Graduation mixed emotions

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Tonight is the night!!! I will be pinned at graduation!! All that hard work (and nclex to go...). I am going through feelings of elation, but I'm also feeling that letdown feeling--like the day after Christmas when you were a kid, and you have 364 more days to go until next Christmas.

I think it's because during nursing school, you have instructors and classmates behind you, and all of the sudden you feel like you're on your own as an RN.

Has anyone else experienced this? :confused: Does anyone have any suggestions for feeling part of a group again as a new graduate going into their first nursing job? I would greatly appreciate any comments! Thanks!

Kitty-MayRN :nurse:

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

congratulations!!!!!:balloons: :balloons:

i felt the same way when i graduated. like all my instructors put me into a little lifeboat without a paddle and waved me out to sea!!

hopefully, when you start your first job, you will get a good new grad orientation. this will put you with a group of your peers, all in the same boat (haha). i have noticed that these relationships last, and are really important in helping you make the transition. if some of the grads you go to orientation with are working in other units, try to keep in touch with them, and exchange experiences.

good luck!!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I FELT THE SAME WAY WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL :chuckle

SERIOUSLY TALKING I THINK IT IS SO NORMAL. YOU ARE JUST WORRIED AND IN A POINT OF TRANSITION AT THIS MOMENT. NOT TO MENTION THE NCLEX COMING UP SOON RIGHT?

WHENEVER WE START SOMETHING NEW OR TRY SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME IT IS NORMAL TO FEEL THAT WAY

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU:balloons: AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK. YOU TAKE CARE AND KEEP US POSTED.

JESSICA

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Thanks for sharing. I guess I do need to give it a chance. I do have a brand new job lined up at a med/surg unit at a hospital--and I will get training to ease the transition. I've just heard (is it true?) that for the first month or so you go home and just cry every day. Then I guess you either sink in your tears or start swimming. And I am glad I get to graduate!

;)

Kitty-MayRN

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Specializes in Med/Surge.

First CONGRATULATIONS I know how hard you worked to get there!!

I graduated last Friday night and I have been a little down myself!! I think that I have been hiding in my house............. :uhoh21: I just really haven't wanted to be around anyone. Isn't it weird how something that should be so great is a little bit of a let down? I agree with whoever said it's like a kid the day after Christmas!! :o

I haven't even really cleaned my house and I was looking forward to doing that soooo much (as crazy as that sounds). :chuckle

Today though I made myself go do something that I had been wanting to do before graduation so hopefully it will pull me out of this funk that I am in.

We could kind of be each others support system on here because I start M/S too after passing NCLEX. Just an idea-we could at least cry on each others shoulders if need be until we make it through the transition.

Congrats again and have fun at graduation.

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Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.
Thanks for sharing. I guess I do need to give it a chance. I do have a brand new job lined up at a med/surg unit at a hospital--and I will get training to ease the transition. I've just heard (is it true?) that for the first month or so you go home and just cry every day. Then I guess you either sink in your tears or start swimming. And I am glad I get to graduate!

;)

Kitty-MayRN

:yelclap: Congrats! I am a December grad. I found the adjustment from school to the "real world" challenging! When I actually passed my boards, I woke in the middle of the night thinking (panicking) "OMG, I am going to be responsible for live human beings!" I was scared. You have to give yourself time, it takes awhile to feel comfortable in any new job. good luck!

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KittyMayRN and Grinnurse,

Thanks so much for sharing your posts. I was beginning to wonder what was wrong with me. I'm glad to hear it's not just me. I too, am getting pinned this week, Friday night. Woo hoo. However, all this week, I have been in a funk. I mean, I wanted this for so long, and now that's it's here, I'm just left to sit here and think "Uh-Oh, now what? Did I really just finish nursing school?" I've been staring at my closets all week wanting to rearrange them and trying to figure out what to do for the next six weeks, besides study for the NCLEX. I have a job lined up starting in July. That's when the real learning begins :)

Congrats to you guys on your graduation. :balloons: I think after your pinning ceremony, it may start to seem more real. At least, that's what I am hoping!

Take care and let me know if you want to share NCLEX study tips!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I got pinned yesterday. During the ceremony I felt like the world was my oyster. We took our oath and I felt like I was queen of the world. Then this morning I woke up and felt like all the air had been let out of my balloon while I was sleeping. The worries of starting my job next month, coupled by the thought that I only have one last test and graduation almost depressed me. I don't think I feel prepared. I am apprehensive about learning all the new stuff on the job, and messing up. Then the irrational thoughts hit me like, what if I don't like my co-workers, or they don't like me? What if the CNAs are all older and don't respect me as their leader? I don't know, it's a lot to handle. I will just keep coming to Allnurses and bonding with other recent grads.

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Specializes in LDRP.

I totally understand. I compared it to giving birth, as I did that just 1 month before graduation. It's like, you wait so long for this one day (giving birth or graduation) and its over so fast. I was a bit sad that school is completely done.

I am excited to work, but still, its a big change. I'm very nervous.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Stepdown.

First of all congrats to you!!!!!!

What you're feeling is completely normal, I felt the same way last week. I was happy, but felt lost at the same time. Be happy right now and take a day at a time, it will all make sense later :chuckle

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My pinning was last night and during the ceremony and for a brief moment after, I felt like I was on top of the world. Once I started walking away from the school, away from those people I have been with for the past 2 years through thick and thin, and I got in my car and started driving home... I got really depressed and felt like crying. I couldn't explain why I felt that way but I'm glad to see I'm not the only one.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Hi grinnurse,

Congratulations to you too! :balloons: :Melody: :)

I'm glad you know what I'm talking about. For the last two years, my every day has been scheduled by nursing school. Now I have to pause and look around at my neglected home and think of other things I used to be about besides a nursing student... Wow! I did have a life! I'll dust it off and see what I can find!

We do have the NCLEX to keep us occupied. Some support does sound good--I'll keep a dry towel on my left shoulder if you need to cry on it! :crying2:

Take Care--

Kitty-MayRN :nurse:

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