Shortened Learning Experience/COVID-19

[poliwag48]

Hi!
I am set to graduate in May, 2020 (Lord willing!)

Currently, much of our clinical and preceptorship hours during our final semester of school are being cut short and replaced with online assigments/simulations, due to the COVID-19 crisis.

While there are some in my class who could not count themselves luckier, others (like myself) are disheartened that we are losing valuable clinical experience. Our preceptorship is meant to build us and prepare us a little more for the actual nursing world.

I completed just over half of my hours (seven full days) before we were told that we could no longer go back to the hospital.

Thus, I have only become slightly/decently comfortable with:

hanging IVP/IV fluids, administering medications, drawing labs, time management (not really though, only made it up to caring for three patients and still struggled to manage time in the mornings), checking for new orders, discharge a patient, etc.

I have yet to start an IV on my own, dress a wound, care for drains, admit a patient, transfer patients, etc.

Seeing as how I likely wouldn't be in a medical field again now until July at the earliest (I have already been fortunate enough to be hired and plan to start July 20th on a Med/Surg floor), I am also concerned I will forget a lot in between 4 months! Forget how to hang those IVP, get labs, prep/organize for care, even when to write nurse's notes! And lets not even get started on communication with the rest of the team (delegations, physicians, therapy, case management, the list goes on)

I hate the idea of walking into my new job and not knowing how to do some of these things! Will I look ridiculous if I still struggle with handing IV ABO /fluids or how to give a Lovenox shot?

I don't know what all preceptorship and orientation in the post-graduation and licensure stage looks like. I know we are still going to be learning a lot and it is normal to feel like we know nothing.
I wonder if I am at an extra large disadvantage here with having so many clinical experiences replaced with online learning??

Any tips, advice, opinions, etc are greatly appreciated for this worried last-semester student.
I just want to excel at my job.
What did you know when first coming out of school? What did you still ask about? Oof. Again, any encouragement, advice, etc is so appreciated!!

Blessings and happy nursing

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm sure that in light of the situation, nurses who will be precepting you as you transition into the role of the nurse are going to be understanding. Much of the learning to be a nurse takes place in orientation normally as well.

[Psychnursehopeful, ASN, RN]

Almost 7/20, update please!

[poliwag48]

On 7/19/2020 at 7:06 PM, Psychnursehopeful said:

Almost 7/20, update please!

So far my unit has been pretty gracious and patient and I strive to get up to speed on these skills! Still have many questions on doing many things, but ?