Anxiety ridden over LTC

[Nursey916]

So, while I was in LPN school the theory part was great, I made good grades and passed the nclex the first time. The clinical part however, was absolutely terrible. I feel like I learned pretty much nothing. I've always had anxiety about working as a nurse because of it. I went to a small school where we did clinicals in very small hospital that often times did not have nearly enough patients compared to how many nursing students that were there. We had skill checklists yes, but the nursing instructors never watched us actually perform the skills before checking them off...they just signed them. I graduated feeling like I didn't know what the hell I was doing, not even a little bit. This caused me to get in nursing jobs that were not heavy on the clinical side. I did pediatric home health, worked with a child with a Mickey button, easy. I also worked as a correctional nurse where the bulk of my work, well pretty much all of it, consisted of passing meds. My last job I worked at an adult day care where there was barely anything clinical involved. I did accuchecks and gave insulin to a few people throughout the day, had one dressing change and passed meds to a few people. The majority of that job was paperwork and doing activities with the members. Well I quit my job to go back to school full time and pursue my BSN as well as work in another setting where I would get clinical experience. I just got a job at a LTC facility and my anxiety is so high about this job. I know I need more clinical experience but should I be feeling like this? I've heard a lot of negative things about working in LTC from a lot of other nurses like they have high turn over rates, they're short staffed and there's a ton to do. All this makes me question if I'm even making the right decision furthering my career in nursing because I really don't think bedside nursing is for me. I get stressed out very easy. I am very torn at the same time though bc I've basically completed all my pre requisites to bridge and I feel like I'm already so far along to turn back and start over with something new. Any advice or thoughts please?!?!

[pookyp, LPN]

I just started in LTC for the skills too. I work corrections per diem. I'm only on day 3 at the facility. I've learned so much, peg tube feelings, trachs, vents, hanging IV antibiotics, etc. I know there's much more to learn and I get anxiety walking in, but it's to gain knowledge and so far I'm liking it. It's a lot to do, but the other nurses are showing me little shirt cuts that help. I would just try it! I've been avoiding LTC since I became a nurse. I always like to try something once. If I don't like it I'll leave after 6 months. And this place only gives 4 days of training which sucks.