feeling like a new grad all over again

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi! I graduated last Dec 2008 from ADN program and worked for 10 months in a med-surg floor. Then, I had to take time off starting 2010 and while I was taking time off, I decided to finish my BSN anyway. I'm doing my practicum now as required by my school and as much as it hurts to say this, I feel like a new grad all over again. The hardest part is that my 2 preceptors know that I have work experience. It's day 9 out of 12 of my practicum and I have been taking the full load for some time now but lately, I've been making mistakes (errors). My preceptor said that I need to focus more but it seemed like I'm overwhelmed.

My mom, a fellow nurse, is my most loyal supporter. God bless her! She reminded me that back then it took me 5 months to find my "rhythm" so she doesn't understand why I am being so hard on myself. As for me, I have high standards for myself. I look at my classmates and they have so much knowledge and experience under their belt while I had to take time off. In some ways, I want to catch up within them but I don't know if 12 days is enough catch up for a year loss.

Then a fellow RN in the bridge program, who had only had less than a year of LTC experience, got a job offer during our 12 day practicum in his unit (trauma ICU)! He's a good friend of mine so I'm really happy for him but I want the same achievements for myself, too.

All these may sound unreasonable but that's how I feel right. That's why I push myself so hard.

I just want to know if other people have the same experience. I just want to know if there is hope for me.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

technically, you are still a new grad. you only have 10 months of work experience... in fact, while you were in that mode of finally getting-the-hang-of-things, you had to quit. so now it is as if you are starting somewhat from scratch again. thus, i agree with your mom, give yourself a break. also, do not compare yourself to the other students because they are not in the same situation.

btw, the rn who landed the icu position did not have it dropped into his lap. i am sure he actively sought that position. no one is just given something like that these days. people work towards those opportunities. he just left out all of the details, such as talking to the nurse manager, asking the nurses on the floor to put in a good word for him, being related to the don somehow, donating a kidney to the ceo... etc. he is not all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips to be just given the position without any effort or connections like he wants everyone to think. ;)

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^ really? We'll see, I guess. He keeps telling me that he didn't want that job in the first place but all nurses in the unit seem to like him. Anyway, I, on the other hand, am not interested in trauma ICU for next 2-5 years.

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technically, you are still a new grad. you only have 10 months of work experience... in fact, while you were in that mode of finally getting-the-hang-of-things, you had to quit. so now it is as if you are starting somewhat from scratch again. thus, i agree with your mom, give yourself a break. also, do not compare yourself to the other students because they are not in the same situation.

btw, the rn who landed the icu position did not have it dropped into his lap. i am sure he actively sought that position. no one is just given something like that these days. people work towards those opportunities. he just left out all of the details, such as talking to the nurse manager, asking the nurses on the floor to put in a good word for him, being related to the don somehow, donating a kidney to the ceo... etc. he is not all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips to be just given the position without any effort or connections like he wants everyone to think. ;)

loved the 'donating his kidney to the ceo' joke. literally loled.

also, no honey, he is not all that and a bag of chips, he's all that and a bag of chips with a soda and pickle on the side. just kidding. i have to find ways to entertain myself these days being the unemployment has given me all this free time off. oh fun!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.
LOVED the 'donating his kidney to the CEO' joke. Literally LOLed.

Also, no honey, he is not all that and a bag of chips, he's all that and a bag of chips with a soda and pickle on the side. Just kidding. I have to find ways to entertain myself these days being the unemployment has given me all this free time off. Oh fun!

So basically the guy is a sandwich? Prolly a soggy tasteless one, thinking it want's to come off as a Chef Ramsey special.

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