Hey there, I'm also 23, doing my second year of nursing studies. How were you able to do the practices alright? They're kind of like the real life work,? Last spring I did my first practice placement in an elderly care and these exact feelings started to arise during that period, still continuing. I'm not a good small-talker anyways, but just trying to explain simple things and approaching these elders, that I didn't yet know very well, so often ended up in me blocking for a few seconds and feeling embarrassed and not being able to convey very well what I was originally planning to say. Sorry I can't really give any advice. Just that there's fellow future colleagues having the same challenges : ) But honestly, reading your post, I feel you will be alright in work after a little while. You've managed so well with your stutter in other areas of life as well.