I'm graduating in May with my RN and already have a BS in biology and have been in the medical field for over 5 years now, just not direct patient care. I feel with my education and experience, I'm very knowledgeable with disease processes, labs, meds, etc. However, feel I'm clueless about actual hands on procedures. I have done my share of caths, NG's, etc, on actual patients in clinicals and in the lab, but still feel scared to death to do this alone when I graduate. Am I just totally clueless and shouldn't bother with my NCLEX or is this a normal reaction???? Thanks for listening....

Sounds normal to me. (BA English, BS Biology, BSN)

Being scared keeps you on your toes. It is scary to take care of people's health. The stakes are high. It can be a tough way to make a living, but I think it's good to be scared.

Any decent hospital will give you an extensive orientation and you will have a preceptor with you when you do these procedures the first few times. I took a second job last spring and even with 32 years of experience I had to be checked off on all the procedures that RNs normally do. Even after orientation is over, if you feel shakey doing a procedure ask one of the nurses you like and trust to come with you and lend support.

Take your NCLEX. Your anxiety is normal. You'll get used to the hands on stuff with experience. Then, some new procedure will be implemented and you'll be anxious with that one for a while. Think of it as an opportunity for challenge. Like Allison said, it keeps you on your toes.

Linda

As we've bemoaned here before, it's the people who AREN'T scared that REALLY make us nervous. Confidence will come with experience. A little lingering fear is a healthy thing that will serve you well in your career :).

Take heart, you know more than you think you do.

In working with new grads, it's the one's who are over confident that scare me, they don't know there is a lot they don't know. The ones who are scared know there's still a lot to learn. Just be open to the leaning, ask questions when you need to, learn the resources available to you and use them, and always keep learning.

Good Luck!

Again, I agree with Dr. Kate, it's the scarey when people come out of school confident, don't ask questions, never have a bad day.

Why would you torture yourself through nursing school and NOT take the NCLEX??? What's the point. You owe it to yourself to take it.

Hands on comes with experience, you can't do it all in school.

Good luck!!!