I feel like nursing school didn't prepare me for work

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Hello, I am new here to allnurses. I wanted to express my frustrations. I am a new grad LPN. I just started working in a speciality clinic a week ago, and I am really feeling like all nursing school did was prepare me to take the NCLEX. There is so much that I feel like I dont know or forgot or only have a vague understanding of. Its sad and its making me question my decision to become a nurse.

Has anybody else felt like this? Am I over reacting?

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YES I got my license 5 years ago and I felt like I learned 95% of my skills and knowledge on the job. I felt like nursing school prepared me for taking NCLEX, but not for working as an LVN. It took me probably 1 1/2 years and 2 jobs as a med nurse until I felt like I was proficient as an LVN. The sad thing is I felt like I had to make so many mistakes, and that is how I truly learned how to do things. Good luck girl, hang in there, you're not alone! :)

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

That's exactly what prepares you for. Passing the NCLEX. No amount of school could teach you everything. Nursing is a lifelong learning process. Hang in there and once you have a couple of years under your belt you will feel better. You can always go back and review or do some independent study on areas that relate to your job.

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That's exactly what prepares you for. Passing the NCLEX. No amount of school could teach you everything. Nursing is a lifelong learning process. Hang in there and once you have a couple of years under your belt you will feel better. You can always go back and review or do some independent study on areas that relate to your job.

Thank you, I have definitely been studying, and I know it wouldn't completely prepare me, but I just feel really unprepared. I will try to stay positive so I can make it over this hump and make it a couple of years like you said.

Thanks again.

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Completely normal to feel that way. Nursing school teaches you about 10 percent of what you need to know to be a competent nurse. The other 90 percent you learn on the job.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
You can always go back and review or do some independent study on areas that relate to your job.

Agree.

Most of my professional post-licensure career was filled with self-studying and learning on the job in order to create my nuri and practice-a lot of rookie mistakes were made, but I kept plugging away; I also take advantage of educational opportunities that come along.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I once read nursing school just teaches you how to not kill someone.

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Specializes in ICU.

I felt the same way! I learned how to pass the NCLEX & how to not kill someone in nursing school and I learned how to BE a nurse on the job. The stories and experiences that my teachers shared with our class was helpful as well. HANG IN THERE! You'll get it. I'll be employed as a nurse for 2 years this August and it does get better, the longer time goes on and you learn new things. Nursing IS a lifelong learning experience! :yes:

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

As you can see, we all have felt that way. During school, we are taught about things and in clinical, we are under the direction of a clinical instructor. It is when we get that job that shows us how much we didn't learn in school. It is a lifelong process. It takes time to feel more comfortable in our role.

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I agree with the previous post. I've felt the same way. Took me 2 years bei fee I felt comfortable. Nursing school paints a black and white picture. Real life nursing is more grey. Mistakes are part of the process. I've made them, beat myself up over them, it you better believe I never made them again! Hang in there. It gets better.

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Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I'm trying to stay positive, its just been really hard. I suppose if I could deal with the stress of nursing school and make it out, I can deal with this new grad time and make it through one to two years!!!

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What we learned from school is very limited and most skills we acquiring actually learned from practice. Thus do not worry about the things you don't know and always keep curious about the unknowns.

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