Progressing from student to registered nurse.

[Katniss88]

I should graduate in May 2013. To be honest, I am absolutely terrified. Nursing school is scary and stressful enough, in addition to the NCLEX. All I am worrying about is if I can make it as registered nurse. Being in clinical is one thing, but to have complete responsibility of a number of patients is very terrifying to me. Even in clinicals I find that I feel somewhat below the level of other students in my group or maybe I'm just being too hard on myself. Most of the students jump at the chance to perform skills in the clinical setting, but I never do. Most of my instructors say that I need to work on my confidence, but I have improved a lot since my very first clinical. Does anyone have these same feelings?

[zamrn]

hahahha totally relate. I graduate May 2013 and am excited but scared too. I feel like I couldn't possibly know enough! I am also nervous about our immersion placements because I have no idea how it will work, where I'll be, and how I'm going to handle it but I think it will be one of those things that will hopefully give me more confidence :) I think we'll be fine though since so many say you learn so much more your first year as an actual nurse then what you have learned in nursing school.

Are you in days? what does the second semester involve? I have read that it is the hardest semester? Can I start reading something already if it helps?

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

Are you in days? what does the second semester involve? I have read that it is the hardest semester? Can I start reading something already if it helps?

Right now I'm in my second to last semester. I will start my last semester in January :) I ahve no idea where I'll be until the very last second unfortunately but I cant wait! When do you graduate?

[ericapatosky]

I'm in my second to last semester as well. I graduate in May. I'm excited but so nervous! I just got finished with my med surg rotation on a cardiac step down unit. Now I'm going to my last maternity. I always get nervous on my first night at a new place but then I get the hang of it. I think most nursing students feel like this! I know the people in my class do too.

[bmarie354]

Another fellow student slated to graduate in May 2013. I also work as a Nurse Extern at a hospital in my area in the ICU. I feel overwhelmed everyday. I know that we all feel this way. Nursing school wasn't meant to be easy. If we weren't working hard, I would feel bad for our patients. I will tell you that every nurse, including New Graduate RNs have all said that you will learn more in your first year as an RN than you ever did in nursing school. This is because we can apply and put the pieces of the puzzle together. I was also told that if we weren't afraid and apprehensive to some point then we shouldn't be nurses because you will take better care of your patients and be more conscious of their care. I can tell you that working as and extern has taught me so much more about the rewards that we will see as nurses and it will be completely worth it for all of us. Keep your head up and remember we are all rooting you on.