Is this a weird question?

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I'm in my second semester of LVN school and making pretty good grades. But when we learn on paper and memorize for test, or preform a skill a couple of times in the lab, and then cram all the information together to function in clinical it scares the crap out of me. I guess my question is, does everything just magically come together one day and you know for 100% what your doing? I feel like I'll be constantly be asking questions and looking stuff up for the rest of my career. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in CCRN.

I think we will be consantly looking things up and asking questions throughout our careers. There is no way I could remember or possibly know everything. I think the skill and application comfort comes with doing them over and over. I feel pretty comfortable performing certain skills, yet those that I haven't had the opportunity to do many of still make me stop and think. You're on the right track, hang in there.

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i agree i have seen people who have been nurse for a little while ranging to a long time who either look it up or call the MD or pharmacy. There are all kinds of reference books on the floors for the nurses to use. In my opinion, when a nurse starts thinking she knows it all is when she becomes dangerous (or him for that matter)

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ok good. that's what I was thinking. Thanks guys!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

I remember about 20 years ago when I got my LPN. I started working as soon as we graduated. Once I passed my boards I was on my own. It scared the crap out of me. The whole time before I knew I was working under someone else they were responsible if I screwed up. Within a few years, I was able to put eveyrthing I learn together. I could look at labs and discuss them with doctors. I was also lucky to work for a pediatrician for awhile who was a great "teacher". She would ask "Look at this lab. What do they need?" Then I would tell her what I thought and she would ask why and we would discuss it. It does all sink in eventually. I'm about to go through the feeling all over again. I just passed RN boards and will be going back to work after the baby.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

It will take awhile until things start to click for you. That is completely normal. You will continue to learn things from now until the day you retire. Like someone else said, the day that a nurse knows 'everything', is the day that it gets dangerous.

If you are not sure of something, look it up, ask someone, nothing wrong with that. That makes you a safe nurse.

Good luck with school and your career!

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