I'm flipping out here :-s

[CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN]

OK so i 'm entering to my last year of my ADN program YAY!!! I graduate 5/18/2012 I believe! YAY!! But i'm just slightly concerned, well honestly i'm really concerned. Last year I did nothing, I well not nothing i did some finger sticks, oral meds and litterally gave two shots! While other students in my program on the same level were doing tube feeding, head to toe assessments, inserting catheters, and lots of other things. I mean i know I was a first year NS but i feel like i should have done more and now i'm going into my last year of this program feeling like I know nothing. Now i have a clinical teacher that expects us to know how to do lots of different things that i've either never been taught! I mean i did get A's B's in all my NS classes and my clinical teachers said I sould make a great nurse but i just feel like i know nothing AT ALL!!! I know there has to be some other NS students that feel that way as well!

Alright i'm done just needed to get that off of my chest! :confused:

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I have friends who have graduated and have yet to insert a tube of any kind into an orifice of any kind. I'll be starting my second year in another 6 weeks and had the opportunity to work (for free) with an RN for 4 days over the summer and I can't believe how much I forgot. I did get to give lots of medications and injections but I believe when we start our clinicals in 8 weeks, I will be a little lost again. Anyway, be eager to do as much as you can. Tell all the RNs at report what you would like to learn or work on. Do your assessments at the beginning of every shift for each patient. This is my plan and yes, I'll be flipping out as the time draws near.

[Kateoh82]

oh you are not alone. I feel the same. we are expected to know everything and if you don't you feel like an idiot.. Keep your head up. Know that you are not alone, and plenty of us out there feel just like you.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

OP I understand where you are coming from. My clinical experience has not been all that fulfilling at all. I have never inserted a catheter, dealt with a NG tube, trach, draw blood from an central line... while my other classmates have while in clinical. With that said, I'm so grateful I became a LPN after my first year of RN school because I have had the opportunity to insert a foley, mess with IVs, give meds and feedings via gtube and suction a trach. Clinicals not so much experience but working as a LPN gives me what I don't get in clinical.

My advice is to keep taking initiative. I plan to continue to offer to do every thing I can for my patients while in clinical.

This is my last semester so I have to make it really count.

[CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN]

I try to get in an do stuff as much as possible but the nurses claim they don't have anything to do :-/ so I help clean up, and make sure people that aren't npo have water and finish my paperwork

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Are you able to get a job as a tech while you finish school? You would be able to do/see more that way.

[CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN]

I have been appiling an calling to check on my apps like crazy...no luck so far though and I actually just quit my full time job (nothing to do with nursing or I would stay)...I'm gonna keep applying and calling though