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by mickjordmoll

I am currently a student in the LPN program. It is an evening/weekend program, so it is taking be twice the amount of time than it would take a normal day student. I am currently in the first part of quarter 3. And I have 3 quarters left.

I am concerned because even though we cover a lot of disease processes, pharmacology, etc. in class and we cover some things in lab that we are checked off on. Our instructors tell us that a lot of what we will be doing will basically be on the job training. This scares me because I am afraid I will not be fully qualified to find and perform well for my first job.

Are all programs like this? Is on the job training really how we learn?

Our program is one of the top rated in the state, so I have to believe they are leading us in the right direction.. but it still scares me.

Will I be able to make it?

[GilaRN]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

Are there any specific tasks that concern you? It is impossible to cover every modality, medication, and illness. The class room should provide you with a good foundation. Your instructors were correct to tell you that much of your learning will take place on the job. However, if they are failing to provide foundational material, then you have reason for concern. I would need specific examples of your concerns prior to making any decisions.

[lvnandmomx3]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

Are you doing any clinicals in a hospital or snf? This is where I feel I benifited most from LVN school. Just about anyone can pick up a book read, or sit through lecture retain info and take a test, but the hands on foundation is where the most learning will be gained IMO. Good luck I find that by having the feeling that I do not know it all keeps me on my toes and the motivation to keep learning, and I hope throughout my nursing career I keep learning everyday.

[HM2Viking]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

You learn more in your first 6 months on the job than you do in school. When in doubt ask for help.

[TheCommuter]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

I agree that most of your learning occurs on-the-job, since the school clinical rotations do not accurately reflect the "real world of nursing." During clinicals, you only take care of 1 or 2 patients for a limited number of hours per day, and you have no legal responsibility if anything goes awry. In the real world, an LPN often has legal responsibility for many patients (especially in LTC).

I learned more during my first year on-the-job than I ever learned while in school. School is only the firearm, but the on-the-job learning experience is the trigger.

[Dixiecup]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

I think almost every one feels like this. I remember after the first day of my first nursing job, a freind of mine and I that graduated together both went to work at the same place, and we both looked at each other and said "we can't do this!" and then cursed our nursing instructors for not preparing us for the real world.

It all comes together in time. It is a large part, on the job learning.

[pagandeva2000]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

Everyone feels like this. I told one of my friends when I started working the real deal that I was being baptized by fire. I have been an LPN for one year, and I am still learning. You have to eventually take a stab at it, because hands on, along with the knowledge that you are responsible for the skills you must perform would probably make you be sure that you learn what you are supposed to do. Good luck!

[mickjordmoll]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

Thanks everyone! You have all made me feel a lot better.

I am in clinicals every other weekend. We are currently on the med/surg unit and we have 2 patients each. Its just intimidating because we do so little and then we see the 'real' nurses doing their jobs and wonder if/how we will be able to manage the same way.

Thanks again!!
Tina

[ERRNTraveler]

Re: Will I really be qualified enough?

I'm an RN with my 4-year BSN degree, and I still say that I learned more in my first year as a nurse than I ever did in school- I think that this is true for most programs.