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.

Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Very happy to read this thread. I'm very scared that I've learned nothing and I'll be starting my final clinical and preceptorship this coming Jan. My stomach actually starts knotting up at the thought of me finishing and getting into a hospital and knowing nothing. Glad to know I'm not alone. Thanks all.

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Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.

Totally normal. I felt the same way, 14 years ago. The only thing that I think would've helped me would have been if I'd worked as a CNA in the hospital. I would have actually seen some of the things that I didn't encounter until I started working. I would have felt like I had a clue, which would've been nice.

We were told that our skills would come in the first year. They did but man, it was hard!

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Specializes in Mursing.

Thank the dear lord someone posted this. I feel the exact same way as the original poster.

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yes. nursing school don't teach you everything.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc, ER.

As everyone else has said, Yes it's normal! I knew nothing when I graduated!! I was sooo anxious!! If I knew then how little I really knew I would have been more scared. :uhoh3:

I still get nervous sometimes with certain things people come into the ED with. I was talking to an ER nurse who had worked ER and ICU for 24 years and she still gets anxious sometimes!! That piece of info made me feel better. We all want to give good care and some anxiety is good. I just have learned how to handle it now. :D

Good luck!!

Ann

One of my preceptors told me that it was a good idea to start a journal. I started writing about all the tasks and situations that made me nervous. I look back on my journal now and see how far I've come!! :yeah:

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Specializes in rehab, long-term care, ortho.

Thank God for this thread and, especially, the responses. :bowingpur

:crying2:

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Ortho.

Glad to know im not alone :)

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