Are Student Nurses Prepared for "Real Life?'

whatever0817 · Aug 4, 2008

I am a senior nursing student and have been doing an externship on a cardiology floor. I have learned more this summer than all of my past 3yrs. Whatever happened to learning while working. BSN programs should be like the ADN plus the theory & nursing diagnosis. I would advise those thinking of goind to nursing school to look at the program and choose one that has more clinical experiences.

sistasoul · Aug 4, 2008

Hello all,

I just graduated from a ADN program in May. I found the clinicals were more structured around careplans and other types of paperwork such as risk management, quality management, etc. I was so worried about meeting thse objectives that I could never concentrate on my "skills".

I never even gave an IV med until my 3rd semester. My second semester consisted of med-surg and beh. health. My med-surge rotation was in a VA hospital and I did not have one patient that had IV meds and I gave oral meds twice that semester. I did give a lot of insulin shots though. When I was done caring for my stable LTC residents I would ask the other nurses if they had anything I could do. None of the patients on the floor when we were there had IVS. It was like we were just there to work as aides. I was already an aide and knew how to give baths and such and wanted to learn how to become a nurse. We were given the heaviest patients to care for - bedridden and hoyer lift patients.

After this semester it felt like I was so far behind in skills that I was constantly playing catch up.

I feel like the instructors just want us to pass the NCLEX to make their program look good. :twocents:

i do not feel prepared in some ways.

citygrl646 · Aug 9, 2008

i agree, that the clinical skills just aren't there in new grads-It's my first few weeks on a very busy med surg floor and I still feel incompetent with hands on skills which are so important to keep the work flow going-i've only started one IV so far-but i find the lack of eqipment on the floor deplorable!!!

we only have one 02 sat machine for 40 pts and nurses/docs hide it. plus, when i was hired they said they had a c diff protocol in place-NOT TRUE at all, they are using outdated practices!!! does anyone check the new research out there?

I know as a new grad, i can't find usable veins to draw blood as easily and get nervous with IV meds and inserting catheters but i don't see anyone thoroughly assessing pts, really reading their charts, or explaining meds to pts???

I'm beginning to hate this job b/c I don't feel i'm helping pts whatsoever and am ready to quit after just 1 month. I also feellike the floor is unsafe to work on. i know it might be better once i master the skills and am free from the preceptor to work according to my own pace/style but i'd rather educate and prevent illness and then pump useless meds into people

cuddlesrose · Aug 9, 2008

citygrl 646, is the reason that you went into nursing for the money or to help patients? I am not trying to be rude, but the whold reason for myself going into nursing is to make a difference, try to change the "outdated" way of thinking and bring a more caring, nuturing and updated care to the patients. I really hope that you do not quit, if your heart is truly in the profession, hang in there and things will slowly come around. It might be just one small thing, but that is one step in the right direction. Good luck and God Bless

blueheaven · Aug 9, 2008

Many programs...in 2 words...HECK NO!!!!!!!

citygrl646 · Aug 11, 2008

Hi cuddle,

I went in to help people, but if the pay sucked I wouldn't do it to be honest mainly b/c of the environment of care-although I would rather be paid 10,000 less per year in this job and have adequate equipment/ratios.

I mean I worked a job that paid half my salary now and I was happy there and worked there for several years. but i can't imagine being in this particular job for even several months. i'm in a large NYC private hospital not a makeshift unit in the jungle fer cryin' out loud.

as a nurse I can't place orders or really dictate treatments-interdiciplinary care should mean MDs in the same room with nurses and pts discussing the best treatment approach-which almost never happens.

i think i can enact more change in other ways to be truthful-orwork in mobile clinics where preventive care is emphasized

APUalyssa* · Sep 16, 2008

wow i didnt know that people cant even compare or exchange units.

but as [nursing] student, i believe that we only do little things while in school and then do the BIG things when we get to the real world

nothing can prepare anyone for the real world,

not school, not your parents, nothing

its a your-on-your-own environment that we must learn ourselves

Practicalone, LPN · Sep 18, 2008

I just want to say that I believe that it depends on where you get you education. I graduated from the LPN program in July here where I live. At the university where I went, they have an extensive medical program. there is an LPN, ADN, BSN, NP, PA and so on. When I applied to the program they reguired you to have your CNA and to have been working as one for a mininum of 6 months to get in. Then while in the program the amount of clinical hours we had to have was more than the BSN students. Before we could graduate, we had to have a minimun of 500 hours of Clinical hours (in 11 months). Pass offs in my program were a night mare. And we were instructed to alway have every medication that we draw up for at least 6 months after graduating to be checked off by another nurse. I am happy to say "even though the program I was in, was insanely intense, I did learn a lot" Also employers in the surrounding areas have made comments to the instructors and the students that they would rather hire the LPN students from this university instead of the BSNs, because we have it drilled into our heads to do it right. So i think it totally depends on the program and the instructors that are instructing. Our instructors did not want their licenses to be pulled because of a student mistake.