Student Nurse and Real Nuse.

Nurses General Nursing

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Does anyone who is has BSN think that there is a difference between being a student nurse and an practicing nurse? I mean minus the money part? I feel like i try SO hard to please my clinical instructor and get straight A's that I'm now sleep deprived and just doing what i need to do to get by. I want to practice good patient care but after getting 4 hours of sleep and studying, i just want to get through it.

Anyways, does anyone out there think there is a difference and the "nursing" aspect of school will come with time when i'm not wasting all my time on prep and care plans?

In some ways being a "real nurse" is a lot easier. You can leave the job at the job and have family time instead of careplans and homework. On the floor, I find it a lot more stressful and I am amazed at how much I do actually get done in a day. I just got my licence in October. I tried all of the hospitals around my area without any luck, but found a job at a LTC facility. It is totally different from what you are trained to do as an RN, since the most patients I had during school was 5-6 and now I have 20-30 with all of the meds, wound care, labs, orders, and charting. I thought that I was going to have a break down for the first month, but now it has become more manageable. I think being a student nurse and a "real nurse" are very stressful in very different ways. As a student nurse you are trying so hard to get that licence, but as a "real nurse" you are trying very hard to KEEP that licence.:nurse:

You are still very new. There's a reason why they say the first year of nursing is the hardest! Eventually you will figure out a routine that works best for you, and everything just clicks. You will become more confident in yourself, too!

Back to the OP, I remember spending SO much time writing out notecards on every medication and everything about it. Now when I don't know a med, I look it up in the handbook in the computer and that's that! And those insanely long careplans? In the real world (where I work at least), we have pre-printed careplans and just check the boxes for nursing diagnoses and interventions that pertain to our patients.

However, when your patient is having new chest pain, a family member is hysterical, or an angry doc wants to know why xyz isn't being done, you can't go find the "real" nurse to take care of it... because it's you!

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Specializes in ER, ED.

However, when your patient is having new chest pain, a family member is hysterical, or an angry doc wants to know why xyz isn't being done, you can't go find the "real" nurse to take care of it... because it's you!

I'm in my last semester of NS now, and this is the part that scares me the most!

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Well, I'm only an ASN, so not sure I'm qualified to answer your question. "Does anyone who is has BSN..."

Plus potential oversight of an LPN and his/her patients.

So yes, you are working toward your goal. And if/when you obtain it, your responsibilities will increase. Whether you're an ASN or a BSN.

Depends on where an RN is practising. Under our system an LPN is responsible for their own patient load and practice. They report to the Charge just like an RN does.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I remember the day I realized that I was THE nurse. It was my first critical situation as an RN. I had 5 things to be doing right now and didn't know where I should start. I turned to the tech and said "go get the nurse". He laughed and said "You are the nurse". I remember saying "not me!". lol.

It's the responsiblity that was the most shocking to me. My patient's care was all on me. I had help and a good mentor. For me that is what made the difference. I work hard to be that person for anyone who may need it. I don't go with the idea that we nurses eat our young.

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Shall I break it down like a fraction? *LOL*

As a student you are beholden to your school and instructors as they are gate-keepers to your chosen profession, so to speak. You will do what they wish, assign and or expect of you in order to pass your classes, and graduate from the program in order to take the boards. However once you are a fully licensed RN you really only have to answer to the state BON/nurse practice acts, and whatever standards are set by the clinical setting that you will work.

Yes, being a student nurse can sometimes be a drag, but as others have pointed out, on clinical assignments you work under the direction and license of your instructor; she will have to answer if anything happens.

OTHO, once you graduate and become a RN, while you will be free to do things your own way (within limits perhaps), that freedom comes with the fact everything is on you. Indeed the actions of nursing assistants and other unlicensed and in some cases licensed nursing staff, working under your direction are also your responsibility. As pointed out by others, as a student nurse if a doctor, patient, family of a patient or anyone else has a beef with you or your actions, they have to take it up with your instructor. As a RN the buck will stop with yourself.

As for being "tired", and getting only four hours of sleep. Wait until you are not only a nurse, but have to work 12 hour shifts, then go home to a husband, baby/children and a house.*LOL*

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Specializes in Clinicals in Med-Surg., OB, CCU, ICU.

I think one should look at their question and reflect a little harder. There is a big difference being a student nurse and a nurse who is making every decision of the patient's care. A student nurse has the direct supervision of another experienced nurse making sure each decision, procedure, and med administration goes without an error. Would a nurse have this after the orientation period? Ummmmm......NO:idea:

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I'm in my last semester of NS now, and this is the part that scares me the most!

Of course it's scary, but your co-workers and charge nurse should be able to help you if you need it. That's why it's so important for a new grad to start out on a supportive unit with a good new grad program.

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Specializes in ICU.
Shall I break it down like a fraction? *LOL*

As for being "tired", and getting only four hours of sleep. Wait until you are not only a nurse, but have to work 12 hour shifts, then go home to a husband, baby/children and a house.*LOL*

And then there are those of us students who are working, attending school full-time, getting only 4 hrs of sleep AND going home to a husband, children and a house!! :sleep:

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Specializes in MED/SURG STROKE UNIT, LTC SUPER., IMU.

I would have loved this!!! I was trying to find a grad program in my area, but there have been none closer than about 1 1/2 hrs away. All of the hospitals in my area are not hiring inexperienced nurses. I went to a LTC facility instead and got a whopping 3 days of following various nurses on the three seperate halls, before they cut me loose and gave me 20-30 patients of my own. Sorry to vent, but I soooooo wanted that supportive environment and hands on learning with a charge nurse for support. We don't even have support. Since I am an RN I am suppost to know everything and how it all works. At least that is how I am treated in this LTC. The first admission I ever had I will never forget. The unit secretary came up to me with a pile of paper and said "Your new admission is here. Here ya go!" No support! No help! No guidence on how I was suppost to go about this. I just wondered if this is a common occurence or if this is just life? I has been two months since I started and things are getting better due to sticking with it and learning everything that I can, but man at first I just wanted to quit and go work at Mc Donalds.

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