SO discouraged...

To be honest, these days, nursing school prepares you for exams, especially NCLEX, but not day to day nursing. I am sure most of us (I know I did), walk into the field feeling like complete idiots. Nothing is like the shock of the real world to really teach you.

Also, I am still learning and realize I don't know as much as I think, but when I look back to 2006 when I first obtained my license to now, I know a lot more than I did, then. It was simple things that would get to me. I knew for example; what cephalosporins were, and the majority of antibiotics, but what I didn't know is how to reconstitute some of them, or the packages they came in. I thought that the only thing you had to worry about with Coumadin was bleeding, but didn't know that you should not consume grapefruit or cranberry juice, nothing about purple toe syndrome, or that fact that they can consume green leafy veggies, but the amount had to be consistent.

I worked in a clinic, home care and as a vaccination nurse since getting my license. I did do a mandatory 6 weeks of training in med-surg as a new grad, but since last week, I decided to work med-surg per diem. I did my first day yesterday. There were still some drugs I didn't know, I had to learn how to manipulate the new IV pumps, etc... The only reason why I didn't feel like an idiot is because the RNs I worked with were so kind and patient with me.

Keep in mind that when you do start, the orientation is NOT a nursing program. They are reviewing their particular policies and procedures, their equipment. But they do expect that you have some sort of knowledge of what they are reviewing. If you work with decent people, they should realize that you are a new grad, green under the feet and may not have done many (if at all) catherizations or tube feedings, and they should show you. But, you should also have your textbooks available at home to review a few things on your own. Be patient with yourself as well. You are NEW to the field. If you discover that the orientation, preceptor and other co-workers are not patient with you, to the point of compromising your license, run for the hills. You know more than you think, and you have to get out there to correlate textbook to real world. I'm cheering for you!

I graduated in 2005. My experience so far has been in LTC. A few months ago, I started a part-time job at a new urgent care center. Most of what we get is run of the mill colds & sore throats. On the occasions that we've had more serious stuff, ie: stitches, an eye that was poked with a garden stake, CP... well, it's a little daunting to me (and makes me feel stupid!) that I don't know exactly what each particular doc wants for that situation. It's a learning experience though and I know that eventually I'll remember and get the hang of it. Some of my co-workers don't get that nursing is so diverse and that LTC nurses don't have to deal with the above situations and we need to learn. Anywho, hang in there. It'll get better!

Please try not to feel discouraged. I graduated a year ago. I've been working for 9 months and I learned an amazing amount of skills in this time. I will consider myself 'still learning' for quite some time. Don't be so hard on yourself. Nursing is tough, but it is so very rewarding. Try to remember you JUST graduated. You'll look back in a couple weeks and realize how far you have come in a short time. The beginning was the hardest time for me too.
Keep on pushing forward. It does get better.