Terrified of Graduating

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Hello,

So I am a practical nursing student graduating very soon. First off, I never thought I would make it this far and the fact that I have is incredible to me. This is the only thing ive started and actually come close to finishing. But now that the end is nearing, reality is starting to set in and Im absolutly terrified of being out there in the real world. With real nurses and real patients. I totally feel like im not competant enough to hold a real job without my instructor looking over my shoulder all the time. If there are any graduates out there, can you please tell me how you felt as it was all coming to end and what its really like being out there in the real world?

Thanx,

Quinn

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

omg Quinn, I feel the same way. I graduated in my with my PN and take the NCLEX next Thursday. I am continuing on for my RN in august but have been working this summer as an extern. Thank goodness, I'm not under my own license because I don't feel like I'm competent to touch anyone either. However, I have talked to a lot of nurses at work and they have all said the same thing: They were scared to death when they first graduated. Some actually cried the first year before they had to come to work.

I honestly think that it is normal to feel this way. Every weekend I go into work I am amazed at how much I really HAVE learned. You hear your own wheels turning as you think of all the possible reasons for the pts condition and what you can do to help. I can't say Dont be scared cause I'm right there with you however, I try to tell myself every day that I made it through the first year so I must have learned SOMETHING!! and I'm willing to listen to any nurse who is willing to share with me tips/tricks/knowledge they have picked up from experience.

Good luck to you!! I'm right there with ya and I think thats where we are supposed to be. lol

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OMG. Thank you so much for replying. I really thought I was the only one feeling this way. Thanx for lifting a ton of bricks off of me. You are giving me hope for the future. And congratulations on graduating!

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Specializes in LTC.

You are not alone. My pinning is in 3 weeks and I feel the same way. We'll do fine though. When is your pinning ?

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I graduate soon as well so i know exactly how you feel. I think I'd like to work in a nursing home to get a feel for things before i jump into a hospital.The nursing home is slow pace but I know it'll build up my confidence for a fast pace job. Good luck!!!!!!!:D

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Specializes in Rehabilitation; LTC; Med-Surg.
I graduate soon as well so i know exactly how you feel. I think I'd like to work in a nursing home to get a feel for things before i jump into a hospital.The nursing home is slow pace but I know it'll build up my confidence for a fast pace job. Good luck!!!!!!!:D

Speaking for myself, I am cautious about starting out in a LTC facility. I worry that by starting as a new graduate at LTC I will be "trained" to do things "their way." At least in my area, nursing homes are known for doing things "their way," and by their way, I'm talking running Listerine thru a feeding tube "to keep it patent." I can't judge all homes, though - I just personally would prefer hell on earth for six months on a Med/Surg unit than get sucked into the LTC habits. The hospital and LTC environment are complete opposites.

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Specializes in LTC.
I graduate soon as well so i know exactly how you feel. I think I'd like to work in a nursing home to get a feel for things before i jump into a hospital.The nursing home is slow pace but I know it'll build up my confidence for a fast pace job. Good luck!!!!!!!:D

Wow! what nursing home do you know of that is slow paced. My mother works in LTC and sometimes she gets up to 30-60 patients !!!!. I'm personally going to do everything in my power not to work in a nursing home. I don't want to risk my new license.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.
Wow! what nursing home do you know of that is slow paced. My mother works in LTC and sometimes she gets up to 30-60 patients !!!!. I'm personally going to do everything in my power not to work in a nursing home. I don't want to risk my new license.

Lol agreed 19, I have some friends that are currently working in LTC and I really give them credit. The stories they tell me really scare me. 69 pts for one nurse? yikes! errors are being asked to happen with that many. I'm sticking to the hospital for now also. Don't think I could wrap my feeble, nursing school burnt out brain around more than 7-8 pts. LOL

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Well idk where yall are from but in Upstate Ny, yes the nursing homes are slow to me. I definitely don't think that your at a higher risk of losing your license in a Nursing Home versus a Hospital were they can change charts or Mar's every second. And yes your suppose to double check everything but if your not a time-managing person things can get crazy. Im sure theres plenty of students that use their time correctly and STILL get behind. So once again I would go to LTC rather than a hospital straight out of school. If your confident with working in a hospital by all means go ahead in do it. But i know im getting more experience before entering those people hospital. Just thinkn logic:idea:.Later

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Specializes in LTC.
Well idk where yall are from but in Upstate Ny, yes the nursing homes are slow to me. I definitely don't think that your at a higher risk of losing your license in a Nursing Home versus a Hospital were they can change charts or Mar's every second. And yes your suppose to double check everything but if your not a time-managing person things can get crazy. Im sure theres plenty of students that use their time correctly and STILL get behind. So once again I would go to LTC rather than a hospital straight out of school. If your confident with working in a hospital by all means go ahead in do it. But i know im getting more experience before entering those people hospital. Just thinkn logic:idea:.Later

I can understand where you are coming from also.

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Specializes in Trauma & Emergency.

I graduated this year too..and started my first job a little over a month ago. It was absolutely terrible and horrifying and it still is. Some days before I go inside I cry and cry and have to talk myself into going back inside..convince myself that I am a competent nurse, that I absorbed EVERYTHING I could in school and that I won't be afraid to ask a question even if I do get an attitude for it. Some nights when I leave I am in the same bout of tears. And other nights may be better I may just finish early and be out on time. Everything comes with time and experience. It takes a while to be comfortable with patients and to feel like you are "Experienced" and competent. Give yourself a break..and while your at it a pat on the back for finishing school--you wouldn't be where you are if you didn't know your stuff. Congratulations to you..and good luck in your future as a NURSE!

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I just started my 5th and final quarter. I am terrified as well about being out in the real world. I am more terrified about my upcoming clinicals at Kaiser we are alone one on one with a preceptor no instructor no classmates just me and a stranger.I know it is going to be a great experience but I am still scared

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