Why is the first year so hard???

For me, it was mostly the fact that I dont think nursing school prepared me for the real world. Then my orientation with the hospital was not great either. Most of what you need to know in nursing you learn on the job though. It's just at first when you are thrown in there and you dont know exactly what to do...it can get really stressfull.

I'm just starting NS, but have heard that it is most difficult because you really don't learn how 'real life' is in school - only the most safe practices.

You may not get to try (or master!) every skill that you need - you won't get to see or experience all the possible problems that you will encounter once you are actually on the floor.

My 2 cents - - I guess I'll find out for sure on August 18th, my first day of class!

But apparently school does not in any way equal real life -

Many find the first year a surprise... you are not only adjusting to a new career, you are adjusting to a new career that involves people's lives. You are responsible for the care & welfare of people who could possibly die or suffer severe consequences if you are not on the top of your game. This makes it a very stressful career, & you do learn most of what you need to know on the job, not in school.

Everyone learns at their own pace & in their own way, which will make everyone's first year unique, especially when you throw in the differences in preceptors. Some people also begin in a position they really are not comfortable with, for fear of having no other offers or lack of knowledge of their possiblities. So there may be an added discomfort until one finds their "niche."

Because nursing school wants you to think you know your orifice from your elbow but you soon realize you know nothing. NCLEX, to me, really doesn't show much of competency at all, especially if you specialize as a new grad. You are constantly learning and in most cases to learn you make mistakes. Most people dont want to deal with you because you are new and get frustrated because you don't know anything. You are working full time usually 12-14 hours and in stressful situations intstead of 4 hour clinicals with 1-2 patients. You learn a whole lot in those first years. I could write a book about why it's hard but those are just a few reasons.

The first year is hard, because nursing school is so comlpetely different from real life. The hardest thing for new nurse is admitting how much they dont know, not asking questions for fear of looking stupid, and not having qood organizational skills. The best thing you can do for yourself, is find the most efficient/experienced nurse on the unit and ask them how they organize their time, what organizational tools they use. All good nurses use something. Yo have to write things down in somekind of organized manner. You cannot keep everything in your head. If you do you'll drown.

When you come across something you don't know LOOK IT UP. NOW!! It may be something important that you need to know to take good care of yoru patient. When you get asked questions in report, you shouldn't answer, "gee I don't know". Prioritize and stay calm. You can do it.

for me it was realizing that i was holding people's lives in my hands with each decision that i made. that is a huge responsibility. so not only are you adjusting to a new job, you have that to worry about. also getting used to dealing with families when their loved one is at a bad place in their life is difficult. nursing is hard work and a big adjustment. another thing is that you only learn the basics in nursing school. i did not realize how basic until i got out there and was practicing on my own!!!

I have to agree strongly with the last two posts! I am a new grad, passed the boards, did well in school, and am 33 in my second career, so I had strong life skills, and previous experience with time management and responsibility. Where as a lot of my skills are helping me in my new career, nothing can prepare you for the floor until you get there. Nursing School gives you the basics and best practice. I went to a two year program that focused very stongly on clinical time, which I am so grateful for! I took a position in an ICU and am about to come off orientation and off on my own.

I have had some really rough days, but one thing that has never crossed my mind thus far is that I made the wrong decision in becoming a nurse. Even on the rough days, I did some good!

The one thing that I recommend to anyone starting out is DO NOT take a position based on salary. It should be based on culture. The reason I say this is the unit that I am on is so understanding and a FABULOUS place for a new nurse. I am never alone. It is amazing how well the unit the works and what positive results we have when we work together. They are the lowest paying hospital in the city, but I am much happier than some of my friends that took jobs for money!

Good Luck to you!

Because nursing school wants you to think you know your orifice from your elbow but you soon realize you know nothing. NCLEX, to me, really doesn't show much of competency at all, especially if you specialize as a new grad. You are constantly learning and in most cases to learn you make mistakes. Most people dont want to deal with you because you are new and get frustrated because you don't know anything. You are working full time usually 12-14 hours and in stressful situations intstead of 4 hour clinicals with 1-2 patients. You learn a whole lot in those first years. I could write a book about why it's hard but those are just a few reasons.

I couldn't have said it better myself! I am currently in my first year of practice, and am working as a floor nurse. I am in charge of a staff of CNA's that are old enough to be mothers and grandmothers to me and have to chart on and pass meds to 30 people not to mention the administrative (BM lists, 24 hour report, code cart checks, ect) tasks as well. It's very stressful, but I am blessed to have a very supportive DON and ADON. My colleages (I know I spelled that wrong) are great as well. Just like everything else in this profession, you have to roll with the punches and learn along the way. I highly recomend the book "your first year as a nurse: Making the transition from total novice to successful professional" by donna cardillo RN. I have attached the link to amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Your-First-Year-Nurse-Professional/dp/0761533338/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217982364&sr=1-2

Hi all,

I've been reading here for awhile now and there seems to be a reoccuring theme.. that the first year or two is incredibly crazy and in some cases hellish.

I'm curious, what exactly makes it so hard the first year??? I know that it is adjustment to a new career.. I imagine the organization and workload are very trying... But it seems as though many people want to quit or question their decision to be a nurse in the first year.

I am still in nursing school... 2 more semesters to go and i'm very excited! However, I anticipate that I may have a really hard time in the beginning.

Any insight???

Thank you! :)

Because that's when you learn everything! Ok, no one really knows everything, but the first year is your crash course not only as a nurse, but in the specialty in which you work, so it's kind of a double whammy (You will always feel a bit like you're starting over if you switch specialties, but it will never be as hard as your very first year). Also, it's at least 3 times the work (if not more) than you had in your clinicals. That's a pretty big adjustment! You have way more to do, much less time to do it in and even less time to stop and think about what it is you're doing. It's scary and stressful!!! Plus as others have said, nursing school really is nothing like real life. Oh, if only we had it that good! :wink2: But you'll survive just like the rest of us, I promise.

Accessqueen hit the nail on the head, by the way. But in addition to her great advice, mine is this--memorize this response: "I don't know, but I'll find out". Patients and other health care professionals can tell when you're not sure about something, and it's much more reassuring--and safer--to be told the truth. Make sure you write important things down as you go, whether it's in report or during the shift! No one remembers everything if they don't, and it sucks to sit down and chart only to realize you forgot to write something down and now you can't really remember it. I would also add that you should find the nicest nurse on your unit and unofficially make them your mentor by going to them with your questions. It'll be easy, because she'll be the one who is always willing to help you when you need it. It's important to have a nonjudgmental nurse who's willing to help you out and answer the questions you'd feel silly asking anyone else.

Good luck on your last year! Yes, you will have a really hard time for the first 6-12 months, but you can do it. Get through the first year, then look at whether nursing is still something you want to do. Just don't judge it by the first year! It gets better, really.

I love my job and employer. However, here's the reason why my first year was sooo hard. Being the newest employee on the floor and not a very outspoken one, all the "difficult" and "unwanted" pt's got dumped on me for days and week with no end. These were mostly heavy max cares, lots of really sick pts with underlying psychiatric conditions (often undiagnosed unitll I would convince the MD to get a psych consult), and pt's that were just difficult- such as complaining, got pt' reps involved before I even got there, and so on.

I wish they assign pt's fairly to all new nurses and "senior" nurses alike.

The learning curve is ridiculously steep and we don't have much time to meet the expectations. How am I supposed to care for patients as competently, as quickly, and as knowledgeably as a 10 year seasoned nurse when I have practiced only 6 months? The higher I climb the curve, the more job satisfaction I have.

The answers to this are numerous. First, there's the lack of true preparation in nursing school to perform the job of a nurse in real life (i.e. managing multiple patients, time management, skills you may not have gotten much practice on, etc.). Second, there's the orientation, or maybe the lack there of. In the E..D. (I'm an E.D. nurse), the recommended orientation is at LEAST six months (that's from our national specialty organization). I would say ANY orientation should be at least that long. It takes some time to get your feet under you as a nurse and feel like you're actually doing the job well. Look at physicians...........they do three years in a residency! Now, I know that's apples and oranges, but even still............3 years to, say 6 weeks!?!?!? The heavy load for newbies is bad too. If it doesn't make someone turn tail and run, it makes them anxious and skiddish and puts them in a position to make mistakes that can ruin many lives. And should they make it through this gauntlet, they become the same way as the other nurses. They turn on newbies, dump on each other, and generally stab their coworkers in the back. Great line of work huh?

With all that said, my suggestion would be to find someone to be a mentor to you. Someone who can be a sounding board for your frustrations and that you can turn to for help and guidance. It doesn't need to be someone you work with necessarily, but someone with experience and who is willing to spend some time with you. I wish you all the best!