Dunkingirl

Stereotypical nervous new grad nurse here who has to 1) double check everything as I'm charting and 2) write down everything so I can remember to pass it on during report. I work on a tele floor in a hospital and HATE getting admits, and bonus points, I always get them at shift change. I feel like I'm so slow charting the admission assessment. Right now, I'll bring my rover in with me to greet the pt and ask the pt the admission questions and chart them as I'm in there. I'm wondering if my way sucks, though, because other nurses I know are done with their admissions in 30min, where it takes me an hour sometimes. Any tips on getting faster at them? Should I memorize the admission questions (we have maybe 30-40 in a head to toe fashion). And then I always worry that I'm missing a skin issue and keep double checking different areas. What am I doing wrong? How can I make this process smoother?

It will definitely get harder. Just wait until you hit med surge and have to review your cardiac lectures, or oncology, or endocrine disorders! Then try balancing that with exams every other week, clinicals and a job. Don't worry, nursing school is a great major to be challenged in, never let yourself feel too confident so you're not studying, studying, studying! only one semester left for this girl, good luck

What the hell did I just read

I felt that way in my first clinical group and a few years later, most of those students dropped out. I'm not sure if that's any comfort but it goes to show the people in your very first clinical group don't have to be your best friends I became very close with a few girls in my class while taking pre-reqs and now in senior year we're finally in a clinical group together! Don't stress it, you will get close with your entire class over the next few years, not necessarily that first group!

I'm glad to know you all felt that way once too. I'm looking into good work environments, hoping to find a residency program that'll help me feel more prepared and confident!

Thanks for the great replies and words of advice. I really do feel like the master of no topics right now but it's so comforting to know that all new nurses will feel this way. As a long time lurker you nurses are my inspiration and I'm always reading your stories and learning from you. Thanks so much!

Hello! Long time lurker of allnurses here who is needing some advice. I am a nursing student going into senior year as well as a CNA for the past few years. I am feeling a lot of anxiety about being a nurse by next summer because I don't feel prepared. I have worked hard throughout school, gotten mostly A's, done well in clinical, and love my job on a pysch floor. However, no matter how much I study or watch the nurses on my floor or during clinical, I feel like there's no way I could be as safe as they are next year. There's so much I don't know! No matter how hard I work, I feel like I can't master all the meds I need to know or the disease processes I should understand. I'm always feeling the need to review. I'm so worried I'll make some major, stupid mistake in my first year as an RN and hurt some innocent patient. Is this normal for a soon-to-be new grad to feel? I've read a lot of threads here where new grads are assured that school prepares them to be just safe, not competent, and that real learning comes with the job. I don't even feel safe though, let alone competent!