Not quite ready

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I am getting ready to start my last semester of the nursing program so I will be graduating in April 2010. I am just curious, does everyone feel ready to graduate and begin practicing as an RN? I honestly don't. I have done well in all my classes and clinicals. I have always understood the material and the rationale behind the theories as I learned them but now I dont feel like I know a thing. I am really starting to freak out here. I would really like to how other nursing students from various schools feel. Do you feel ready?

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

No one ever really feels "ready" after graduating. To be honest I would be extremely worried if someone felt 100% "ready" and "comfortable" right after graduating. Hubris is a killer in Nursing.

Everyone poops themselves a little after your first patient codes and dies.

Just stick to what you know and don't be affraid to ask questions.

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oh I totally agree, I feel like I should know a lot more...I work as a tech and some of the questions the patients ask I try to think of how I would answer their questions and I just feel it comes with time?!?!?

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Everyone getting ready to graduate or start practicing feels like you do -- I would be scared of anyone who didn't.

What worked for me was to keep reminding myself that my school (and the entire US nursing school "system") had been turning out graduates for well over a century who felt the same way I did when they graduated, but went on to be successful RNs. If they could do it, I probably could, too ... :D

Best wishes!

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Thanks to everyone who responded. It is nice to see that I am not alone.:heartbeat

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I haven't even started the professional phase of my program and I'm already thinking "omg I'm really going to be a nurse in two years? Can I really do this...on my own without professors following me to make sure I don't kill someone?" It's like yes, you have to know the stuff in school but you know, worse case scenario someone is there watching you to make sure you don't screw up, so you never have full responsibility. Once you graduate though, after a few months of orientation that's it, you just gotta do your thing. So I can't even imagine what it's like when it's only three months away.

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OMG... me, neither!!! I graduate in May and I am SCARED!!!

Good luck to us! :cheers:

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That's why you cross your fingers that the internship/orientation period is GOOD.

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If you graduate and pass your nclex then you are ready.

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