Confidence

I’m applying for my child nursing degree sept 26. I feel I have a natural ability to care, a real empathy for families of sick children (I have personal experience as a mother of a sick child) I’ve worked in social care with at risk children. But I am worried I lack confidence as a more mature student I do lack in confidence especially with new people don’t get me wrong I work well with other and have great team ethic but I don’t know sometimes I just feel held back by my confidence is this something that will grow in uni is it something that can be developed throughout the degree?

Reply 1

holy_moly

i can't really tell you about whether or not university will help or not, because i haven't been yet. but i think what you're studying is really admirable and i wish the best for you and your child(ren).

when it comes to confidence in yourself, i think that while external factors definitely help or hinder growth, it also really depends on what steps you take personally to improve it. maybe in university there would be more opportunities for group work and social events where you can push yourself out of your comfort zone, or you may find uni even more isolating if it means you'd have less time for current friends and not enough time to make new ones. i can't say for sure because i don't know your situation as well as you do.

if you struggle with feeling anxious about how uni will impact you and your confidence, and you want to understand more about how you feel, you can try sorting out any worries you have.

for example, one thing you could do is write down a little personal list of things you hope will happen or dread happening at uni. they can be social, academic, work-related, whatever. then rate them based on how likely you think they are to happen, and how you think they would affect your confidence. then give it a think over, and most likely you'll conclude that most things at uni won't have a really big affect on your confidence. instead, it's something to develop internally and work on regardless of whether or not you're at uni. and i hope writing down all the things you're hopeful about uni will encourage you to attend with an optimistic outlook and a determination to develop yourself, like a fresh start.

sorry if that doesn't make much sense, but i hope it helps somewhat xx

Reply 2

Demilou92

Original post

by holy_moly

i can't really tell you about whether or not university will help or not, because i haven't been yet. but i think what you're studying is really admirable and i wish the best for you and your child(ren).
when it comes to confidence in yourself, i think that while external factors definitely help or hinder growth, it also really depends on what steps you take personally to improve it. maybe in university there would be more opportunities for group work and social events where you can push yourself out of your comfort zone, or you may find uni even more isolating if it means you'd have less time for current friends and not enough time to make new ones. i can't say for sure because i don't know your situation as well as you do.
if you struggle with feeling anxious about how uni will impact you and your confidence, and you want to understand more about how you feel, you can try sorting out any worries you have.
for example, one thing you could do is write down a little personal list of things you hope will happen or dread happening at uni. they can be social, academic, work-related, whatever. then rate them based on how likely you think they are to happen, and how you think they would affect your confidence. then give it a think over, and most likely you'll conclude that most things at uni won't have a really big affect on your confidence. instead, it's something to develop internally and work on regardless of whether or not you're at uni. and i hope writing down all the things you're hopeful about uni will encourage you to attend with an optimistic outlook and a determination to develop yourself, like a fresh start.
sorry if that doesn't make much sense, but i hope it helps somewhat xx

Appreciate your reply thank you, I think I just worry that as an older student am I really capable I’ve attended lots of open days and of course it’s full of youthful energetic students and I just question myself. However I know deep down I will make a fabulous nurse and that’s what’s driving me and pushing me to go for it.

Reply 3

Kingston Trenyce

Official Rep

Original post

by Demilou92

Hi @Demilou92. Firstly it sounds like you already have fantastic foundation for career in child nursing. Your experience in social care as a parent caring for sick child will give you such valuable empathy, resilience and understanding qualities that can't really be taught in classroom.

As a 3rd year student midwife I can assure you confidence will grow as you venture throughout the course and build experience, Through placements, simulations and working alongside other students and mentors, you'll gradually find your voice and learn to trust your skills. Also you will most likely meet fellow mature students who are struggling with confidence that familiarity can help with support but the whole cohort whether straight out of college or studying after some years will be a healthy asset to your growth.

I've also made a blog that can be of help for imposter syndrome when navigating placement especially but can be tailored to outside situations: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7636326.

Trenyce (Kingston Rep0

Reply 4

LSBU

Official Rep

Original post

by Demilou92

Hi Demilou,
Firstly, it’s amazing that you’re applying for Children’s Nursing. It’s a deeply meaningful and rewarding career, and from what you’ve shared, you already have the compassion, empathy, and life experience that make you truly exceptional nurses. Your background as a parent and your experience working in social care with at-risk children will be a real strength, not a limitation. Those experiences give you a genuine understanding of families’ needs and challenges, something that can’t always be taught in a classroom.

At London South Bank University (LSBU), our BSc (Hons) Children’s Nursing degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), meaning it meets professional standards and will qualify you to register and practise as a nurse when you graduate. The course is designed not just to develop clinical skills but also to build confidence, communication, and leadership abilities gradually over time. Many of our students start off feeling just like you, a bit nervous or unsure, but they grow into capable, confident professionals through supportive teaching, teamwork, and practical experience.

As part of the course, you’ll have placements across NHS Trusts and community settings, where you’ll work closely with mentors, nurses, and other students who’ll guide and support you as you gain hands-on experience. You’ll never be thrown in alone; there’s always structured supervision, feedback, and encouragement. LSBU also offers dedicated support for mature students, helping you settle into university life and build your confidence both academically and personally.

At LSBU, we treat everyone equally; there’s no difference between mature and younger students. It’s completely normal to feel nervous or have doubts at first, but confidence grows as you learn and gain experience. If you’re determined and passionate, you absolutely can achieve your goals. And remember, we have plenty of support in place to help you every step of the way.

Confidence is something that absolutely grows throughout your training. The more experience you gain, the more you’ll realise how capable you are. Every new skill, every successful patient interaction, and every placement will help you find your voice as a children’s nurse.

If you’d like to get a feel for the course and talk to lecturers or current nursing students (many of whom are also mature learners), we’d love to welcome you to our Open Day on Saturday, 15th November. It’s a great opportunity to visit our simulation labs, meet the nursing team, and see how LSBU supports students like you to build confidence and thrive.

👉 You can sign up here: LSBU Open Day.
👉 You can also chat with our students through our Unibuddy platform: Chat with our students.

You already have the compassion and determination that can’t be taught; the confidence will come naturally as you train, learn, and grow into the amazing nurse you’re meant to be.