extra clinical extension after school?

[skittlebear]

I am an LPN, less than 1yr experience. The thought of working in a hospital setting scares me to death. This is the main thing that is holding me back from wanting to get my RN. My question is, is their a type of program or training program that would allow you to follow a nurse around in a hospital (kind of like in your clinicals in nursing program), without working there in the future (not orientation) in TN. I just didn't feel that we got enough clinical time in LPN school to really know what it's all about out there in the real world of nursing. Thanks.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

You could call the hospital and ask if they have shadowing opportunities...

[ellechique]

some hospitals offer a summer Nurse Externship program, however, it's usually a program for nursing students who are in their last year of nursing school. I just finished my externship program and worked 40 hours a week shadowing, helping my mentor and doing my own progress notes/assessments/etc for 2 months in a med/surg floor. i must say, it was a great experience....i feel a lot more confident in my skills, i gained familiarity with various treatment modalities, and see how an RN deals with patients, families, and other healthcare teams.