Scared of finishing nursing school and starting my career.

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I will be starting my last semester of nursing school in January and will graduate in May, but I'm really scared about starting my career as a nurse. I've heard that some hospitals let you start by working with a nurse as you get oriented to the floor but some just throw you in there and expect you figure it out. I know I should be really excited about making it this far, but I just keep worrying about it. Does anyone else feel this way?

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Specializes in L&D.

Yes I am very nervous! I graduate in May as well and I am excited and terrified at the same time. The hospitals here offer 3 month orientations from what I am seeing...although that is in the NICU so may depend what unit you are on. You are not alone.

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

I do worry but I do not graduate till next spring! Sometimes I feel in a hurry to graduate and other times I feel like I will never be ready. I guess it is natural! Good luck to you in the future and congrats!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I could have wrote this post and this time last year. I was so incredibly scared to graduate and get a job. I worked so hard in nursing school but didn't feel ready to leave that safety net. The last 5 weeks of our program was dedicated to us being on the floor one on one with a nurse for 24 hours a week. It really helped boost my confidence. I was still scared to begin working on my own but I had some confidence in myself. I started my first job as an RN in August. I go to work every day with butterflies of nerves in my stomach. It's nerve wracking but I make it through every day. You will too.

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I am also nervous. I feel like our program is behind, we graduate in May and all have only had 2 patients. Yikes! Our preceptorship is only 60 hours, when I hear that most peoples are double that. I know that I will be very overwhelmed when I am a nurse and am sure my orientator will be also. I know that I have ALOT of learning to do.

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

Wow good luck to you!!! Only 60 hours and 2 patients for the whole program, I would be nervous also!!! Maybe you can get into a externship or internship.

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Thanks everyone for your encouragement and being honest with me. Sometimes I think I'm the only one who feels this way. I've had lots of clinicals and even more than one patient, sometimes instructors would put us in two's and give us three patients. My program requires more clinicals than the local university's nursing program. Even with all that experience in the clinical setting I still feel like I'm not ready and fear working by myself because there is no instructor to make sure you are doing everything right. What I fear the most is making a mistake and hurting someone because you have someone's life in your hands. I've heard from other people that nursing school teaches you how to pass the NCLEX and you learn how to be a nurse when you start working, I certainly hope those words are true.

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Sorry I meant only take care of two patients at a time. We have had many, many more than two patients in the program. Oops:)

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Specializes in Tele.

I feel the same way. To actually put all of this into practice seems impossible but I know this is what we prepare for. I just will be eager to get through a few months on the job and start to get comfortable. I also am nervous to graduate because I am enjoying school too. I'm a married mom and when I'm at school, I can be someone different to a point...can relax and establish myself with other friends. But these nrusing friends I will have forever.

2 more semesters for me.

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I have to agree with your post! I graduate in may too and I'm very nervous :( I have no confidence in myself. My last semester I will have up to 6 patients during preceptorship!!!!!! :(

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I graduate in may 2013 and scared to death. You are not alone

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Now that I have read your post now I am getting a little worried myself. I don't graduate until August this year and I am already looking for work in the local hospitals, outpatient clinics, and urgent care areas. Most of the areas I have been looking at give you orientation but I am worried about the nurses who so called eat their young and might give me a hard time. I am praying that I end up with a group of lovely women/men

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