3rd semester and I still feel useless!

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2021

Yes, thats part of the process. Nursing school creates the foundation but the real learning begins at the first job ? Try your best to understand as much as you can about the theory and science of nursing as well as anatomy&physiology. As far as being able to hit the ground running, that will come later!

Queen Tiye, RN · Jan 18, 2021

Why are you doing so little in clinicals? It's important to do as much as possible. I wouldn't say it's typical to have "no" idea what you're doing by third semester. However, I do understand this sentiment if you aren't getting any hands-on experience.

Hang in there. When you land a job and begin training on the floor, it will all begin to come back to you. As for meds, it's easier to remember them as you begin to administer them regularly.

Daisy4RN · Jan 22, 2021

Your feelings are normal even pre covid. Most nurses do not become comfortable for at least a year after school. The fact that you cannot learn/practice skills will not be as big a deal as you think. Most employers are going to (or at least should) understand you didn't get a regular clinical situation. Hopefully they will be able to provide that extra education and training. Even if you had in-person clinicals you still would (most likely) not be proficient and would require some training etc. don't worry, once you actually start working the pieces (that you are getting now) will start coming together. Just focus on school for now and do what you can there. Good luck!

peach2218, CNA · Feb 6, 2021

On 1/18/2021 at 2:41 PM, Queen Tiye said:

Why are you doing so little in clinicals? It's important to do as much as possible.

Haven't had the opportunity. We've had maybe 3-5 full days on the floor per semester, the rest has been online. The first day is orientation. The rest, we have one patient to take care of, and all of my patients have been super easy. An oral tylenol here, an albuterol inhaler there. No IV meds. No insulin injections. Nothing. Just yesterday one of my clinicals was canceled due to weather, and we'll have to make it up online. I'm desperate to start an IV on a classmate or something at this point, just to get some experience.

Camjayjayy, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2021

I feel the same way! I’m in Med-Surg 1 this semester. Our clinicals got split in half in person and half virtual. My group is supposed to be going to the hospital from 1/31 through 3-7. But already missed two clinicals because of issues with COVID and weather in NY.

Regardless I’m still trying to find a some kind of job for the Summer or internship to hopefully give me some more exposure!

allnurses Guide · Feb 10, 2021

If you didn't feel like you still had a lot to learn, then I would be worried about you. The ones who are overconfident and "know it alls" are the dangerous ones.

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Feb 21, 2021

On 2/6/2021 at 3:34 PM, peach2218 said:

I'm desperate to start an IV on a classmate or something at this point, just to get some experience.

For what it's worth, I had three years of clinical, 8hrs/day, 3 days/week, and while I got to see and do a lot of things, somehow I never had the opportunity to start one IV or insert one Foley. Yet my first job was in a critical care area (PACU) and I went on after a year to 12 years in hot-shot ICU.

It's common for students to worry about the tasks of nursing, the lab check-offs that seem so incredibly central to nursing when you're a student, in part because lab check-off skills are stressful and you have to pass them. But believe me, and every other seasoned nurse who will tell you the same thing: These are tasks, not skills.

We teach parents and unlicensed assistive personnel in home care to suction children's trachs, hook up tube feeds, and place and irrigate urinary catheters. We teach lay people to run home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Does that make them nurses? No. And I can promise you that the exhilarating feeling you get when your classmates say, "Oooh, you're so lucky, you got to do a ...." will pass really, really fast once you've done half a dozen in your first few months of a real job. Trust me, you'll do plenty of them. Nobody expects you to be expert in your first year or two. See if you can get Benner's From Novice to Expert and read it. It will make you feel better.

I know it's really hard, been there, done that like pretty much all of us, but try not to conflate what tasks nurses do with what nurses ARE. Think hard about the difference. I won't say "Don't stress about ..." because as you probably learned in class, you never want to deny your patient's feelings. You can say, "I hear you're concerned. Let me tell you what happens when ..." That can be reassuring. I hope this is.

Eileen J Glover RN · Jul 26, 2021

Of course you don't know what you are doing yet! You haven't had the experiences to create a knowledge base that can only come with time. Definitely check into Benner's stages of clinical competence, they really helped me as I went through those first few years.

Keep your eyes open, watch the seasoned nurses and ask questions! Never stop asking questions. Talk to the other staff as well, there is always something to be learned from everyone. From housekeeping to the doctors- everyone has knowledge and insights.

You'll get there. Just take it one step at a time!

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Jul 26, 2021

I’m interested to hear from the OP as to how things are going. Also from people who are just starting their first jobs this Summer. How is this playing out?