Veterans Day Appreciation: Honoring Caregivers Who Serve Those Who Served

Starting something new can bring two completely different feelings at the same time. Excitement. And fear. You can want something badly and still feel nervous about pursuing it. You can know you're ready for a change and still question whether you'll succeed. You can even take the first step toward a new goal while part of you is wondering: “Can I really do this?” If you've been considering returning to school, learning a new skill, exploring a different career, or simply doing something outside of your comfort zone, nervousness doesn't automatically mean you're making the wrong decision. Sometimes it simply means you're stepping into something unfamiliar. And unfamiliar doesn't mean impossible. 1. Feeling Ready and Feeling Confident Aren't the Same Thing Many people wait for confidence before they begin. They tell themselves: "I'll do it when I feel ready." But what does feeling ready actually look like? Does it mean having no doubts? No questions? No nervousness? Knowing exactly what will happen? If that's the standard, you may wait a very long time. Being ready can simply mean: “I don't know exactly how this will go, but I'm willing to begin and learn.” Confidence doesn't always come before action. Sometimes action is what creates confidence. 2. Fear Often Appears When Something Matters to You Think about the things that make people nervous. A first day at a new job. Returning to school. An important interview. Taking an exam. Beginning a new career. Trying something you've never done before. Part of that nervousness may exist because the outcome matters to you. You want to do well. You care about what happens. So instead of automatically interpreting nervousness as: “Maybe I shouldn't do this,” consider whether it could also mean: “This matters to me, and I don't know what to expect yet.” Those are very different messages. 3. You Don't Have to Know Everything Before You Begin One of the biggest fears people have when starting school or training is: “What if everyone else knows more than I do?” But education exists because there are things you haven't learned yet. You're not expected to begin as an expert. You're there to develop knowledge. To practice. To ask questions. To receive guidance. To improve. Being a beginner isn't something to be embarrassed about. Every experienced person was once standing at the beginning of something they didn't completely understand. 4. Stop Expecting Yourself to Be Perfect on Day One Imagine beginning something completely new and immediately expecting yourself to perform like someone who has years of experience. That wouldn't be realistic. Yet people often place that exact expectation on themselves. They make one mistake and think: "Maybe I'm not good at this." They don't understand something immediately and think: "Maybe I'm not smart enough." They feel nervous and think: "Maybe I don't belong here." Give yourself permission to be new. Your first day isn't supposed to look like your hundredth. Growth needs somewhere to begin. 5. Your Mind May Give You Every Reason Not to Start Fear can be surprisingly creative. "Maybe I should wait another month." "I'm too busy right now." "What if I fail?" "What if everyone else is better than me?" "Maybe I'll start next year." Some concerns may be completely legitimate and require planning. But others may simply be fear trying to keep you inside what's familiar. When you catch yourself postponing something, ask: “Is there a real obstacle preventing me from beginning, or am I afraid of what happens if I try?” The answer can help you figure out what you actually need. 6. Break the Beginning Into Smaller Steps Sometimes the goal feels scary because you're imagining the entire journey at once. You aren't simply thinking: "I'm going to learn something new." You're thinking about school, exams, completing training, finding work, starting a new career, succeeding at that career, and everything that could possibly happen afterward. That's a lot. Bring yourself back to the next step. Maybe today you only need to: Research your options Make a phone call Ask a question Learn about a program Complete an application Organize your schedule Attend your first day You don't need to climb the entire staircase today. You need to take the next step. 7. Don't Let Comparison Create Fear Starting something new can make you very aware of everyone around you. Someone seems more confident. Someone learns quickly. Someone already has experience. Someone asks questions that sound more advanced. And suddenly you're wondering whether you belong. Remember: You don't know everyone else's story. Their experience doesn't erase your potential. Their progress doesn't slow yours down. Their confidence doesn't mean they never feel uncertain. Focus on learning. You don't need to be better than the person beside you. You need to keep becoming better than the version of yourself who started. 8. Ask Questions Instead of Pretending You're Not Nervous Sometimes fear becomes stronger when we believe we have to figure everything out alone. If you're considering training, get information. If you don't understand something, ask. If you're unsure about expectations, seek clarification. If you're worried about balancing responsibilities, think through your schedule before beginning. Information can turn a vague fear into something much more manageable. Instead of: “I don't know if I can do this.” You may discover that the real question is: “How can I organize my schedule so I can do this?” That's a problem you can begin working on. 9. Confidence Is Often Built Through Evidence You can tell yourself: "I'm capable." And positive self-talk can certainly help. But another powerful source of confidence is evidence . You attended your first day. Evidence. You understood something that confused you last week. Evidence. You asked a question instead of staying silent. Evidence. You made it through a challenging day. Evidence. You kept going when you wanted to quit. Evidence. Each small accomplishment gives you another reason to believe: “Maybe I really can do this.” That's how confidence can grow. 10. Courage Doesn't Require the Absence of Fear We sometimes imagine courageous people as people who simply aren't afraid. But courage can look much less dramatic than that. It can look like walking into class while nervous. Submitting the application even though you're unsure of yourself. Asking the question you're embarrassed to ask. Trying again after getting something wrong. Showing up even when your confidence isn't at its highest. You don't have to wait until fear disappears. Sometimes courage is simply deciding: “I'm nervous, but I'm going to take the next step anyway.” 11. Give Yourself the Opportunity to Find Out What You're Capable Of Fear often asks: “What if I fail?” But there's another question worth asking: “What if I never give myself the chance to find out?” You may discover you're more capable than you expected. You may develop skills you don't currently have. You may become more confident. You may meet people who encourage you. You may discover an entirely new direction for yourself. None of those possibilities can be guaranteed. But you can't discover them if fear makes every decision for you. Final Thoughts Starting something new can be scary. That's normal. You may have questions. You may doubt yourself occasionally. You may wonder whether you're truly ready. But readiness doesn't always arrive as a powerful feeling of certainty. Sometimes readiness looks like this: “I'm nervous. I don't know everything yet. But I'm willing to learn.” You don't need to become completely confident before taking the first step. Take the step. Learn. Practice. Ask questions. Keep going. And allow confidence to develop from the evidence that you are capable of doing things that once felt unfamiliar. Because sometimes you don't feel ready until after you've already begun. 💡 Student Success Tip When you're nervous about beginning something new, replace: “What if I can't do this?” with: “What would help me take the next step?” That shifts your attention away from predicting failure and toward identifying something you can actually do. 🤔 A Question to Think About Is there something you've been postponing because you're waiting to feel completely ready? If so, ask yourself: What is the smallest realistic step I could take toward it this week? You don't have to finish the journey. You just have to decide whether you're willing to begin. Your Next Step Can Begin at Fordham Institute If one of the new directions you're considering is a future in healthcare, Fordham Institute offers training programs for individuals interested in becoming a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) or Home Health Aide (HHA) . You don't need to have your entire career mapped out before learning more. Start by getting the information you need and asking the questions that matter to you. 📞 Call Fordham Institute at (718) 480-1804 You don't have to feel fearless to begin something new. Sometimes you simply need to be willing to take the first step.

Healthcare involves knowledge, skills, responsibilities, routines, and teamwork. But at the center of all of it is something that should never be forgotten: A person. Every individual receiving care has their own experiences, preferences, concerns, personality, culture, and way of communicating. That's where the idea of patient-centered care becomes important. At its core, being patient-centered means recognizing the person behind the care—not simply focusing on the task in front of you. For future healthcare professionals, developing this mindset can help create interactions that feel more respectful, compassionate, and human. 1. See the Person, Not Just the Task Healthcare environments can be busy. There may be many responsibilities to complete and many things requiring attention. But when the focus becomes entirely about completing tasks, it's possible to lose sight of the person receiving the care. Being patient-centered means remembering: This isn't simply something I need to get done. There is a person involved in this experience. That person may be nervous. Uncomfortable. Confused. Tired. Frustrated. Or simply having a difficult day. Taking a moment to acknowledge the individual can make an interaction feel very different. 2. Every Person Has Their Own Story Two people receiving similar types of care may experience the situation completely differently. Why? Because people are different. They may have different: Life experiences Personal preferences Cultural backgrounds Communication styles Comfort levels Concerns Personalities Expectations Patient-centered care recognizes that individuals shouldn't automatically be treated as though they're all exactly the same. Healthcare professionals can approach people with curiosity, respect, and an understanding that individual differences matter. 3. Listening Is an Important Part of Care Sometimes one of the most valuable things you can give another person is your attention. Listening can help someone feel acknowledged. When appropriate within your role, that may mean allowing someone to express a concern, listening carefully to what they're communicating, and responding professionally. It also means avoiding assumptions. Instead of assuming you already know what someone is trying to communicate, take the time to listen. A person who feels heard may also feel more respected. 4. Communication Should Be Respectful and Clear Patient-centered interactions depend heavily on communication. The way you speak to someone matters. Your tone matters. Your body language can matter. Even how much attention you're giving the conversation can make a difference. Professional communication should aim to be respectful and appropriate to the situation. It can include simple habits such as: Speaking courteously Listening without unnecessarily interrupting Being patient Avoiding dismissive language Communicating clearly Asking appropriate questions Being mindful of how your words may be received You don't need a long conversation to make someone feel respected. Sometimes a few thoughtful words can change the tone of an entire interaction. 5. Dignity Should Never Become an Afterthought People may receive healthcare during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. They may need assistance they aren't accustomed to receiving. They may feel uncomfortable depending on someone else. They may worry about losing privacy or independence. That makes dignity especially important. Healthcare professionals should remain mindful that needing assistance doesn't make someone less deserving of privacy, respect, patience, or consideration. A patient-centered mindset asks: “How can I approach this interaction while continuing to respect this person's dignity?” 6. Respect Preferences and Individual Differences People have preferences. They also have different cultures, beliefs, routines, values, and ways of expressing themselves. Healthcare professionals won't necessarily share every preference or perspective of the people they encounter. They don't have to. Professionalism means being able to treat people respectfully even when they're different from you. Where appropriate within the individual's care needs and the professional's responsibilities, listening to preferences and communicating respectfully can help the person feel more involved in their experience. 7. Don't Talk Around Someone Who Is Right in Front of You Imagine being in a room while people discuss what's happening around you without acknowledging that you're there. It could feel uncomfortable. Maybe even dehumanizing. One important part of a patient-centered mindset is remembering to acknowledge the individual receiving care. When appropriate, communicate with the person rather than behaving as though they're simply part of the environment. A simple greeting, explanation, question, or moment of acknowledgment can reinforce something important: “I see you. You are part of this interaction.” 8. Patience Can Change an Interaction Not everyone communicates quickly. Not everyone understands information the first time. Not everyone moves at the same pace. And not everyone responds to stressful situations in the same way. When appropriate, patience can help create a more respectful interaction. Sometimes a person may simply need another moment. Another explanation. Or an opportunity to express themselves. Being patient doesn't mean ignoring responsibilities or procedures. It means remembering that you're working with human beings , and human beings don't always operate according to a perfect schedule. 9. Avoid Making Assumptions Assumptions can create unnecessary misunderstandings. Someone may look fine but feel worried. Someone may be quiet but have questions. Someone may respond differently than you expect because of their experiences, personality, or communication style. Rather than assuming you know everything about how someone feels or what they need, approach interactions thoughtfully. Listen. Observe appropriately. Communicate. And seek appropriate guidance when something falls outside your responsibilities. Patient-centered care doesn't require you to know everything about someone. It requires you to remember that you don't. 10. Small Acts of Respect Can Make a Big Difference Not every meaningful healthcare interaction involves something dramatic. Sometimes what a person remembers is incredibly simple. Someone greeted them warmly. Someone listened. Someone didn't rush them unnecessarily. Someone explained something appropriately. Someone respected their privacy. Someone treated them like a person instead of a problem that needed solving. Those moments may seem small to the healthcare professional. To the individual receiving care, they can mean much more. 11. Students Can Begin Developing This Mindset Now You don't have to wait until you're working in healthcare to practice being more patient-centered. Many of the qualities behind this mindset can be strengthened in everyday life. Practice listening when people speak. Notice whether you interrupt. Become more aware of your tone. Respect differences. Try not to make immediate assumptions. Practice patience. Think about how your words and actions make other people feel. These are human skills before they're professional skills. And the more intentionally you practice them, the more naturally they may become part of how you interact with others. Final Thoughts Patient-centered healthcare begins with a simple idea: Never lose sight of the person behind the care. Responsibilities matter. Skills matter. Efficiency matters. Professional standards matter. But healthcare ultimately involves human beings caring for and supporting other human beings. The way someone is spoken to matters. The way they're listened to matters. Their dignity matters. Their individuality matters. And sometimes the smallest interaction can influence whether someone feels ignored—or genuinely cared for. As you prepare for a future in healthcare, don't focus only on becoming someone who knows what to do . Work toward becoming the kind of professional who also remembers who you're doing it for. 💡 Healthcare Tip Before focusing only on the responsibility in front of you, take a moment to acknowledge the person involved. A greeting, respectful explanation, patient response, or moment of genuine listening can help make an interaction feel more human. 🤔 A Question to Think About Think about a time when someone made you feel genuinely cared for. What did they do? Was it something major? Or was it the way they listened, spoke to you, showed patience, or made you feel important? Now consider: How can you bring those same qualities into the way you treat others? Build a Foundation for a Future in Healthcare At Fordham Institute , students can begin developing knowledge, practical skills, confidence, and professional habits as they prepare for opportunities in healthcare. If you're interested in learning more about our Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) or Home Health Aide (HHA) training programs, contact us for information about upcoming classes and registration. 📞 Call Fordham Institute at (718) 480-1804 Healthcare involves caring for people—and great care should never lose sight of the person at the center of it.