Things You Didn't Learn in Nursing School

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We learned a lot in nursing school, but some things you can only learn while on the job. Here are just a few of them.

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That the crazy, psycho co-worker is made of teflon and is out to get you. That management won't deal with her because she's got seniority and knows where the bodies are buried.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

What to say to dying pts and their families.

How to relinquish the guilt when the end stage COPDer who can't breathe says "Help me" and you can't.

You can't always fix what's wrong.

You can do everything right, and still be wrong.

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Specializes in ICU.

I find it's helpful to cross reference this particular publication with "Things Life Teaches You." Lots of surprising similarities.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Nursing school never taught me:

That when you see the heart rate rising on a seizure pt look out

That a crying baby is a healthy baby

That you should never be afraid to escalate a situation, or to tell a doctor when you need him NOW

That sepsis in the elderly can have many forms, including altered mental status

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Importance of time management, organization, how to prepare for interviews.

And how school didn't teach me anything at all about reality of nursing--it taught me theories but those alone cannot help me survive in nursing land!

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Specializes in Women's Surgical , MIU,MBU.
crazy&cuteRN said:
When I graduated from nursing school, I was basically licensed to apply bandaids. The real learning comes with experience. Having a 6 hour clinical that included a one hour lunch break, 30 minutes and pre and post conference, did not prepare us what soever.

Licensed to apply bandaids...I fell out...thank you for the laugh I needed that!! But seriously I know what you mean. Like why didn't I have a phlebotomy course...and then you are expected to "practice" on patients.:no:

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I have worked in EMS for quite some time but what I have found that nursing school does NOT teach you is how to deal with problems in nursing care when it comes to family and patients...oh, im sorry I meant to say "clients" - :)

When a problem arises, we (students) are quickly removed from the situation and then is handled by other staff. It would have been nice to see how situations and problems are handled whether it is the right way or the wrong way.

I guess this is two fold, on one hand, it would have been nice to see how the situation is handled and on the second, we are removed from the situation to lessen the liability from us, the instructor, and the school.

eh, each situation is different and I guess I will learn as time goes on!

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How to be a nurse.

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How to be less nervous and overthink what I am doing.

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Specializes in MedSurg.

Never underestimate the strength of a confused little old lady

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

The importance of a good bowel motion in the elderly:..........

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Specializes in geriatrics.

That nursing school provides the very basics. You need to be able to put all those pieces together somehow, and that a year+ goes by before you really begin feel competent in the area you're working. Like, "Oh right. This is what they meant."

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