Getting ready to start...feel STUPID!

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I swear I feel stupid! I finished school in June, NCLEX in August, and start work next week and I feel like I've lost all my knowledge! :o

Is this common? My last clinical was in May. Now I'm starting into a 14 week or 16 week (varies) orientation, so surely they will know that I am not as knowledgeable right?! Silly question I know but dang! I'm soooooooooo scared that I will just look stupid! That having honors and all that was just fluff LOL and that I dont' know anything...like I have a slow leak of nursing knowledge and its getting faster! :trout:

Is this a normal thing? Do things "come back to you"?

Thanks,

:smilecoffeeIlovecof Amy :lol2:

Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.
Sounds like me right now Cherokee! And I've been asking the same questions you have been. I feel like a sponge who has just taken as much learning as she could until it started to leak out due to some inactive Alzheimer's thing. It's scary when I find myself referring to my 1st year nursing school texts for fundamental skills as I interview in various type units. And I know I should ask questions. But honestly, I am the question queen, and it's just not tolerated or wanted or accepted. At least not in my experience of clinical rotations or externship. I was always, yes ALWAYS, told my questions should be researched outside of clinical and brought to the attention of my preceptor at hte end of shift if I couldn't figure it out on my own. But at the end of a 14 hour day, she just never seemed to make time for me. Hell, I think the one time I asked about whether we were allowed time to sit and eat, was the absolute wrong question to ask!!!

C'mon, this has happened to somebody else out there? Where you ask questions as you go along, but your preceptor acts like she really doesn't want to precept? I mean isn't it their job to help? Answer? Demo?

So yes Cherokee, I'm scared to death that I've gone thru school, grad, boards, interviewing, and will be in a position to ask or not ask. Why can't people just be open to saying, "ya know,I don't know. Let's find out together" if a question challenges them as well. Because I really think that my critical thinking skills have me asking very analytical questions that require in-depth thinking (and answering!).

I hear ya! I'm afraid to bug someone sometimes and ask but I'm thinking about it now as I have a patient and license to protect so I'm going to suck it up and ask if I have to, but I am sure there will be those that don't want to be bothered. We'll keep trucking though! ;)

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Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.

Cherokee,

I think I've lucked out w/ a hospital and a unit that appreciates new grads. That's got to mean they expect us to be asking and reviewing, right?

Fingers crossed!

Chloe

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I swear I feel stupid! I finished school in June, NCLEX in August, and start work next week and I feel like I've lost all my knowledge! :o

Is this common? My last clinical was in May. Now I'm starting into a 14 week or 16 week (varies) orientation, so surely they will know that I am not as knowledgeable right?! Silly question I know but dang! I'm soooooooooo scared that I will just look stupid! That having honors and all that was just fluff LOL and that I dont' know anything...like I have a slow leak of nursing knowledge and its getting faster! :trout:

Is this a normal thing? Do things "come back to you"?

Thanks,

:smilecoffeeIlovecof Amy :lol2:

YOU WILL GAIN YOUR KNOWLEDGE

THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE...ALOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME GO INTO TO MEDICAL SURGICAL AND YOU WILL LEARN MOST OF IT THERE.

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I think we're in the same boat..I had my last clinical and graduated in May. Didn't even take NCLEX until end of July (we were moving out of state) and now I start on Monday. Way too long in between times. I start at a very small hospital in Med-Surg but orientation to hospital is only 2 days and 20 shifts of on-floor. It's hard to know what to do to prepare.....I know I don't want to look dumb either. But I'm sure the orientation will help and every day will get easier, more experience and we'll be learning more than in school, that's for sure!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Sounds normal to me.

If they thought you knew everything why would they give you over 3 months of orientation?

Hang in there and good luck. We all had those same fears that first job.

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You took the words right out of my mouth. I'm supposed to start October 1st, and I also feel I've got that brain drain thing going on. I have been reviewing for the NCLEX and I swear, I've forgotten 95% of it!! Sometimes I wonder why they even hired me .. and then I have to remind myself -- oh, yeah -- I just got that BSN and stuff.

But then I think ... who wouldn't forget most of it. Most of this knowledge is so detail oriented .. .so many facts. Most people could not retain the amount of information there is to know.

So, I'm trying to psych myself up and read the hints for new grads thread, and just jump on in! Good luck -- many of us out here with you this fall!

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

Boy I sure am glad that I'm not alone! I think I should be thankful for the orientation then! Its set up in increments of learning both classroom and on the floor. It's a NICU and they like new grads from what I hear. I know it will be hard b/c it is a high level NICU but I am looking forward to learning. It is one of my dreams to do this (NICU nursing).

Go figure just three days before I start, I have sprained my ankle (see my other post about that). UGH! But thankfully they said the first week is in a classroom setting so I can keep my foot propped and not have to hobble around the unit on crutches!

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Hi, I'm Rose and I am preparing to take a pre-entry exam for LPN school. Can anyone tell me what I need to expect? Please answer me soon, my test is tomorrow. THX

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Sometimes I wonder why they even hired me .. and then I have to remind myself -- oh, yeah -- I just got that BSN and stuff.

TOOOOOOO FUNNNNYYYYY:rotfl:

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cherokee, thinking of you and want to wish you the very best.

don't focus on what you've learned.

rather, focus on everything you're about to learn.

you will do wonderfully.

i want to hear from you in a few months, for an update! :balloons:

leslie

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

Thanks everyone! Well my first week was finished yesterday. It was orientation all week, a general organization orientation. Next week we start the actual unit orientation. I still feel "out of place" but most of my coworkers do too I think LOL b/c we are new grads!

I have experienced quite a bit of emotional stuff since returning to work, I knew it would be hard to go back to work after being a SAHM for almost two years but I didn't think it would be as emotional as it has been, I cried the first several nights when I got home b/c I had missed my baby all day and didn't want to go back the next day! But I remind myself that God put me on this path for a reason! Also I need to work for our home to remain our home so its a blessing that I have a job that I know I will enjoy!

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