Terrified to graduate in May...

[ALDsn14]

As the first day of my last semester of my ADN program draws near, I'm suddenly struck with a feeling of intense fear about graduating. Do I/will I know enough? Will I be a good nurse? Am I tough enough for the job? Should I scramble here at the last minute to get a CNA job until I'm licensed so that I gain more confidence and experience? I've just realized that nursing school has FLOWN by and I'm kind of wondering when that happened. Maybe after a month-long winter break I'm just getting stir-crazy and need to get back into my routine. I definitely need some work in the confidence department, but I know that much of that just comes with time. I wish I'd been working part-time as a CNA this whole time, but my family and I have been trying to spend time with my father who is currently in hospice care slowly getting worse with cancer. I want to be able to be there for him, yet I feel like I've been slacking off by not doing the CNA thing (i've actually been unemployed this whole time). Any advice for a super anxious soon-to-be grad? Tips for confidence building or stress management? Thanks so much in advance, and sorry if I'm rambling and slightly neurotic-sounding.

[DatMurse]

That's my point. He did not know there would be a doctor around to ask questions. An aide (such as myself), would have known that there are doctors in the ER.

It amazes me in class some of the questions that are asked by students who have never been aides. I get so tired of hearing comments about, "I have always had a passion for nursing", "I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl", blah, blah, blah, and so on. Yet, these are some of the same students, who don't want to clean a patient who soiled themselves, their faces twisted and looks as though they are going to puke at the sight of blood, smell/sight of wounds in clinicals. I strongly believe that it should be a requirement for ALL nursing students to have worked as a cna for one year before applying to nursing school. I personally think it would give the person a realistic idea of what "nursing at the bedside" consist of. Nursing is so much more than "passing meds", and whats on Grey's Anatomy, and Nurse Jackie.

I can tell a nurse who has been a cna vs one who has not. Not all the time, but most of the time.

You seem a little harsh about this. Some of the ones who have problems may have had this as their first job ever. Just gives them more time to work as a nurse.

As we all know. Cleaning a soiled patient, puke, etc, is not the priority job of the nurse. Taking care of the patient is. There are nurses who I have met who still have problems with cleaning poop and they are NPs.

You have to start somewhere whether its an aide or a new grad nurse. You will still experience it.

That's my point. He did not know there would be a doctor around to ask questions. An aide (such as myself), would have known that there are doctors in the ER.

I'd hope that big red "Physician on Duty" sign in front of every ED tells everybody that there are doctors in the ED. If he didn't realize that, so what? I don't think a CNA in a SNF knows any more about an ER than does anybody else who doesn't work in one.

It amazes me in class some of the questions that are asked by students who have never been aides.

Well, that's what school is for... to get questions answered.

I get so tired of hearing comments about, "I have always had a passion for nursing", "I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl", blah, blah, blah, and so on.

Oh yes, me too... no correlation to being a CNA, though.

I strongly believe that it should be a requirement for ALL nursing students to have worked as a cna for one year before applying to nursing school.

I see no value in it at all. I did my CNA class as a prereq but didn't work a day as an aid and it didn't seem to hinder my schooling or my professional growth one bit.

There are plenty of ways to get a realistic idea of what "nursing at the bedside" consist of... the best is talk to nurses who do it.

Being a CNA does not, IMO, provide a realistic idea of what my bedside work in the trauma center consists of.

Personally, I'd hire a new grad with ambulance or fire service experience than one with CNA experience.

[Ultraposh]

I think you hated being a cna and hated nurses who didn't have to do what you did. Why focus only on your title? Why not make doctors be nurses for a year too before they are "allowed" to be doctors. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience and the feelings you had as a cna. Most people know the difference between a cna and a nurse and they choose the path they want or can reach at the time. Nursing school is long enough why hold someone back a year to know another persons job description?

[a.okpokpo]

I am a college professor, and because I am interested in doing my study for a nursing degree, I have taken the past five years teaching classes that only have nurses such as LVN, CNA, and BSN. I have learned a lot from my nursing students as I now look forward to a future nursing study. A lot have change in nursing, and one of the complain that I kept getting from this nursing students and from nurses in my classes, is that some of the graduate nurses have to be trained for the job because they are graduates without the hands-on experience to start their jobs without experienced nurses guide. My question is, Do this schools that offer online accelerated nursing degree provide training for student nurses or do all the student nurses have to go out to get this nursing training on their own? Thanks. Allnurses.com

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

The educational program is responsible for seeing that the students meet the college accreditation requirements for clinical time. If someone in a BSN program is an RN already (has already graduated from an accredited program and passed the NCLEX licensure exam) he or she may or may not have fewer on-site clinical days required, but the school still sets them up to be sure they are OK. The student is not responsible for obtaining his/her own clinical placement in an entry-level program (BSN). Students in NP or doctoral programs may have to identify their own clinical venues, depending on the program and their individual educational goals.

[brianna1]

I'd hope that big red "Physician on Duty" sign in front of every ED tells everybody that there are doctors in the ED. If he didn't realize that, so what? I don't think a CNA in a SNF knows any more about an ER than does anybody else who doesn't work in one.

Well, that's what school is for... to get questions answered.

I am unsure of the type of city/town you live/work in, but there are doctors in the ER "Emergency Rooms", in my city.

Oh yes, me too... no correlation to being a CNA, though.I see no value in it at all. I did my CNA class as a prereq but didn't work a day as an aid and it didn't seem to hinder my schooling or my professional growth one bit.

There are plenty of ways to get a realistic idea of what "nursing at the bedside" consist of... the best is talk to nurses who do it.

Being a CNA does not, IMO, provide a realistic idea of what my bedside work in the trauma center consists of.

I am speaking of the beside nurse on a typical unit, not a trauma center. The experience and knowledge I have obtained from watching nurses "at the bedside", asking questions, allowing me to do their assessments, suctioning, wound/dressing changes, putting in foleys, rectal tubes, etc has benefited me in clinicals. Just being in the hospital, learning the culture, how to interact and deal with patients/families, allowed me to be comfortable and confident. The "talk to nurses who do it", sounds good in theory, (agreed), but there is nothing like hands on experience.

Personally, I'd hire a new grad with ambulance or fire service experience than one with CNA experience.

I agree

[brianna1]

I think you hated being a cna and hated nurses who didn't have to do what you did. Why focus only on your title? Why not make doctors be nurses for a year too before they are "allowed" to be doctors. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience and the feelings you had as a cna. Most people know the difference between a cna and a nurse and they choose the path they want or can reach at the time. Nursing school is long enough why hold someone back a year to know another persons job description?

I am still a cna, and like the work I do. I never said I did not. For my BSN program, it was not a requirement for me to be a cna, or even have the certification. I did it for the experience, and to have a job upon graduation. I do not want to work in a nursing home. I have heard horrible and sad stories about them.

I don't know if you are a nurse, but the scope of practice for a doctor and registered nurse are different.

The same "job description" you speak of, falls within a registered nurses duties. No it is not a nurses primary duty to clean patients. However, no nurse should be above taking care the needs of their patients.

Some units, there are no cna's. So tell me who cleans up the patient that soiled themselves. I'll wait while you go figure out the "title" and "job description", of that person who should help the patient.

[summerzippsalong]

I too will graduate in May and as the last semester gets closer and closer I am becoming very excited and starting to have the same thought of "Am I really ready for this!" I feel this thread has started to derail and would love to see it get back to the concerns that the OP was addressing.

[jeridnichols]

It's good to have healthy dose of anxiety. It means you care about what you are doing. I suggest just to focus on your last semester and remember that nursing school is just the basics of what we need to know. The hospital that you work for will teach you a lot more and you will be well prepared to do your job. This is from another nursing student graduating in May.

[NightNurseRN13]

I felt that way after every single semester

[phuretrotr]

I am still a cna, and like the work I do. I never said I did not. For my BSN program, it was not a requirement for me to be a cna, or even have the certification. I did it for the experience, and to have a job upon graduation. I do not want to work in a nursing home. I have heard horrible and sad stories about them.

I don't know if you are a nurse, but the scope of practice for a doctor and registered nurse are different.

The same "job description" you speak of, falls within a registered nurses duties. No it is not a nurses primary duty to clean patients. However, no nurse should be above taking care the needs of their patients.

Some units, there are no cna's. So tell me who cleans up the patient that soiled themselves. I'll wait while you go figure out the "title" and "job description", of that person who should help the patient.

You seem to have some type of vendetta against nurses... Not all nurses are jerks to CNA's and not all nurses who delegate CNAs to do the CNA's job are jerks. It is simply using your resources available to you. Which is also why people ask questions, because they have a resource they can use to answer their question. I am sure you are loved by your RN co-workers.

On topic: I am not scared of graduating, I'm scared of the NCLEX! And finding a job! And paying bills! But if you go to a school that pushed you and taught you a variety nursing knowledge, you graduated for a reason. Good luck on the great job hunt!

[iPink, BSN, RN]

It amazes me in class some of the questions that are asked by students who have never been aides. I get so tired of hearing comments about, "I have always had a passion for nursing", "I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl", blah, blah, blah, and so on. Yet, these are some of the same students, who don't want to clean a patient who soiled themselves, their faces twisted and looks as though they are going to puke at the sight of blood, smell/sight of wounds in clinicals. I strongly believe that it should be a requirement for ALL nursing students to have worked as a cna for one year before applying to nursing school. I personally think it would give the person a realistic idea of what "nursing at the bedside" consist of. Nursing is so much more than "passing meds", and whats on Grey's Anatomy, and Nurse Jackie.

I can tell a nurse who has been a cna vs one who has not. Not all the time, but most of the time.

I was never a CNA and glad I didn't waste time and money becoming one. I'm glad it's NOT mandatory for ALL students to become a CNA. If anyone chooses to take a CNA position before deciding to become a nurse, all power to you. However, you don't know what it's like to be a nurse until you've actually worked as one despite your CNA experience. And for you to say you are tired of hearing your classmates talk about the passion they've had in wanting to become a nurse is ridiculous! For some people, it has been a childhood dream to become a nurse. I never realized you had to have a Hollywood/fantasy idea it was going to be like Grey's Anatomy to even think about entering into this field.

I work on a very busy critical care floor and I change some wound dressings that would make anyone gag, whether you had a CNA background or not. Nursing school is certainly the place to ASK questions (including 'stupid' ones) and LEARN. Just because someone ask a question you don't like, doesn't mean they will be an incompetent nurse.

Are you sure you want to become a nurse?