Anxious!

[magster3200]

Hello fellow nursing students!

This fall, which is coming up real soon, I will be beginning my last year of nursing school! There is so much that I have learned, but still have much to learn as well. I do NOT feel like I can call myself a senior, and the idea of having a real job and trying to pass NCLEX this time next year gives me serious anxiety. I try to talk about how I feel with my family, but no one REALLY understands except other nursing students like myself.

The reason I am writing this is because I want to know how you all deal with criticism from teachers and the nurses you are working with on the floor. I feel like the instructors expect you to know EVERY little detail, and I feel like that is what really gets to me, because I hate the looks on their faces when I don't answer something up to their standards. I feel like I'm letting them down or not trying hard enough when I know deep down I am doing my best.

Thanks all!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

No one expects you to know everything on the floor as a brand new nursing student. As you progress through your program, there will be more expected of you as you grow in your knowledge. A first level student should be able to do a basic physical assessment, vital signs and document (with prompts). A student nearly ready to graduate should be able to handle more than one patient at a time, pass meds (oral & IV), delegate, prioritize, read EKG (basic), recognize lab values, document accurately with no prompts and do a thorough head-to-toe physical assessment plus have had experienced certain skills (at clinicals or during lab).

Please don't go in to your last clinical thinking your instructor is out to fail you. I can say the majority are NOT like that. Most are very supportive, encouraging and really teach you well. Have confidence in your demeanor and be professional. You'll get through just fine :)

My very first week of my last semester, I had a ventilator patient. We hadn't yet learned about caring for ventilator patients. My instructor taught me so much. If I would have asked to have a different patient in my comfort zone, I would have missed out on that learning experience. A good instructor will not throw you to the wolves.

You will, however, be expected to start organizing & planning your shift as if you were on your own. You will be expected to know your meds (or look them up if you don't know). There's not one new nurse that feels like they know everything.

I start my very first RN job on Monday. I'm super excited, but I know I still have a lot to learn from my fellow nurses. You'll get through nursing school. You really will

[all-k]

The only reason that they give you those looks or criticism is because they are grooming you to be the best possible nurse you can be. It is all a learning experience and no one wants to see you fail. Remember, every nurse you have met at one point in their life knew nothing about medicine. We all start from scratch. They want to breed the best possible nurses because after all, we are responsible for lives and well being of other humans! You can do this!