Did anyone else feel this terrified before becoming a nurse?

Hey Everyone,

I don't usually post online so this feels a little vulnerable for me. I graduate nursing school in a few days and instead of feeling excited like everyone else in my class I've been struggling a lot with my confidence.

First off, I've never had a job before and I've never interviewed for a nursing position, so the very thought of applying to a position is intimidating. I want to go into peds but I'm worried that I won't even be considered, seeing as I'll be a new grad with no healthcare experience. I feel so behind compared to my classmates, who seem to kind of have an idea of what they want and I'm beating myself up for it.

On top of that, I feel unprepared to be a nurse. I think my professors have talked so much about liability and lawsuits that it's made me afraid to even try tbh. Plus I've been told I'm too nice and that I'll basically get stepped on and used in the profession unless I change. I just feel like nursing today has lost its identity and the approach I take to caring for my patients in my clinical experiences isn't what everyone else is doing so it's frowned upon. It just has me questioning if I'll be able to survive in the profession.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice from those who may have been where I am or in a similar situation? Did anyone else feel this unprepared and discouraged before graduating? How did you handle the transition/are handling it, and what advice would you give someone like me who feels overwhelmed by it all?

Thank you for reading.