Frustrated....

[ash2987]

I have just begun my last semester in nursing school (graduate May 14th) and had my very first clinical in the ICU on Monday. I enjoyed it and all, but it made me realize how UNPREPARED I am to become a nurse in a few short months. I get good grades and I guess you could say I am "book smart", I just feel that my school has NOT properly prepared me for the real world. I have very little clinical skills and I feel this is truly sad with it being my last semester. I am terrified to graduate because of this. I am embarrassed to tell nurses on the floor that it is my last semester because of my lack of clinical skills and confidence. I feel my nursing school has focused too much on book work and has NOT given us enough floor time. Does anyone else feel this way???

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I did everything in NS. Hung IV's, started them, gave meds, NG/OG, feeding tubes, Extubated etc etc. That being said *flame suit* any trained monkey can do these tasks. I just started working the other month and while those skills help, its putting everything together that at the end of the day is what really matters. Watching your pts and recognizing changes and what not are what really matter.

I hate saying that cause I fought my instructor so hard yet she was right.