I mean, of course no amount of school work can prepare you entirely for what a job is like. But in general, how was it when you actually started working?
I'm nervous that maybe I won't be any good once I'm actually there. I am a smart person and a good student. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm scared of failure.
And on a side note. What's a day like? For a RN in a hospital. What types of things are you doing mostly? Do you really enjoy your work?
Thats a loaded question. `I entered the field with an ADN, I don't think any amount of schooling could have prepared me for the realities of being on your own. To be clear I started with both ADN and BSN nurses we all struggled with the same issues: time management, multitasking, keeping up with charting etc...
We all eventually came through in spades. Those who have wanted to go on into management positions have found their BSNs served them well. some have decided to go back from BSN-Masters or ADN-Masters.
In the end its like what others have said, you get out of it what you put into it.
Every program is different, whether ASN or BSN. There aren't too many hospital-based diploma programs anymore, but usually those will give students a more 'real-world' experience.
If you want a program that will really nail home strong clinical skills, you'll need to find out about each separate program. So ask lots of questions. Ask the nursing school rep questions and try to find current and past students to ask. If you know (or know someone who knows) any nurses, ask their opinion of different local programs.
It's not just how many clinical hours (there's a minimum, but some schools offer more), it's also how clinicals are run. Some students never have more than two patients at a time throughout school whereas 'real-world' workload is much higher. Some schools/clinical facilities don't allow students to do much more than pass pills; other places allow students to take on more responsibility. Some schools/instructors tend to leave it up to the students to figure out how to make the most of their clinical opportunities; other schools/instructors may take a larger role in ensuring students get a better feel for the realities of the working world.
rockenmomRN
158 Posts
Thats a loaded question. `I entered the field with an ADN, I don't think any amount of schooling could have prepared me for the realities of being on your own. To be clear I started with both ADN and BSN nurses we all struggled with the same issues: time management, multitasking, keeping up with charting etc...
We all eventually came through in spades. Those who have wanted to go on into management positions have found their BSNs served them well. some have decided to go back from BSN-Masters or ADN-Masters.
In the end its like what others have said, you get out of it what you put into it.