Is this normal?

Bigsky4me2 · May 9, 2007

I just finished my first year of nursing school with similar results. When I expressed my concern to my instructor, she said the grades don't matter as long as you can think through what is happening with your patient and perform a good assessment. (Of course, you have to get a C or better to continue.) Just a thought...

iHeartNICU · May 9, 2007

This is totally normal. I have one semester left and I still feel like that. Don't get me wrong....it gets better every day, but I still have thoughts though of is this right, can I do this, will I enjoy it, will it ever click. Then there are times I love it and can't imagine doing anything else and feel like it's all coming together. Just keep hanging in there. Grades aren't everything. We have a saying in our class, "Bs are the new As and even Cs get degrees." As long as you can do well clinically and manage to keep your C then you are great. Best of luck!

TazziRN, RN · May 9, 2007

It's very normal. Many nursing students before you have felt this way. In fact, I dare say that 99.9% of us did!!! As far as good scores versus bad, anything above passing is good!

ORSmurf · May 9, 2007

Don't worry - it's completely normal! I remember feeling the same way (graduated about 2 years ago). Remember, C=RN!

Good luck!!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 9, 2007

Normal to feel inadequate starting first semester clinicals? Well, if you felt confident, that you DID know what you were doing, I'd be a whole lot more concerned about your success in that program :)

You're feeling like we all did. Except, of course, for those overly confident folks who knew everything, felt comfortable with everything....until they got bumped out of school!

widi96 · May 9, 2007

We'd be worried if you were confident and acted like you completely knew what you were doing. Remember - it's school, and you still have a lot of it, then your orientation or preceptorship after school. Learning is an ongoing process.

AddyRN07 · May 9, 2007

I just finished school and graduate this Saturday. I still feel that way myself. I do have a job lined up and have spoken with my supervisor on numerous occasions. She even says it's okay. There is a lot to nursing and a lot to learn. You get more confident with experience. And there are plenty of nurses out there to help you as you go. Being cautious is a good thing. As long as you are worried you don't know enough, you will always be cautious. Good luck - hang in there. And as each semester passes you WILL feel more comfortable.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · May 9, 2007

Heck, I was a new grad with the paper that said I had basic competancy and I still sometimes second guessed myself. I'm approaching my year mark and once in a while I'll still go to experienced nurses and run something by them or go research something. I've got my Palm pilot with me at all times because I'll still look meds and labs up. It gets better and easier with time.

As for the grade, don't sweat it. Even "C's" get degrees!

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · May 9, 2007

Verrrrrry normal.

I dare say that if your brain don't feel like it's been run over by a train by the time you're through nsg school... that is when you should start getting worried

I also got an 82% © on my process paper, and I feel so discouraged. Not a good way to start nursing school.:uhoh21:

Did you know that 50% of all doctors and nurses finish in the bottom half of their class?

Not trying to be a smart mouth - just pointing out that perception is everything :)

Always Learning, RN · May 9, 2007

Model50,

What you are feeling is not only normal, but expected. I just finished my 3rd semester and still feel totally lost sometimes. I also confided in a trusted professor at the end of my first semester and she said something that really helped. This won't be an exact quote, but I think I will convey what she meant:

"If you are feeling lost, then you are exactly where you need to be, it is the students that think that they have it all figured out that I worry about. The fact that you recognize that there is so much out there that you don't know will make you a better and safer nurse. It will all start to come together eventually, but you will have been working for a while before you are truly comfortable with your knowledge and skills, and you begin to truly see the whole picture; that only comes with experience."

Now that I have only one more semester to go, I still cling to those words when I start to wonder what in the world is going on, and remind myself that it is safer to question everything, and look up everything before administering a med or assisting with a procedure.

Although I am super excited :monkeydance: about graduating in December :mortarboard: I find that I am a bit scared also :chair:. I figure my professor is correct, and as long as I recognize my limitations and remember that the patient comes first, I will be a safe nurse and a good advocate for my patient. At least I hope so.

I hope this helps, nursing school is overwhelming, but you have picked a wonderful field of study and it IS worth all the effort.

Best of luck,

Career Student

puggymae · May 9, 2007

I remember many years ago when I first graduated my first shift at the hospital. It was on nights, and I was there with 25 patients, 1 LPN, and 1 aide. My orientation consisted of one day with the day shift RN. Fifteen minutes into the shift I thought to myself "What in the hell have you gotten yourself into?" Now I look back and laugh - but I wasn't laughing at all then.

Normal feelings after first level? For sure! And it will get better as time goes on.