I feel like nursing school didn't prepare me for work

Published

Hello, I am new here to allnurses. I wanted to express my frustrations. I am a new grad LPN. I just started working in a speciality clinic a week ago, and I am really feeling like all nursing school did was prepare me to take the NCLEX. There is so much that I feel like I dont know or forgot or only have a vague understanding of. Its sad and its making me question my decision to become a nurse.

Has anybody else felt like this? Am I over reacting?

In all fairness I think most people who enter occupations that require a degree or passing some licensing; lawyers, teachers, police officers, social worker, etc., feel their training or schooling didn't prepare them for the real world.

But there are always those few who just seem to get it from day one....GRRRR! Took me at least two years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi. The title reads Nursing school. Did you mean LPN school? Because nursing school prepares you to become an RN not LPN. Correct? I'm confused.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi. The title reads Nursing school. Did you mean LPN school? Because nursing school prepares you to become an RN not LPN. Correct? I'm confused.

Are you serious right now?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
Are you serious right now?!

Ignore it. I imagine he's just trying to stir the pot. Don't fall for it ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Ignore it. I imagine he's just trying to stir the pot. Don't fall for it ;)

😀 You are so right. No need to feed into negativity.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Addiction.
I once read nursing school just teaches you how to not kill someone.

The NCLEX is the test of whether you think like a nurse and you are safe to practice. It's not a measure of if you know how to be a practicing, skilled nurse. If you ever feel like you know everything about how to do your job, let me know because I want a different nurse taking care of me. Be confident, take one decision at a time and assess before intervention. I'm sure you are doing better than you think, or you would have heard from someone above your pay grade by now!🤔

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The NCLEX is the test of whether you think like a nurse and you are safe to practice. It's not a measure of if you know how to be a practicing, skilled nurse. If you ever feel like you know everything about how to do your job, let me know because I want a different nurse taking care of me. Be confident, take one decision at a time and assess before intervention. I'm sure you are doing better than you think, or you would have heard from someone above your pay grade by now!🤔

Not trying to be rude, but I know what the NCLEX is and what it measures! I stated my nursing school didn't prepare me for being a nurse well. (And that is a true statement, but I cant go into to too much detail, for anonymity purposes).

Thank you for the words you wrote sentences below that though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Addiction.
Not trying to be rude, but I know what the NCLEX is and what it measures! I stated my nursing school didn't prepare me for being a nurse well. (And that is a true statement, but I cant go into to too much detail, for anonymity purposes).

Thank you for the words you wrote sentences below that though.

Of course you do-- I didn't mean to insult your intelligence I was just trying to remind you that you don't have to know everything to practice safely. My LPN school was horrible too. My OB clinicals were in an abortion clinic and my Peds clinicals were at a Headstart that didn't have a nurse-- we were just childcare workers for a few days. Talk about not learning anything useful! I hope you have good nurses to work with-- that makes the difference. Peace.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Of course you do-- I didn't mean to insult your intelligence I was just trying to remind you that you don't have to know everything to practice safely. My LPN school was horrible too. My OB clinicals were in an abortion clinic and my Peds clinicals were at a Headstart that didn't have a nurse-- we were just childcare workers for a few days. Talk about not learning anything useful! I hope you have good nurses to work with-- that makes the difference. Peace.

No problem and your clinical experience is basically the type that I experienced, places where I would have to stand around and literally do nothing, be used as the "tech" help, and be a childcare worker!

I am building on my book knowledge with actual hands on clinical work and I do have great LPNs and RNs around me that have been nothing but nice and helpful. I definitely think, I built up my nerves beyond the average person, due to the not so ideal clinical situations I had to deal with in nursing school, but over the past week,I have been going with what I do know and letting go of the past, so I can be a better nurse than my school prepared me to be! 😊 (Note: I'm not trying to bash my school by the way, because at the end of the day they can only prepare one, but so much and they dont always have the best choices of clinical sites, if they are in an overly saturated nursing school area, like I was)

And I am definitely a big on asking questions. I never do something that I haven't done before or am unsure of etc, without asking/reading policies.

😀 Thanks again for your response and sorry for taking you original comment the wrong way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCU.

I feel your pain. I have been a nurse for 31 years and can still feel like a fish out of water when starting something new or floating to a new floor. I still remember that first year of nursing. When ever I introduced myself to patients as their nurse I felt like a fraud and they would know I was just impersonating a nurse. Give yourself a break, it takes quite a while to become competent and confident. Then if you switch your specialty it will start all over again. I think that sometimes keeps nurses who are unhappy in a rut. It sucks feeling like a newby all over and the fear of not being quite sure of what one is doing makes them stay in a specialty they are really not happy in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

You are absolutely right. Nursing school does prepare you take and pass the NCLEX and not much more. Think of it this way: There are so many varieties of nursing practice that there is no way any school could possibly teach all that is needed. School covers the bare bones basics, what any nurse in any specialty should be expected to know to safely practice at an entry level. What you need to actually learn about your job you will learn on the job.

It is perfectly normal to feel like you don't really know much of anything for at least the first year. With any luck you are in an environment that provides good orientation, good continuing education pertaining to your job and a supportive staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't worry, I think all new grads feel the same way you do!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion