I'm having doubts about nursing... :(

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Okay everyone, I am just starting my second semester of nursing school and I just had my first day at orientation on the med-surge floor that I will be at this semester. This is my first semester doing clinicals.. Long story short, I absolutely hated it. But there are several factors that may have affected my experience with it. Because it was orientation we were not set up with computer access so some of us were set up to shadow an RN, and others were set up to shadow a CNA. I got set up to shadow a CNA, I felt so unfulfilled.. We literally changed sheets, and cleaned poop the whole time. I was envious of my other classmates that got the opportunity to shadow nurses. The whole day I kept thinking to myself, am I really busting my a** in nursing school for this? It was extremely disheartening and discouraging. I went home almost in tears. Now let me back up and acknowledge the fact, that YES I WAS WITH A CNA, and I am sure it is much better actually shadowing a nurse. I was able to pop in and tag along with other classmates, but even then it was kind of boring. I know I should probably give it another chance but it was not a good first impression at all by any means.

I guess I just thought it would be more exciting... I would be able to use more of my nursing skills. I just don't know if I will ever like the med-surge floor.

The OP stated that there weren't enough nurses to go around. So, potentially she could be paired with a CNA again. But we know next time, she won't.

I complained ABOUT instructors during nursing school, and had lovely interactions with the President of the school, and the Dean of Student Affairs. If things hadn't been resolved, I would have taken my concerns even higher.

Sometimes, you need to stand up for yourself and your classmates and not be a scared mouse.

No she won't. Not for actual clinicals. The BON would definitely not allow that. And given the extreme lack of diplomacy demonstrated in the first post I'm quite sure the OP likely would have a much more negative result of complaining than you experienced.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.

I understand why it would be disheartening to expect one thing and get another, especially on your first day. Your school or instructor or whoever coordinates your clinicals should have ensured that there was going to be adequate staffing at that site for you. Unfortunately clinicals aren't always very exciting, but don't give up because of that. I hated my entire first semester rotation and I made it through to a job I LOVE! At least the CNA you were with was helpful, just try to focus on that and tell yourself next week will be better!

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The extreme lack of diplomacy?? First and foremost my university has an open door policy. We are encouraged by our professors and by the Dean of Nursing to be vocal about any problems we may or may not have within the college. They want our feedback on our clinical instructors, they actually ask that we give feedback and fill out surveys on our experience with them. There is no extreme lack of diplomacy on my part by any means. She was just sticking up for me since most of these people on the thread are crude and distasteful. Some of you act like you were never a nursing student. It was one post. The majority of comments on here are accusatory based what they interpreted from the original post. A lot of "reading in between the lines" but they completely missed the boat.

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Yesss @dogmombyday! Thanks for your post! It's great to receive honest and raw feedback. Lol it's good to know there are nurses out there that understand what it's like to be in my shoes!! :)

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I came here to vent as a frustrating student.

Boy, you said a mouthful there, sister!

You (of course) are absolutely welcome to come here and vent, just as others are welcome to have a reaction to your vent. When you put your vent out there publicly to a big group of strangers, you may not always get the reaction you're hoping for.

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The extreme lack of diplomacy?? First and foremost my university has an open door policy. We are encouraged by our professors and by the Dean of Nursing to be vocal about any problems we may or may not have within the college. They want our feedback on our clinical instructors, they actually ask that we give feedback and fill out surveys on our experience with them. There is no extreme lack of diplomacy on my part by any means. She was just sticking up for me since most of these people on the thread are crude and distasteful. Some of you act like you were never a nursing student. It was one post. The majority of comments on here are accusatory based what they interpreted from the original post. A lot of "reading in between the lines" but they completely missed the boat.

Did you see the post where I mentioned that I wished you said something nice about the CNA in your first post. That's what I'm talking about. I warned you and you're getting exactly what I expected. You were extraordinarily dismissive of the work that the CNA did and I quote "all we did was change sheets and clean up poop". That is what has gotten you into trouble here. It was "crude and distasteful". There are CNAs on this forum too. I'm sure those words made them feel great. No reading between the lines it was all there in black and white. Those of us who have been around for awhile have a great deal of respect for their hard and often thankless work. You will come to understand this soon enough.

I wouldn't use those words I quoted when you waltz through that open door policy to give your feedback to your instructors. You're likely to have that door closed in your face.

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My entire first series of clinical rotations we were in a rehab. We changed beds, cleaned patients, and fed them. No exciting "nursing stuff". Just basic care and becoming comfortable in the position of caring for people in moments that sometimes lack dignity. Learning how to put people at ease while wiping some butt. It stood me well later. Every single thing you do teaches you something. Learn to embrace that or everything that comes is going to be a disappointment.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.
Yesss @dogmombyday! Thanks for your post! It's great to receive honest and raw feedback. Lol it's good to know there are nurses out there that understand what it's like to be in my shoes!! :)

No problem. It gets better if you tough it out. That's the joy of nursing school--while a lot of it is nowhere near how real-world nursing is,the chaos prepares you for being on the floor. Things constantly change and you just have to roll with it...which can be hard to do if you're type A (something else I've learned) but it IS doable. Good luck!

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Lol this is gonna be the last thing I say. NO ONE is being dismissive of the CNA. PERIOD. I have said that time and time again. So if you want to continue to beat a dead horse. Be my guest. I have explicity explained what I meant and how I meant it. You choose to take it whichever which way you want. YES I AM AWARE I WILL BE DOING BED BATHS, TURNING PATIENTS, POOP CLEANING AND ALL THE SKILLS A CNA DOES... is that the highlight of everyone's nursing career?? Absolutely not! So why would it be the highlight of my day as a first day clinical student. There are other nurses on this thread that have commented and completely and totally understand where I am coming. IM OUT!

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Flounce Bingo anyone?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It's been common practice where I work to have the CNA shadow a nurse and vice versa for one day during orientation to gain insight into what each other does and to build teamwork. If you are working in bedside nursing you'll be doing CNA work along with the more techinical nursing skills. I recommend nursing students work either as CNA's or as interns during school to gain skills and confidence and ease the transition to floor nursing. I marvel at some of our CNA's who have a wonderful bedside manner and welcome and comfort the patients and make them feel right at home.

Also I suggest using board review materials to supplement your nursing courses. Back in my day it was workbooks, but now I'm sure its all computerized. You can never start too early preparing for boards and it will also help you ace your nursing exams!

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My entire first series of clinical rotations we were in a rehab. We changed beds, cleaned patients, and fed them. No exciting "nursing stuff". Just basic care and becoming comfortable in the position of caring for people in moments that sometimes lack dignity. Learning how to put people at ease while wiping some butt. It stood me well later. Every single thing you do teaches you something. Learn to embrace that or everything that comes is going to be a disappointment.

This is standard practice in lots of nursing programs. I spent my first quarter of clinical in a SNF, doing beds, baths, feeding, and toileting (and nothing else), too. It's the foundation of all the other nursing stuff you learn as school goes on.

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