Coming from a new RN, don't rush through school.

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Specializes in CVICU/ER.

Ok guys,

I am a new RN in a trauma one MICU. I remember when I was in school, I couldn't wait to get out. No more clinicals, no more stupid papers, no more teachers that seemed to desire you to fail. It was amazing when I passed my NCLEX, got offered a fantastic job and received my RN badge at work. I thought to myself, "Finally I made it."

Did you ever hear the phrase, "Don't ask for something because you just might get it?" Well that is how I feel right now. I am going through a 12 week preception with an amazing preceptor. She is cool, laid back and really helps foster my learning. I went to show her a med the 2nd day and what I was giving and she told me, "It's your license, make sure you do your checks...you don't need to ask me." It was a slap in the face with reality. It took my safety net away from me and made me realize the scope the responsibility that is now mine as an RN. I am in a constant state of hands on learning. I came to the MICU as an extern from the ER in the same hospital. It is a totally different type of nursing and the organizational skills are something that is lacking in my performance so far. I am not stagnant or behind in my learning at all, but It is a constant state of not knowing what the heck I am doing and how to manage care.

I am here to tell all of you in nursing school, enjoy it. Once you are an RN, you are really learning nonstop. It is stressful, but rewarding, but still stressful. Hell, we have critical care classes every week for like 10 weeks too so on top of my learning on the job, I am having to take quiz and test after test of critical care. I had to take 3 quizzes on Wednesday...Drug calc, EKG interpretation and physical assessment. It is by no means easy, but again, still rewarding.

Don't hurry through school. Enjoy the safety and structure of learning with somebody that is watching over your every move and step. The real world is a lot different. Cool, but defiantly not the same.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Good post. I hope many take your advice. I have been taking prereqs slowly for a year and I am trying to embrace every minute of my nursing education, from the first day of my first prereq through to the last question on the NCLEX I will pass.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I hated school and love "real nursing" sooooo much more.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Realistic, kind and useful feedback. Thank you so much for coming in and posting this.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Great post. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med/Surg, hospice.

I am starting ns this August and I will remember your advice. thank you :)

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So, ChuckZ, anything you would have done differently during clinicals to be more prepared for the real world? Like taking the bull by the horns? Asking the RNs how they manage their time, etc?

Thanks for your post and good luck!!!

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Specializes in CVICU/ER.

Well, I graduated with a 3.9 in a bach. program, did a lot of clinical work as a tech for the last 3 years, asked numerous questions and tried to learn as much as I could in the ER of a trauma one hospital while I was working as an extern. I thought I did anything and everything I could to prepare myself. I thought clinicals were always easy and never had a hard time at all. I even student taught patho, nursing assessment and pharm during school.That being said:

It is one thing to read about doing something and prioritizing and managing care, it is a another thing to be stranded on that island. I am so lucky for the patient and intelligent preceptor that I have. I had never experienced an ICU like this before. I mean, I did community hospital ICU where it was really no big deal....these people are post transplants, post crani, post kidney....It is something that you can try, but really can't prepare for if you are not functioning as a nurse. I kind of get ****** at myself when I don't know something so it kind of helps me to prepare, the thought of coming off stupid. I hate that.

It is important though to know your patho and your pharm. Patho will take you so far in your job as a new grad. If I could do one thing over, I would have tried to manage the whole clinical experience by myself. It's hard when you are doing med/surg and only have a couple patients. It is another thing to be in the ICU where people have so much to their care. I think it's something that a lot of new nurses go through, I just think I am maybe verbalizing it.

My Gpa raised me. He used to tell me, "A smart man doesn't know what he knows, he know what he doesn't know." That is very true in nursing. There is always somebody that can teach you. I talk to the nursing aids who have been there for 20 years....they know a lot. I talk to the clerk about order entry. I ask the docs about what they think is causing something. I ask my poor preceptor a million questions. I don't try and come across like I know, I come across as seeking information because in the end, that information really helps my patient when I care for them. Just food for thought.

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Specializes in NICU.

Thank you for this! I've been getting a lot of pressure from people to bulk up my schedule to finish in 2 more years instead of 3, but I don't want to rush and just "get by".. I want to learn everything I can to a point where I'm confident. None of my friends understand and are basically disgusted that I'd want to stay in school for so long. Nursing is a completely different game! I feel like if I rush through school, it will be an even bigger shock when I start working and I already know it's going to be a lot of learning.

I'm glad that you're having such a great experience with your preceptor and thanks again for sharing! If you ever decide to write a blog, I'd love to read it!

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Well, I graduated with a 3.9 in a bach. program, did a lot of clinical work as a tech for the last 3 years, asked numerous questions and tried to learn as much as I could in the ER of a trauma one hospital while I was working as an extern. I thought I did anything and everything I could to prepare myself. I thought clinicals were always easy and never had a hard time at all. I even student taught patho, nursing assessment and pharm during school.That being said:

It is one thing to read about doing something and prioritizing and managing care, it is a another thing to be stranded on that island. I am so lucky for the patient and intelligent preceptor that I have. I had never experienced an ICU like this before. I mean, I did community hospital ICU where it was really no big deal....these people are post transplants, post crani, post kidney....It is something that you can try, but really can't prepare for if you are not functioning as a nurse. I kind of get ****** at myself when I don't know something so it kind of helps me to prepare, the thought of coming off stupid. I hate that.

It is important though to know your patho and your pharm. Patho will take you so far in your job as a new grad. If I could do one thing over, I would have tried to manage the whole clinical experience by myself. It's hard when you are doing med/surg and only have a couple patients. It is another thing to be in the ICU where people have so much to their care. I think it's something that a lot of new nurses go through, I just think I am maybe verbalizing it.

My Gpa raised me. He used to tell me, "A smart man doesn't know what he knows, he know what he doesn't know." That is very true in nursing. There is always somebody that can teach you. I talk to the nursing aids who have been there for 20 years....they know a lot. I talk to the clerk about order entry. I ask the docs about what they think is causing something. I ask my poor preceptor a million questions. I don't try and come across like I know, I come across as seeking information because in the end, that information really helps my patient when I care for them. Just food for thought.

Thanks for the insight. I have heard new nurses say that you really start learning as soon as you start working. I will work on my patho and my pharm (the subjects I love the most)!!! Thanks again and keep on learning and growing. Good luck!!!

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Thanks for the insight. I realize that I'm going to be REALLY learning nursing once I get finished with school and get my first job. I'm in an ADN program and finish in May 2011. A lot of people are saying they will begin on their BSN as soon as they get done with this and think I'm crazy for wanting to take a year off of school to focus on becoming a new nurse. When you explain it the way you do, it does sound kind of scary. Right now we are used to our instructors being there to sign off on our meds, to make sure we are doing the right thing....it's an intimidating thought to not have them there to cover me!

The only thing I can say about your situation is, *At least you are getting paid to learn!* If I was getting a paycheck right now I probably wouldn't be in such a rush to get through...Living off of student loans that will be drying up is hard to do!! I just can't wait to get a real paycheck! :)

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Specializes in None.

I have been taking my time in school. I waited an extra year past when I could have applied to clinicals, just to take all the other classes I needed for my degree, so I wouldn't have to take them at the same time as clinicals. Now I am finished with everything, except clinicals, which I was accepted to, and start next month! I am in no hurry. Going back to school was the best thing I ever did, and although I sometimes feel like the oldest person on campus, I still love every minute of it!

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