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

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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?

Specializes in nurseline,med surg, PD.
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.

LPNs ARE NURSES.

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I worked as LVN/LPN for 33 years and truly never stopped learning. Nurse are human,do not be too hard on yourself. Judgment is a large part of nursing and it takes time and experience. Never fail to ask questions or for second opinion when in doubt.

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Specializes in SCRN.

It's a rollercoaster: you feel great after passing the NCLEX, and the disappointment hits you that much harder. It will pass, keep learning, and asking lots of questions!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Almost 3 years in to working as an actual nurse, and I've learned how much I don't know. I'd really like to hang out in my specialty for awhile and really become competent in it.

I've also learned to just ask a question if I'm ever unsure. I've had several moments this past week where I paged the provider to the bedside and it turned out to be nothing, but I'd rather not take 'that chance'.

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Almost 3 years in to working as an actual nurse, and I've learned how much I don't know. I'd really like to hang out in my specialty for awhile and really become competent in it.

I've also learned to just ask a question if I'm ever unsure. I've had several moments this past week where I paged the provider to the bedside and it turned out to be nothing, but I'd rather not take 'that chance'.

Thank you, I am definitely big on asking questions, I am never afraid to ask a question or to get clarification or say, that I need a procedure/process explained to me.

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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.

LPN, as you're probably aware, stands for licensed practical nurse. The keyword is nurse. They are nurses, too. Nursing schools vary in their licensure offerings. If you wanted to split hairs, I suppose you could say LPN school and RN school. Maybe you're a nursing student like I currently am. My clinical instructors would kill me and be so embarrassed if I acted superior to any level of staff, including an LPN versus an RN or RN versus an RN BSN or NPs and physicians in whatever context and/or unit I'm assigned on the basis that my program type is different than one someone else graduated from. Yes, the scope of practice different, but everyone knows something I don't. An inflated ego will cost so many learning opportunities.

Stay humble.

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Specializes in LTC, SNF, Rehab, Hospice.

Nursing SCHOOL is to gain KNOWLEDGE for TESTS...not a work-study kind of program. Not on-the-job training. That's why you get orientation when you get a job....AND you will still learn things most days of your career.

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Nursing SCHOOL is to gain KNOWLEDGE for TESTS...not a work-study kind of program. Not on-the-job training. That's why you get orientation when you get a job....AND you will still learn things most days of your career.

Oh really, so nursing school is just to gain knowledge for tests, oh ok, thanks for telling me that. I guess schools shouldn't send students to clinical sites then!

And I'm not an idiot I know nursing school is not on the job training.

Thanks for your comment and the use of all caps on some words. Lol

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Oh really, so nursing school is just to gain knowledge for tests, oh ok, thanks for telling me that. I guess schools shouldn't send students to clinical sites then!

And I'm not an idiot I know nursing school is not on the job training.

Thanks for your comment and the use of all caps on some words. Lol

...but they made a good point. I'm not sure why you responded in the manner that you did.

If you major in anything, it is the same way. For instance, major in finance - you learn financial concepts and principles. You don't learn exactly how to be a financial analyst at Wells Fargo Bank.

School gives you the foundation and broad understanding of your chosen field. It is not meant to give you every thing you need to be an expert at your future job. Just to get you started on the path.

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...but they made a good point. I'm not sure why you responded in the manner that you did.

If you major in anything, it is the same way. For instance, major in finance - you learn financial concepts and principles. You don't learn exactly how to be a financial analyst at Wells Fargo Bank.

School gives you the foundation and broad understanding of your chosen field. It is not meant to give you every thing you need to be an expert at your future job. Just to get you started on the path.

I understand that, how you explained it is fine. I know nursing school doesn't prepare you to work for a specific company. Thats just common sense. It is clear to me that some posters understand my stance in my original post and others did/have not.

But I thank you also for your comment.

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Holy Crap this is like my biggest fear. I have anxiety and I'm holding back from applying from jobs because I feel like I'm going to fail on the job, I feel unprepared and like i can't remember anything. I recently got my license and I don't want to let down whoever hires me and especially put the patients at risk. I'm wondering how involved the staff is when integrating a new graduate LPN into the workforce.

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Holy Crap this is like my biggest fear. I have anxiety and I'm holding back from applying from jobs because I feel like I'm going to fail on the job, I feel unprepared and like i can't remember anything. I recently got my license and I don't want to let down whoever hires me and especially put the patients at risk. I'm wondering how involved the staff is when integrating a new graduate LPN into the workforce.

Thankfully the staff I work with have been really great, and they have no problem answering my questions, taking time to show me things that I forgot or have never done. Overall my experience has been good, like you I just didn't want to let anyone down or harm patients. My nursing school wasn't the greatest in regards to clinical sites/ being able to do anything at the sites so thats part of the reason why I didn't feel as strong in my skills, as others may have.

Good luck to you on your journey, I hope you luck out and work with a good team as well.

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