Terrified of getting a job.

[Lachrymologist]

I've been out of school for two months. Just passed my boards about a month ago. But frankly, the school I went to was so poor that I literally feel like I learned nothing. I'm afraid that when I do finally get a job they're going to have to teach me or fire me because I won't know what I'm doing. I sincerely feel as though I never went to school at all. I'm not even comfortable with passing meds. Anyone have any good tips on how to keep up with passing meds to more than two pts? lol. Thats how bad it is. We only had two pts each during clinicals and I had a hard time remembering to pass them their meds past 8am. I only did 2 peg tubes the entire time. Never flushed an IV. Did 2 or 3 catheters. There's so much stuff I didn't do because my clinical instructors weren't doing their jobs. Its sad because I found out after I'd been in the school for the majority of the program that they were about to be put on probation because less than 80 percent passed the boards the last time... So I'm not just complaining. The school really is bad.

Did anyone else experience something similar or feel the same way before they got their first job?

Thanks in advance for any advice. Take care.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

You are brand new! ALL of us walked in with paralyzing fear, but somehow, we made it. I only gave medications to one person the entire time in school, and suddenly, here I was, thrust into having to give to 10-12 patients. Somehow, I did it. As time goes on, I am a bit less afraid, but we all go through anxiety when applying for new positions, transferring departments, floating, etc...

The bottom line is that you did go to school to practice and you will have to go out there and get your feet wet if you want to be a nurse. Keep us posted as you go along and I wish you the very best.

[DebanamRN, MSN, RN]

I was pathetic as a new nurse. Never did a foley, never gave an injection, had no clue at all. The first patient I attempted to start an IV on screamed and I ran out of the room (an RN was there orienting me).

Now, I get thrown the new nurses. Believe me, I can do this stuff on autopilot. It took 1 year to become comfortable with being a nurse, and 1 year to begin to understand why I was doing what I was doing. Now, things click. It takes time. Meds are easy, codes are fun, and I am the foley queen of Community Medical ER. But it takes time!

Good luck! Soon, you'll be telling your stories along with us.