Is it normal to graduate nursing school & feel like you know nothing.

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Im a senior BSN student who will be going into my last semester of school after the holiday break. And im so terrified as I get closer to graduation because I feel like I dont know enough to be a nurse. Academically im pretty close to being a straight A student and I have no problems passing my clinicals. Its just that I sometimes feel overwhelmed during clinicals because there is still so much I feel I dont know. And I express these fears with other nurses & my professors and they all have told me that most of the learning comes when you actually start working as a nurse which makes me feel a little better. But I still feel like once I graduate and once i get a job the nurses will think im stupid or be thinking "wasnt she suppose to have learned that in school". Im just terrified...I wanna be a great nurse but im scared that I dont know enough.

It is a profession and as Roy said" "Learn something new every day." I do the 15 minute CMES from medscape every day.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Very normal. IN fact, I would be afraid if you walked in, even after years of experience, felt that you know it all and need nothing.

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Even after doing this for a few years, there are days that I feel like I know nothing. But for me, that's one of the great things about nursing, is I get to learn something new every day that I go to work.

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Specializes in ER, Peds ER.

What you're feeling is perfectly normal. I've never met a nurse that stayed a nurse after graduating, who didn't feel like that getting out of school.

I remember numerous times that first year out of school feeling like I didn't learn anything in school. Several days I'd come home and wonder if I was really cut out for the job. And you know what 4 years later I still have days where I come home feeling that way. As nurses we'll never know all there is to know about our profession. Keep your head up about it, it does get better.

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You sound normal and healthy with a good head on your shoulders. School was just the first phase of learning to be a nurse. The rest happens every day and is especially intense in the first year after graduation. My best advice, be kind to yourself. It can all be a little overwhelming and only time will make it better. As you go on to mentor others, don't ever forget how it feels to be new. New nurses need love and support, not baptism by fire! Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Ortho.

Thanks so much..I feel a lot better now. Ill keep you guys updated on my progress. I have one semester left so excited to be getting finished.

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I hope it is normal. I feel like that every new clinical ... I like having the instructor by me to make sure I don't forget something or don't do something to hurt a patient on accident (or on purpose). It's exciting and scary at the same time. But I'm sure after a few years on the job it comes a lot easier.:nurse:

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Specializes in Cardiology, Psychiatry.

i think most people feel that way, and if someone doesn't then i would worry about why they are so confident. it's scary. i've been an rn for 5 years now, and it's taken probably the first two to really get comfortable with my floor and feel as though i have a grip on things. for me, i'm about the graduate with my master's degree, and i will be starting out all over again as a nurse practitioner. i'm so nervous about it. you will find your feet and it will be okay. learn from others who are willing to tell you about their mistakes, and understand that mistakes do happen, you just have to learn from them.

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Specializes in ICU,CCU, trauma, oc med.
Im a senior BSN student who will be going into my last semester of school after the holiday break. And im so terrified as I get closer to graduation because I feel like I dont know enough to be a nurse. Academically im pretty close to being a straight A student and I have no problems passing my clinicals. Its just that I sometimes feel overwhelmed during clinicals because there is still so much I feel I dont know. And I express these fears with other nurses & my professors and they all have told me that most of the learning comes when you actually start working as a nurse which makes me feel a little better. But I still feel like once I graduate and once i get a job the nurses will think im stupid or be thinking "wasnt she suppose to have learned that in school". Im just terrified...I wanna be a great nurse but im scared that I dont know enough.

If you didn't feel that way, I wouldn't want to work with or precept you. It shows you that the learning has just begun.

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Specializes in ICU,CCU, trauma, oc med.
Im a senior BSN student who will be going into my last semester of school after the holiday break. And im so terrified as I get closer to graduation because I feel like I dont know enough to be a nurse. Academically im pretty close to being a straight A student and I have no problems passing my clinicals. Its just that I sometimes feel overwhelmed during clinicals because there is still so much I feel I dont know. And I express these fears with other nurses & my professors and they all have told me that most of the learning comes when you actually start working as a nurse which makes me feel a little better. But I still feel like once I graduate and once i get a job the nurses will think im stupid or be thinking "wasnt she suppose to have learned that in school". Im just terrified...I wanna be a great nurse but im scared that I dont know enough.

If you didn't feel that way, I wouldn't want to work with or precept you. It shows you know that the learning has just begun. It takes time to get into the groove and varies with where you are working. Just wait till you get pulled for the first time on a unfamiliar floor. That feeling will return, but it is normal.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Normal! You will learn SO much more once you're on orientation- promise!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Know nothing after graduation???? I can't even begin to count the number of times over the past 4 months when I've felt "dumber'n a bag of hammers", to quote that great philospher Ulysses Everett McGill. Gets better with time & experience. Still gotta love those Scooby Doo moments.... "mmmmmph????" occasionally followed by "ruh roh"....

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