anything you wish you were told in nursing school that you werent?

Flylikethewind · Jul 17, 2010

Well that's really something to look forward to. LOL!
My 1st semester of NS starts next month. I'm VERY excited, but also extremely nervous. I haven't handled emergency situations very well in the past and I sure hope I can overcome that. Hopefully some education and confidence will do the trick.
Very good (and frightening) info here. Thanks karyan06 for starting thread!

Hehe definately something to look foraward too

Just consider it part of you noses nursing education

along with UTI's

My teachers always would say how they could smell a UTI a mile off and we thought it would take us forever but once you've smelt a few you know it's there before the urine sample is taken

Thought of another ones

no one ever told me that when you do catch ups with nursing school friends post grad you would discuss bowel movements and all kinds of feral things that you have seen from patients

if they had we probably wouldn't have met up at a resturant to have other customers look at us in disgust

shondaRN · Jul 17, 2010

Time management classes!

karyan06 · Jul 17, 2010

thank you all for your thoughts and honesty :-) its nice to hear the variety of things everyone thinks - i appreciate it! i wanted to ask some of you another question. i have found that in clinicals and even now in my job as an LNA, some LNAs and nurses treat me differently when i say that i am going to nursing school... its kind of hard to explain. most of the nurses are friendlier while some of the LNA's act like they resent me for it or something. I have talked with some of my other LNA friends who have found similiar things. have any of you seen this/heard of this?

also i was wondering if any of you had a pocket book that you swear by. i am looking for one for work and for school. thanks a bunchhh :-)

shoegalRN, RN · Jul 17, 2010

thank you all for your thoughts and honesty :-) its nice to hear the variety of things everyone thinks - i appreciate it! i wanted to ask some of you another question. i have found that in clinicals and even now in my job as an LNA, some LNAs and nurses treat me differently when i say that i am going to nursing school... its kind of hard to explain. most of the nurses are friendlier while some of the LNA's act like they resent me for it or something. I have talked with some of my other LNA friends who have found similiar things. have any of you seen this/heard of this?
also i was wondering if any of you had a pocket book that you swear by. i am looking for one for work and for school. thanks a bunchhh :-)

While in nursing school, I worked as a tech. Most of the techs I worked with had been techs for YEARS, and had no desire to be nurses (as was told to me). I got along with them fine until they found out I was a nursing student. I had one tech tell me "I hope you don't turn out to be one of those nurses that think you are better than the techs". Oddly, I did get along great with the nurses. Once I graduated nursing school, I didnt work at that hospital as a RN.

One pocket book I swear by is ECG Interpretation Made Incredibly Easy and I love it! I work in ER and it's very important to know your rhythms.

futurenurseheather · Jul 17, 2010

i was expecting to read some negative things, but nothing like this...it makes me really sad and cautious about wanting to pursue my dream job as a nurse. some of the posters on here make it sound like going into nursing was the worst decision they ever made...maybe i still have that "wide-eyed, naive, dreamy" outlook on my life and career and future, idk....but gosh, just reading this has made me doubt my entire future plan....anyone else feel the same?

sistasoul · Jul 17, 2010

I graduated in 2008.

When I graduated I wished my school had let us really carry a patient load. I had 1-2 patients to care for. This did not include dealing with family members, MDs, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, dietary, pharmacy, admits, discharges, etc. Also as the nurse you are expected to solve all problems like the TV and light switch not working, search for fans, call dietary multiple times because my patient was not happy with their meal, find out what is on TV for them, etc. I was surprised at how many non-nursing duties I had to do. There really is not time to deal with your patients and the charting never mind all of the other waitressy, repair man type requests you get.

Also the family members who bring their dysfunctional ways into the hospital and expect the nurse to listen to their drama. A lot of the patients we get are detoxing and this is a whole other drama. These types will suck up your time with watching the clock for their next Ativan dose and be right on the bell if you are not in there. They will complain of every little ache and pain to try to stay in the hospital longer and their pain is always an 11/10 even if they are on the phone talking, When you go back in to bring pain medicine they are sleeping.

Nursing school prepared me for NONE of this. I do enjoy my patients but find the time spent with them is very limited. I love being able to care for my little old ladies and gents who are the most sick but the "neediness" of some of my other patients take my time away from the ones who need me most.

sarahsmile44 · Jul 17, 2010

Yes. Sadly, a friend excitedly recommended this site to me and I registered today. I've spent two hours on here and I am so discouraged!! I knew that there would be negative, but I can literally pick out one or two threads that are remotely positive. I start nursing school on September 2nd and am feeling completely defeated. I don't mean to offend anyone, and I respect and value all of your experiences, opinions and honesty...I was just really hoping to find some encouragement here as well. :crying2:

LMoonRN · Jul 17, 2010

sarahsmile,

Please do not be completely disheartened. This forum is a wonderful place for nurses, students, and CNA's. We must remember that the forum is also used as a safe place to vent. As someone who just graduated from a BSN program, I can give you a little insight into what school was like for me. This is only my experience. I really enjoyed school. I went to Catholic school and lived in the dorms. I made a lot of great friends with both other students and professors. These are people I will keep in contact with for a lifetime. As far as the academic part goes, it was very hard. You have to have a lot of drive and stamina to make it through nursing school. However, it is not impossible!! I found the hardest part being that I had to study a lot which I was not used to doing in high school. In high school. I could make the honor roll with the bare minimum amount of study. The hardest things for me were anatomy ( a full year course at my school), theology (taught by people with degrees from Harvard Divinity School), philosophy, and critical care and med surg nursing (there are massive amounts of information). As a student it is sometimes hard initially to translate textbook knowledge into reality. I can read about a bedbath or an IV pump all I want but until I see it and do it , it doesn't sink. The same goes for dealing with family and patients. As much as you are taught what might be some appropriate things to say at end of life for example, when the time comes and you are with a dying patient it is like having cotton mouth. I think these skills will come in time though. In addition, my school had a 200 hour preceptorship which was completed the last semester of senior year. This preceptorship allowed us to become more autonomous in our transition from student nurse to graduate nurse. I did mine on the CVSU. I really enjoyed it and I was up to four patients almost completely by myself near the end. Check into programs that have a similar type program senior year. Now I am looking to put my education to work and hopefully I will find a job soon!! Nursing school although it had it's ups and downs, was thoroughly enjoyable for me. I feel I got a great nursing and liberal arts education. I think you should pursue your dreams. Best of luck for a bright future.

sarahsmile44 · Jul 17, 2010

Thank you LMoon and good luck with the job search! Great advice!

I love my cat! · Jul 17, 2010

I wish I would have been told :

-Keep a journal. Anything that you witness or hear and feel that it may be "questionable" write it down. Is always nice to have that reference if these issues come up in the future.

-Nursing is NOT a team occupation (that has been my experience anyway). I was very delusional to that. I was so excited during school, believing that everyone in the health care team worked together for the patient. Wrong. Everyone is out for themselves. From the MDs to dietary to Custodial to Radiology, etc., etc....

sistasoul · Jul 17, 2010

Yes. Sadly, a friend excitedly recommended this site to me and I registered today. I've spent two hours on here and I am so discouraged!! I knew that there would be negative, but I can literally pick out one or two threads that are remotely positive. I start nursing school on September 2nd and am feeling completely defeated. I don't mean to offend anyone, and I respect and value all of your experiences, opinions and honesty...I was just really hoping to find some encouragement here as well.

Hi Sarah,

I did not mean to discourage you. Nursing school is hard and nursing is a demanding profession. I am still a newer nurse with just 16 months experience under my belt. It is just that I don't feel school adequately prepares new grads for the reality of nursing. When I was in school I had always heard how the nurses were under a ime crunch all of the time. I could not understand this as I always had plenty of time with my 1 - 2 patients. I figured I would have plenty of time to deal with a full assignment.

Just be aware that as a student nurse you are probably dealing with 1/2 of the responsibilities for your patients. Students do not see the full picture. This is not the studen's fault by any means. If you can do a nurse externship over the summer. I worked as an aide while in school and applied for one of these positions but the hospital misplaced my application and that opportunity was lost. I believe you would get a good idea of the full responsibility of a nurse iwith a position like this.

Best Wishes

sarahsmile44 · Jul 17, 2010

Thank you for the advice sista!