DougRN

I'm just about to graduate from an LPN/RN transiton program. (I never worked as an LPN, just went from school to school) I understand that our 'real' education begins with our first job but, I'm apprehensive to say the least! I don't feel like I have much in the way of clinical skills just a head full of theory. We are only given one day a week clinical and I continually remind a new instructor that I'm the guy without the basic skills. But, I still need lots of practice with everything! I suspect that I'm not alone in feeling that way but I'm in a class of well experienced LPN's who can work circles around me in clinical! I'm not afraid to say I don't know something and will always ask. I don't know other 'non-experienced' nurses and would like to hear some thoughts and opinions. My plan is to go to a Tele unit, once I have my license in hand, for a year, and then try to move on to a specialty. I don't want med surg and feel like I can get a great variety of experience in Tele as well as some good critical skills to build on. Does this sound right? What should I ask for in the way of orientation and preceptor as far as length of time? What's normal for the 'green GN '? Thanks for any help and advice.

Laura, I put RN after my name to practice and accept that is who I am and will be in 2 months, too. I am graduating at the top of my class but feel like I'm at the bottom of the barrel with clinical know how. Most of my peers are LPN's or have a good deal of hospital/medical experience. I complained to a professor, the other day, that I don't feel like I have gotten experience in a number of areas; foley's, ng tubes, IV insertions, and on and on.... I was told not to worry that I would get that experience on the job like she did. (and what about "crashing" patients? scary, huh?) I don't know that I liked that answer in that I feel like I should have been taught that with the one or two patients we are assigned to because we would have the time. I wonder if the real reason is because we are working under our teachers license and they don't want the responsibility. What ever the reason I know I'm not alone and that our real education begins when we go to work. I do know that I will seek out the right hospital/unit that has a good orientation program (class and one on one) and most importantly of all; find the mentor/preceptor that I can stick with to really teach me the skills I need to be the best nurse I can. With this shortage it might be easy to go with the highest paying with sign on bonuses. But, if it comes down to a choice of high pay and lousy, short orientation or lower pay but lengthy orientation and good support afterwards, I know I'll pick the lower pay one(even if my spent savings tell me otherwise.) The money will come later on but good, qualified, confidence building experience is invaluable to me at this stage of the game. Patience and the ability to ask lots of questions, I believe, is what will make us!~