naun

I graduated from an ADN program. In my experience how much hands on you received during clinical was dependent upon: 1). How assertive you were in seeking out experiences 2). How supportive your instructor was in helping/mentoring/encouraging you to seek experiences and advocating for you 3). How supportive the nursing staff was on the floor in which you had clinical. I had clinical shifts in which I hardly got any experience and it was largely dependent upon the nurse I happened to end up with. I experienced many nurses who couldn't be bothered. In those cases, I made the best of the situation and often called in my instructor to help out - but she had 9 other students to look after. It seemed to make all the difference in the world which nurse you ended up with. If you had a nurse who was interested in mentoring/teaching - it was a good clinical day. If you had a nurse who was disinterested in you - you were basically hosed for that shift. I think that the majority of our students got their experiences working as interns - they had more access to opportunities. Unfortunately not of all of us could take intern positions during school. It is hard to imagine that the new grad had absolutely no experiences, but it is not inconceivable that she may have had limited experiences. I definitely feel like I did not get enough education and practice with skills at my NS program.

Wow - that sounds like a dream job to me!! haha!! I'm a new grad too and do not really feel the hospital is a good fit for me at this time. I understand your concern about losing clinical skills - I have the same concerns myself (more along the lines of not solidifying clinical skills in my case) if I end up in a non-hospital position. But my understanding is that there are skills refresher courses available i.e. for nurses who are re-entering the profession after a long hiatus?? It may also be that future jobs will train on the job for skills that may be needed. In the meantime you will be getting professional experience in your current job and I think that will still have value for future jobs. Just my thoughts.

I'm just here to offer my support to you and I confess I feel somewhat relieved to hear your story. It sounds like you did not work in nursing at all after passing boards?? If that's the case - I may be heading down the same road. I just graduated and passed NCLEX this summer, but I am having a hard time figuring out how to juggle full-time work and young kids (3 and 6) - in this economy and with retired/inactive nurses returning to the workforce, no one is willing to hire a new grad on a part-time basis. Good luck and Keep us posted!!

Excellent outline and advice from Fragino. I just graduated this May and passed NCLEX in June. Nursing school was not difficult per se, but it was time consuming. You do have to know how to prioritize and manage your time. Like Fragino, I studied for in-class tests primarily from lecture notes with reading from the text and NCLEX material as needed/as time allowed. I studied for ATIs by doing the ATI practice tests with attention to rationales. I did not feel I adequately prepared for NCLEX - I only reviewed with ATI practice tests and a handful of Saunders cards only 1.5 weeks before my test date. I took the test about a month after graduation. Our school recommended for us to take NCLEX ASAP upon receiving the ATT, preferably

I'm a new grad with no experience so can't answer your question - but I'm curious - how many years have you worked on the floor? What unit?

Congratulations! I had an almost identical experience and really related to everything you wrote in your post. The only differences being: I took my test about 2 weeks before you; I ended up somewhere between 110 - 120 questions; I studied for about 1.5 weeks before my test date (I was so burned out from school that I just took 3 weeks completely off after graduation), and I did not take a review course - I used ATI to review (supplied by my school) and a box of Saunders review cards. But what you described was exactly how I felt ... and I LOLed about the math, because I had the exact same experience. Math was an area I felt confident, but my overall confidence was shaken about an hour into the test and feeling that what I had studied wasn't correlating with the NCLEX test questions. I faltered a little with the first math question and quadrupled checked myself. Then I really started to 2nd guess myself when I got more of the same type of math questions. I was pretty sure I was getting them right so I was really confused when I kept getting more of the same ... was I really getting them right??? I guess I won't really know now. I also walked out feeling shell-shocked at first, then convinced that I had failed and was only slightly buoyed by reports that classmates who passed felt exactly the same. The rest of your story just matched exactly how I felt. I also had to wait awhile before attempting the "trick" because I was so drained. Anyway thanks for your post, it completed validated my NCLEX experience. Future NCLEXers ... you are not alone.

Yikes!! Is math really considered a bad sign??? It felt like I got a bunch of math questions - all at similar level of difficulty it seemed. I just found out I passed.

Thank you for your reply. I am really struggling with the idea of getting that 1 - 2 yrs of med/surg experience in the hospital - I am no spring chicken (mid 40s) and I have 2 young children

I'm a recent new grad (May 09) from an ADN program. Just passed NCLEX. I am also a mid-life career changer with a BA in social science and work experience in IT. I'm pretty sure the hospital setting is NOT a good fit for me personally. My gut is telling me that public health is more along the lines of where I need to be. My ultimate career goal at present is informatics - perhaps public health informatics. I am planning to enroll in a PHN certificate program in the fall. My question is: is hospital experience necessary for an entry level position as a PHN? I was hoping to go directly into public health, but not sure if I need at least a year in the hospital to be more marketable. Of course right now the economy and budget cuts means very limited employment opportunities anywhere. Public Health where I'm at is closing clinics and programs. But I would almost be more willing to volunteer time in public health for experience and get a part-time job for income rather than deal with the rat-race high intensity stress of the hospital environment. Thanks for any suggestions/advice.

Am also a new grad and dreading seeking employment at the hospital for this very reason. Nursing is also a mid-life second career for me, and I also have 2 young children

Wow - thanks so much for this post. I am in my final semester of an ADN program and already having new grad anxieties. Still feel like I don't know anything!! But I am beginning to realize and accept that it will probably be trial by fire and that it will require patience and perseverance. Thank you!