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Inexperienced RN



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Aug 11, 2005 10:39 AM

Inexperienced RN

by Bentley

Hello all. I'm new to this site. I'm currently unemployed, living at a remote base in Belgium with my husband. We will be relocating to the US in a few months and I am afraid that I won't be able to get a nursing job because I lack nursing skills/ experience. I know CNA's & CMA's who have more clinical skills than me. I wasn't impressed with my nursing education even though I received good grades. They valued the importance of communication rather than actual clinical skills. So now I know how to communicate therapeutically, but I don't know how to start an IV and I absolulety suck at drawing blood, esp on a peds patient. After graduating in 2002, I landed a job at a peds clinc where I gave shots all day long, attempted caths, and did few blood draws. And now 2-3 years later I've been unemployed and away from the US for over a year. I'm at the point where I feel useless as a nurse...is this even the right career path for me? For those of you who work in a hospital setting, do hospitals provide training for new nurses or just feed them to the wolves? I didn't enjoy my hospital rotation back in college, everyone seemed too stressed and overworked to teach me. I never want to be one of those grumpy, mean, old nurses who like to bite the heads off of new grads...hehe

Bentley


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7 Comments
No. 1
from Jessy_RN
Old Aug 11, 2005, 11:17 AM

Hello and welcome to the wonderful family of allnurses.com. Enjoy your stay, and best of luck to you.
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No. 2
from jmgrn65
Old Aug 11, 2005, 12:32 PM

Don't feel bad you just haven't had time or the place to learn your skills, someone will hire you and give you orientation, probably like a new grad. Maybe when you get back to the states look for a nurse refresher course this should help.
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No. 3
from sunnyjohn
Old Aug 11, 2005, 04:07 PM

Look for a good nurse refresher course. It will help you get back in the swing of things and regain your confidence.

I think you will do just fine.
Good luck
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No. 4
Old Aug 11, 2005, 05:08 PM

Welcome to allnurses!!!!!
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No. 5
from USA987
Old Aug 11, 2005, 06:27 PM

I agree with sunnyjohn. Find a good refresher course when you get back stateside.

If you think about it...nursing school isn't really about the clinical "skills"...any one can learn them with enough practice (most people anyway ).

Don't doubt yourself. We need a few more good nurses out there.

Is your DH Air Force??? I am a Navy spouse and my sis-in-law is in the AF and transferring to a base in Beligum this fall.

Best wishes to you.
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No. 6
from sirI
Old Aug 11, 2005, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Bentley
Hello all. I'm new to this site. I'm currently unemployed, living at a remote base in Belgium with my husband. We will be relocating to the US in a few months and I am afraid that I won't be able to get a nursing job because I lack nursing skills/ experience. I know CNA's & CMA's who have more clinical skills than me. I wasn't impressed with my nursing education even though I received good grades. They valued the importance of communication rather than actual clinical skills. So now I know how to communicate therapeutically, but I don't know how to start an IV and I absolulety suck at drawing blood, esp on a peds patient. After graduating in 2002, I landed a job at a peds clinc where I gave shots all day long, attempted caths, and did few blood draws. And now 2-3 years later I've been unemployed and away from the US for over a year. I'm at the point where I feel useless as a nurse...is this even the right career path for me? For those of you who work in a hospital setting, do hospitals provide training for new nurses or just feed them to the wolves? I didn't enjoy my hospital rotation back in college, everyone seemed too stressed and overworked to teach me. I never want to be one of those grumpy, mean, old nurses who like to bite the heads off of new grads...hehe

Bentley
Hello and Welcome

When applying for a new position in a hospital, they will give you several weeks of orientation. However, I suggest to utilize some type of refresher course before applying. You will fare much better, I am sure.

I am sure you can do just fine.
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No. 7
from Bentley
Old Aug 12, 2005, 05:15 AM

Default Thank you for the replies
Thank you everyone for the replies. I'm looking forward to joining the nursing force again =) I will look for a refresher class when I head back to the US. Regarding your sister in law going to Belgium, if she's stationed at MONS/SHAPE she will probably enjoy the tour since that is a larger base, but I'm at KB which is very remote and there are no jobs available.
Bentley
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