Will this clueless nursing student feeling ever go away?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all. I am in a year-long LPN program, graduating in January. I'm feeling kind of down because I still feel like I am severely lacking in my clinical skills with only 7 more actual weeks of school left. Being in an LPN program, we get very, very slim pickings in what clinical sites we get to go to (the hospitals in my area do not hire LPNs anymore, so they figure if they don't hire them, why open up clinical space for them). I've never had any patients with tracheostomies, G tubes or ostomys in my med-surg clinicals, unfortunately. I'm in my peds rotation right now and even though most of the kids we're working with have PEG/G tubes and trachs, we only have 7 days of clinicals so I'm not sure how much that will help me. I'm still not the best with my assessments either (especially on moving children!).

What I'm most afraid of is graduating and being a crappy nurse that doesn't know her stuff. I guess I just thought I'd feel more confident at this point.. I don't feel ready to have a license of my own in 3-4 months. :crying2: Is this a normal feeling? Will it go away?

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"Will this clueless nursing student feeling ever go away?"

Yep, it will. But then you will have the clueless new grad RN or LPN feeling.

I'm a new grad about three months into my new job. My advice is to don't worry about what you don't know. You would never be able to see everything in school that you might run across on the floor. And, once you are working, it is luck of the draw (also depends on what kind of unit you are on) of what you might see. You might see ostomies right away, or be like me and still have not had one to care for. I'm on a unit with high acuity and getting valuable experience. However, there are very few things I am proficient at. Counting school and my job so far, there are even some basic things I have only done a handful of times, including starting IV's and foley's.

School gives you exposure to things, but doesn't teach you to be an expert at anything. The most important thing you should learn in school is how to be safe a safe nurse. The technical skills will develop over time.

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Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

i couldn't agree more, I too am a new grad, no job yet (aargh) but I know there are more things I don't know than I do, I can't wait to find a job and really starting practicing, nursing school was a tease, a little of this a little of that, hang in there, you'll be fine

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Thank you Cabanaboy. I've asked my classmates if they feel the same way I do and they've said yes. I just hoped this awkward, clueless student nurse feeling would be gone by now. I don't like it at all.

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That awkward, clueless feeling will be with you for about 9-12 months into your fist job. Then, one day, someone asks YOU a question or needs YOUR assistance, and you will feel so good afterward!

And then you switch to an entirely different area, and need a new set of skills. Here comes that awkward, clueless feeling again. Or you just have to move, and you go somewhere far away, and it starts all over again........Oy vey!

Take some deep breaths, count to ten very slowly before you attempt anything you aren't sure of, and know that you will be a very good nurse.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......

Of course it is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed by a new profession. There is no way to teach you everything in school-your education is continual throughout your entire career. I think it's normal to feel a little bit overwhelmed at this point in your career. As you gain experience and knowledge, you'll feel better and more confidence. I used to train Medics and Paramedics for Uncle Sam, and believe me, they always expressed the same sentiments to me, before I sent them out into the most lethal environment known to mankind! Haven't heard of one yet that failed. You'll do just fine.

Just my $.02.

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So happy to find this post. I just graduated LPN in august and am terrified to start looking for a job. I'm scared they're just going to throw me out there and I'll have to actually know what I'm doing! LOL Even administering meds seems a little daunting to me. We have the same dilemma of clinicals in our area too and the hospitals are not hiring LPNs or if they do it's at an insulting wage. I was told by a good nurse that he was extremely apprehensive when he first graduated too, but now a year later, he passes meds, does dressings, etc.. like it's nothing. I am so looking forward to that day for me! Meanwhile I'm doing my prereqs now for RN and am nervous that I'm not smart enough for that program. Geez! Do all nurses question themselves?

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I have nothing to add to the conversation, but just wanted to share a laugh, I am a lowly pre-nursing student and at first I thought your thread topic read "will this clueless nursing student ever go away?" -- LOL! made me really fearful for clinicals down the line for a second there :)

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Oh that's funny Stef because as a nursing student you kind of get the feeling that's what the "real" nurses are thinking. LOL

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I've been a nurse for almost a year and there are still skills that I have not preformed, but don't feel bad b/c there is always someone there to help you when you need it. As for being "thrown out there" when you start your job, just remember that most places do not do that to new nurses and if you feel like you are not getting a good orientation I encourage you to look for other job options where you can be taught the right way and can practice nursing safely.

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I always tell students, when they are struggling with "feeling new" or feeling like they will never get to the point where any of this comes naturally to them:

When you were first learning to drive, you probably felt overwhelmed. You had to look at the tast of driving as a series of steps, none of which came naturally to you. It was a big deal, just getting behind that wheel and even thinking about starting the engine.

Now, when you have to go somewhere, you just hop in and drive, right? All those little steps have now streamlined into the task of "driving".

I then relate this analogy to nursing. While it isn't a perfect comparison, it seems to make sense to a lot of students. Learning to be a nurse is hard, just like learning to drive is hard, but eventually as you finish school and start working (even though you will continue to learn something new every day of your career), the "I can't do this" feeling will fade and you'll realize that you can do it. You have knowledge and skills and will gain more along the way.

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I too felt like I did not get alot of skills preparation. But I learned SOOOO much on the job...the majority was from the Nursing Assistants that I worked with. I learned that if you treat them with respect they are more than willing to teach you and will be your best friend. (thats a whole other thread) I think it took me at least 6 months to a year to feel "competent."

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