[FriendlyGhost87]

Hey everyone! So-I start an accelerated BSN program on May 12th. I'm super excited for it to start up, but I have to admit that I've never been more nervous/scared than I am now! I have absolutely NO previous experience working in a hospital, with patients...you get the idea! I would like to know if this will be a huge set-back for me. I currently have a job at a daycare...but I'm quitting it at the end of April so that I can focus all my energy on nursing school.

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to respond in advance! Have a great day!!

[2bnurselovescoffee]

I'm first year student in second semester. I had no experience either, my instructors said when we all started that by the beginning of second year regardless of experience we would all be on the same page. Meaning the inexperienced would know as much as the experienced. The instructors also said it's easier to learn what THEY are teaching us when you have no other experience to reference too.
You know those test questions where you have seen something in real life but the instructor doesn't want that knowledge, they just want what they taught...so you get the question wrong...does that make sense?

I think there are benefits to both sides.

I still have yet to work in the health care field. My goal this summer is to get a CNA job somewhere, to get more comfortable.

I too have the luxory of not having to work while in the program. My school is more work than I would do if I worked 40 hours.

Don't be scared...be excited! Sorry I rambled a little.

[BrittRN2b]

Originally Posted by FriendlyGhost87

Hey everyone! So-I start an accelerated BSN program on May 12th. I'm super excited for it to start up, but I have to admit that I've never been more nervous/scared than I am now! I have absolutely NO previous experience working in a hospital, with patients...you get the idea! I would like to know if this will be a huge set-back for me. I currently have a job at a daycare...but I'm quitting it at the end of April so that I can focus all my energy on nursing school.

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to respond in advance! Have a great day!!

FriendlyGhost, Congrats on your accomplishment! I am also starting an an accelerated BSN program in mid May and couldn't be more excited. I had the same question of whether a lack of direct experience would be a hinderence in nursing school. An instructor told me that absolutely not - the most important thing is to have the desire to be a nurse combined with the focus and intelligence to get through nursing school.

I do believe that people who have worked with patients before, such as CNAs or PCAs, might have an easier time with the patient care aspects of clinical, but there is no real difference in the success in nursing school between those who have no experience and those who have tons.

This is my own personal "recipe" for a successful nursing student (or at least the mantra I plan to use to help me get through):
Humble (be open to learning experiences, realizing you don't know it all and you are not above _____ . I have heard a lot about nursing students letting pride and self-righteousness get in the way of learning and I want to avoid that)
Hungry (eager to learn. Soak up the knowledge like a sponge)
Smart (able to think critically and apply theoretical knowledge to practice)

[FriendlyGhost87]

Originally Posted by BrittRN2b

FriendlyGhost, Congrats on your accomplishment! I am also starting an an accelerated BSN program in mid May and couldn't be more excited. I had the same question of whether a lack of direct experience would be a hinderence in nursing school. An instructor told me that absolutely not - the most important thing is to have the desire to be a nurse combined with the focus and intelligence to get through nursing school.

I do believe that people who have worked with patients before, such as CNAs or PCAs, might have an easier time with the patient care aspects of clinical, but there is no real difference in the success in nursing school between those who have no experience and those who have tons.

This is my own personal "recipe" for a successful nursing student (or at least the mantra I plan to use to help me get through):
Humble (be open to learning experiences, realizing you don't know it all and you are not above _____ . I have heard a lot about nursing students letting pride and self-righteousness get in the way of learning and I want to avoid that)
Hungry (eager to learn. Soak up the knowledge like a sponge)
Smart (able to think critically and apply theoretical knowledge to practice)

Thanks for the wonderful advice...and same to the poster above!

It's nice to hear from someone already in the program...it makes me less worried!

And it's also great to hear from someone who is about ready to start up like you, BrittRN2b! I appreciate both of you taking the time out to respond. Britt-when does your program start?? Congrats to you as well on getting in!!! Keep in touch.

[BrittRN2b]

Originally Posted by FriendlyGhost87

Thanks for the wonderful advice...and same to the poster above!

It's nice to hear from someone already in the program...it makes me less worried!

And it's also great to hear from someone who is about ready to start up like you, BrittRN2b! I appreciate both of you taking the time out to respond. Britt-when does your program start?? Congrats to you as well on getting in!!! Keep in touch.

I am in a 12 month accelerated BSN program. Orientation is May 14 and the first class day is May 19. YAY!!!!!! I am also quitting my job to focus solely on school. Best wishes for success for both of us!

[elkpark]

I have taught nursing students with no experience whatsoever along with those who had extensive experience as CNAs, etc. The CNAs were often rather smug and condescending to the other students about how much they knew and how easy clinical was going to be for them, etc., but they had only a very brief, limited advantage. The stuff you learn in nursing school is so much more and so far beyond CNA-level stuff that everyone is quickly back in the same boat.

When ever this question comes up, I always remember my first undergrad experience (long before I thought about nursing). I completed French 101 Fall semester, starting from scratch since I had no language in high school, and was surprised, on the first day of French 102, to find that the class was much larger -- we had a whole new group of students, and it turned out they were all kids who had had four years of high school French -- four years of high school French equalled one semester of college French. Same principal -- you may start at a slight disadvantage (with no experience) in the clinicals, if only in terms of basic "comfort level" with doing things to other people's bodies , but that won't last long!

Best wishes to all of you --

[Valasca]

I start an ADN program in the fall and have been a CNA for about 5 years. I think that my previous experiences will be helpful but only in a very small way. I am comfortable with my patients, interacting with providers of all levels, and know some very basic stuff. But I honestly don't think my prior experience is going to give me much of "a leg up" if at all.

None of us are nurses when we start school so we're are all on the same level as far as that goes. And because we (the applicants) come from such different backgrounds I expect that we will all be treated as though we have never even seen a hospital before.

Lastly, I do not think that prior experience is critical to success. I have had many classmates (during my prereqs) who have never had any pt care experience and I think that they will do wonderfully in the program and that they will become excellent nurses! You will do great I know it! Congrats on getting in btw!!!!!

[FriendlyGhost87]

Originally Posted by BrittRN2b

I am in a 12 month accelerated BSN program. Orientation is May 14 and the first class day is May 19. YAY!!!!!! I am also quitting my job to focus solely on school. Best wishes for success for both of us!

That's awesome! My program is accelerated...but not nearly as accelerated as yours! Ours is 15 months...gosh if it were 12 months that would be crazy! I bet you'll do great!! Our orientation is May 8th! I agree, best wishes on success for us both...and everyone else out there as well!!!

[southernbelle08]

Best of luck to you! I graduate May 9th and when I started I had absolutely no experience either. We had plenty who did have experience and didn't make it. Then we had plenty who had experience and will graduate with me May 9th! There is also several like me who came in with not one ounce of experience with them and they've made it too! So I think it depends on the person. I've never had any trouble with my grades or clinical. So don't worry!!

[medira]

I had 8 years experience working in an ER and honestly, it has almost hurt me rather than help me. You get used to doing things a certain way, as well as learning them the same way and when you get to school it is completely different.
I am not uncomfortable around patients like a few of peers, but other than that I don't think that my experience helped me.
You will be great, don't be afraid. The first 5wks you will feel like OMG! WHAT AM I THINKING!!!???!!! But, it will pass *promise*