how well did your clinicals prepare you?

[nedlloyd]

I am interested to know how well people feel their clinicals prepared them for working as an RN. Obviously there is a huge learning curve going from student to practicing nurse. Back when I started you were expected to hit the floor running, manage a team of about 10 patients (RN + LPN team). We were promised in our interviews at least one month of orientation time but were lucky to get that. sick calls would go unreplaced and instead of orientation you were suddenly on your own.

the area i live in has several BSN and ADN programs and my hospital has hired quite a few new grads. I know times are tough out there for new grads and perhaps some have been out of the loop for awhile. however, i see many of them struggling, having difficulty managing care for 3 patients after having worked for a few months.

now i am NOT trying to be judgmental. we are/were all new grads once, the learning curve is HUGE in your first year. I am simply looking for some perspective if you wouldn't mind sharing... what type of program did you grad from, how many clinical hours, how many patients were you caring for in your final practicum, etc.

:)

[HeatherGurl84]

I went through a BSN program and never once got to insert an IV, hang blood, or do trach care. I never inserted a Foley either. My internship preceptor taught me more than ANY school instructor did. She taught me how to chart, calculate dosages, hang IVs, tube feeds, and more.

I just was hired onto a Med-Surg unit and will be starting near the end of December. I am scared but know there will be other nurses there to help. The new grad orientation for my new hospital is 90 days, rather extensive. And if I feel I am not ready, they said I could take longer.

I wish school had prepared me better...but now I must pay attention and learn through following my new preceptors on the job

[DC Collins, ASN]

I loved my ADN program. The entire last quarter was 95% hands on, precepted clinicals (mine in the ED).

Having been a hospital volunteer for several years in various departments, in each and every one of them, the majority of the staff nurses said they preferred grads from our ADN program over grads from the various local BSN programs, at least right out of the gate.

They say we are more experienced, more confident, and well-prepped for the real learning experience of our first job.

Nothing against BSNs or BSN programs. But from anecdotal evidence, I get the feeling the way to go is typically ADN, work, and get your BSN after you have some actual clinical experience under your belt. This is my plan now that I am newly hired in the same ED in which I spent my last quarter.

I just get the feeling that all that 'management experience' when you don't even know how to put in a foley makes what little clinical experience you get while in school wastes a lot of what little of that experience there is.

DC :)

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

But from anecdotal evidence, I get the feeling the way to go is typically ADN, work, and get your BSN after you have some actual clinical experience under your belt. This is my plan now that I am newly hired in the same ED in which I spent my last quarter.

Congrats on getting hired into your ED! You must be a keeper. :) And that is exactly what I did -- got the ADN, hired in the ED where I'd been a tech for 3.5 years, and went right back into an RN-to-BSN program.

[DC Collins, ASN]

Grats girl, glad its working out for you :)

I don't know about going *right* back...maybe one more quarter off first :) But then, absolutely!