ›

Natural strategies like regular physical activity, aromatherapy, deep breathing, mindfulness, and chamomile tea may help you reduce anxiety symptoms. If you feel your anxiety is getting worse, consider professional help. Talk therapy, prescription medication, or both, may help with severe or persistent anxiety.

What is the 5x5 anxiety rule? ›

Here's the tip: if something won't matter in five years don't spend more than five minutes on it. Implementing the 5x5 rule into decisions that arise throughout our day can drastically change not just your daily outlook and stress levels, but enhance your overall life satisfaction.

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