I feel so incompetent....

[sjbrian]

I'm a nursing student in my 3rd semester. It only a 13 month RN program and it feels like we haven't have a whole lot of clinical experience. So my question is....how do hospitals handle new grad situations when they hire? How much training does the average hospital give for new grads with no experience?

[anne74]

Nursing school is only exposure to becoming a nurse. I would look for a position at a teaching hospital. I started as a new grad at a university hospital - they have a 1-yr nurse resident program, in which you're paired with a one-on-one preceptor for 3 months for med/surg, and 6 months for ICU. Then each month you have new grad classes. It's good because you meet other new grads in other parts of the hospital, and you don't feel so alone. This helped a lot because I was the only new grad on my unit at the time, and I felt so behind everyone.

I had a really hard time as a new nurse - mostly because I started off with a nightmare preceptor. Just make sure you're paired with a preceptor who is patient, approachable and has a similiar work style to yours. If you don't match well with your preceptor, ask to be switched. That can make or break your nursing career.

And don't worry - I felt like a total fool at first, but eventually you'll get it. Just try to not focus on everything you don't know - each day, think of 3 new things you learned that day; things in which you weren't able to do before, but now you can. That helps you see the progress you're making. Eventually there will be fewer and fewer things you'll have to ask help for. Don't get discouraged. It will come with time. You have to be patient.