Graduating BSN program in April 2013 and feeling unprepared

[mauraa]

I'm graduating from a BSN program this coming April and it has been SUCH a long road to get here. I did 2 years of prerequisites at a community college then entered the traditional 4-year BSN program at my college. I have learned so much over the past 4 years and feel like I become more and more knowledgable with each semester I get through. This semester I am taking Med Surg II and community then next semester I take nursing leadership then I'm DONE! It is so hard to believe. Although I feel like I have learned a lot , I feel ridiculously unprepared for the world of nursing. I work as a nursing assistant at a large hospital in the northern NJ and have done my clinical rotations at NYC hospitals . I have had great clinical experiences but feel like I will not be up to par once I am an RN and doing things on my own. Is it normal to feel like this? I don't always remember the exact dosages of a given drug or the exact appropriate way to do something and there are times I get really hard on myself. My mom is an NP and is always telling me that there are 3 month long orientations for new RNs and I shouldn't be so stressed out about it. Are there any new grads out there that felt the same way?

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Patricia Benner's From Novice to Expert

The book should be required reading for all nursing students/new graduates. The link is sort of a cliffs notes version of the theory.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you are more prepared than you believe. There is no way to anticipate what situations you will encounter, which is why your education has leaned towards making decisions. You will be paid for "nursing judgment". That is all you need in the beginning - the ability to know when to call for help and how to prioritize a little. The rest will come with time. The fact that you are concerned makes me believe you will do well - you are not too cocky about being a nurse. Good luck!!

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Passing the NCLEX shows that you are a safe beginning practitioner. That's it. Sky's the limit from there! :)

[owlRN01]

I feel ya! I think all my school really prepared me to do was pass NCLEX... which I did :) I second guess myself in everything and I figure it's going to be like that for years... yikes!