"Graduating & Not Ready"

jlbic · Jul 23, 2010

Not to be rude, but you certainly seem a little on your "high horse". I don't think it is up to you to determine whether or not people are "ready" for nursing in the real world.

Remember, you are about to be a new grad RN....and with that should come a lot of humility. And by humility, I mean you should be very humble, because believe me, you have a lot ahead of you. At least those girls are humble enough to ask questions instead of just assume they know because they dont' want to be humble and look stupid in front of other nurses. Humility is what safe practice is all about.

Sound like you have a lot to learn.

And I think you meant to say..."do you know what A benzodiazepine is"

VRN-RN · Jul 23, 2010

I understand your frustration... but let the NCLEX decide whether they are ready or not.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2010

OP, guess what?

You're not ready either. You'll find that out as soon as you start working.

cwhitebn · Jul 23, 2010

Some students take longer than others to learn the hands on experience that others. Give her sometime and a bit of patience. The licensing exam will determine if she is competent to perform safe practice. :)

SlightlyMental_RN · Jul 23, 2010

I understand your frustration, as I saw this with a few students in my class. Too many of the instructors felt sorry for them and would give them a beyond-reasonable amount of "slack." The good news is that once everyone graduates, it will all sort itself out during NCLEX and when they are expected to function independently on the floor. So, although it drives you crazy, repeat, "It'll all sort itself out in the end." It sounds like you take pride in your work, and that's a good thing, but (as many of mentioned) try to be humble and realize how much you don't know, because it really is quite a bit (as you'll soon discover.) As you read in the above posts, some other nurses will tend to issue verbal corrections to any new grad that seems too cocky. Good luck out there in nursing-land. :nurse:

roser13, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2010

First, ignore the posters who say that you're on a "high horse.":uhoh3: They might be some of those nursing students that you were talking about :clown:

I felt the same as you did when I graduated. What probably frustrated me the most were my fellow students who had apparently conquered the "book learning" and the taking of tests, but demonstrated very little common sense.

What I quickly learned on the floor is that everything does settle out. Everyone rises (or doesn't) to their level of competence. I don't even think that the NCLEX sifts out unsafe nurses. As I said, some people just function on a level that seems to include book smarts and intelligence but defies common sense. Those nurses will either get with the program or they won't, and their nursing careers will suffer.

Don't spend your time worrying and certainly don't spend any more time covering for them.

healthstar, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2010

Process of learning never ends. We are going to learn things as long as we live...some will learn more then others. I will be shocked if a nursing student remembers everything he/she has learned in nursing school. Those who say " I am ready to be a nurse" believe in themselves ( they are confident). Being confident doesn't always mean " I can handle everything". I believe practice in the real nursing world--determines how ready one person is--not just books.

IowaLPN · Jul 23, 2010

I think its inappropriate for you to be following other students around to make sure they are safe with their patients. Isn't that what the instructor is for? If you are always coming to the rescue then how is the instructor to ever know whether they are safe or competent or not?

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jul 24, 2010

Ready or not .. here you come !!!! you learn more working than in school !!! you'll be just fine !!

mamamerlee, LPN · Jul 24, 2010

I had one fellow student that always needed help, never seemed to get organized, and, quite frankly, didn't seem very bright. Back in the old days, our exam was multi-part, and if you failed one part, you could take just that part.

She failed 2 parts out of five, and had to repeat them. She eventually passed, after needing to repeat an entire rotation.

Fast forward about 6 years. I was a new orientee to a specialty area, and she had come in for an interview. After she left, I went to the head nurse, and told her I didn't think she make it in our unit. She was hired anyway.

She didn't last through the first week of orientation.....As sweet as she was, I never thought she could cut it, even back in school.

Some people may just take a bit longer than others, and some may just not make it at all. But that is not for you decide.

casi, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2010

It honestly sounds like your being a little nit-picky. Someone has to think they are cutting it in nursing school if they are passing. It's not your job to judge your classmates. Its your job to get your own butt through nursing school.

Asking about meds it a good thing in any nurse. I've seen nurses who working well past the retirement age grab a med book or ask a co-worker about a med. I call that safe nursing.

The other things for now are little. If they kept trying to hook up tube feedings to central lines I would then be worried.