Opinions Needed Please!

[Greeneyes812]

Hi! I'm new to this website but I'm finding it very helpful so far! Lots of similar stories to what I've been going through the last 4 years and it feels good to know I'm not the only one!

Having said that, I thought I'd take get some feedback for myself.

I am in a very good nursing program in St. Louis, one of the top 2 in the state. It's a 4 year BSN program and I'm 2 weeks into my final semester (I graduate May 1). I will say that I'm not blessed with "school" skills and I've had to work VERY hard to keep my grades (and myself) up to par. I'm not a top kid in my class, but I must be doing something right or I would've been kicked out by now. This school makes it REALLY easy to get held back or kicked out, and SO far (knock on wood) I've kept myself in good standing.

Anyway, I am curious to see if anyone else has post-graduation fears like I do. The closer graduation gets, the more I start to doubt my knowledge and the more freaked I am! I've never made any huge mistakes that would warrent this fear, but I feel like I don't know enough, or haven't had enough experiences to be graduating already! On paper I have my skills, but I feel like there is still SO much that I've never been exposed to or will know how to handle!!! I've heard a lot of new nurses (and seasoned one too) say "I don't feel like I know anything" but "the knowledge comes on the job." Is that really true? I know almost every one of my classmates feels the same way I do. My school is really good and has a great reputation but thats not seeming to make us feel better...

Any other soon-to-be-grads that understand where I'm coming from?

Thanks for reading my post!

Have a great weekend!!! :)

[NurseThis21, BSN, RN]

Hi there!

I've actually been a new grad RN for about 4 months (graduated in May 2009), and I will also add to chorus by saying that all of the book knowledge is useless unless you put it to good use (i.e. experience). I come from a top ten Nursing School and some of my classmates thought that this will automatically make them a super nurse. They soon found out the hard way that this is not case.

Remember that when you start your first job as nurse, your patients from that point on will not be textbooks or simulation dummies. They are going to be real people with unique cases that are going to leave you boggled for some time, but as long as you have the drive to learn about them and enhance your skills, your purpose will begin to make more sense.

My situation is similar to yours as in I didn't possess a "one million point nine" GPA, and I had to work a little harder than most to get the same grade. However, when you begin working, you will soon realize that those were just numbers and you shouldn't let that shape who you are. It may feel like your brain was emptied after you take the NCLEX, but with experience, you will realize that you did retain some pretty important information, perhaps even more than you thought you could retain.

It is at that point that you understand that nursing school was just an auditioning event and your job will be the real stage for performance, talent, and expertise. Know that you have what it takes to be a great nurse, but also know that patience is quite invaluable, especially to the new grad who wants to save the world.

So don't let a school's reputation determine how you'll perform on the big stage. After all, they are just another business trying to make money. Focus on preparing yourself for the real test of your abilities, something a school can't really prepare anyone for. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing experience, but my school isn't caring for my patients right now. I am, and I'm glad I'm able to make a difference in their lives. I know you will too!

Good luck with your last semester and remember, it's not the school that makes the nurse, it's the spirit and determination that does.

NurseThis21, RN, BSN

UIC Alumna