A Little Stressed Out..Already

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I start nursing school on Aug 16, 2004 and I am exicted but also stressed out. It seems as if things that need to be done before school starts keep popping up on me. I took an American Heart CPR class last summer thinking that the CPR card would be good for two years, but the program I'm in want us to have CPR every year. I didn't know that and the information they sent me doesn't say that taking a CPR class every year was a requirement. The deadline to have a copy of our CPR card in the office is Aug 2. Luckily it wasnt too late to sign up for the class but it cost me $61. ($50 for the class and $11 for the book) The class I took last year was only $40 and they supplied the book for free. I don't understand why they want us to have the class every year when certification is good for two year. I just feel like my program is trying to milk it's students for every single dime. My tution was $590 and my books are gonna be about $600. They haven't disscussed uniforms or anything else we may need this semester. (I'm assuming they will go over all that at orientation on Aug 11 and 12) Thank God I'm still working or else I'd really be looking crazy!!:uhoh21: I'm just terrified something else will come up that I won't be prepared to handle.

Well my question is..Is anyone else going through this? Does your school seem unorganized? Are they giving you the correct information within a timely manner? Anyone else ready to scream!!!:rotfl: It's not even August yet and I'm already stressed out. At this rate I'll have an ulcer by the time I graduate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, Peds Ambulatory, Peds LTC.

Hey Bunky are you freaking out???????:uhoh3: Please don't......... You will be okay. I can relate with the CPR certification every year. That sucks.....:angryfire TRY to go into the semester as ready as possible. I am sure that during your orientation things will get sorted out.

Nursing school is very expensive. Books, tuition, equipment, uniforms etc. I understand your frustrations. Been there....done that.... Good Luck though. You will do great. You will learn a lot too. Just keep the faith and do well.

3_3_2v.gif + 3_3_103.gif =3_3_8v.gifR.N. or L.P.N

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Hi NurseBunky. Wow, I hear your stress. It would be so nice to have information ahead of time, wouldn't it? Does your school have a mentoring program or do you know any upper classmen? Someone who already knows the ropes can really help you in your orientation process. We are in the process of putting together our mentoring program for incoming first semester students. We remember the anxiety of not knowing what was around the next corner and would like to help incoming students avoid that whole scene. By the time orientation day finally came, some students (now mentors) were so overwhelmed, they nearly cried.

The business about your CPR certification is kind of unusual but every school has its quirks. It does seem like their objective is to throw everyone off balance at times. I promise you, it just seems that way. You'll get used to it.

It's too bad you can't find out about your books ahead of time. You could avoid the rush by getting them now. Have you contacted your school about the book list, uniforms and such? You probably have. By my first day, I had books, uniforms, syllabus and various sundry items already purchased. Seems a little disorganized not to have that information already available to the students. Like I said, every school has its quirks.

You'll be ok. These few weeks before the nursing school way of life are tough but you'll make it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, House Sup, ER, Med Surg.

Our school sometimes is a bit disorganized, too. This year, the Allied Health secretary quit in May, and they were about 3 months late getting acceptance letters out. And of course, they just couldn't understand why we were all getting so anxious. We also still do not have a complete book/supply list. They did tell us what we needed for clinical uniforms, but "strongly advised" us to wait until after the first day of class to get them...what's up with that?

Anyway, the stress of trying to get into nursing school has actually been good for me in many ways. I was motivated to push myself and maintain good study habits through pre-reqs. And of course, nursing itself is stressful so we might as well learn good coping skills now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you all for your input and encourgement. I'm feeling a little better now.:)

This website is a great place to vent. I just hope nothing else pops up in the next two weeks or I'll just explode!!! :rotfl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a little anxious waiting to her back from the two hospitals that I applied to for schoarships. I called the school and they said that they will be contacting everyone shortly for the interviews.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

Hi there,

Yes, I know what you're going through. I just had a refresher course Wednesday night for CPR and I'm not even due until December! My program seems to change things every semester. :stone My program decided that we needed to be updated through December or else we couldn't go to lab or clinicals. I'm pretty pissed! Oh well, it's done and over with. Now they'll be happy...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey I am in your boat so move over, just kidding. Our school sent out memos to get CPR certified. 1/2 of us did early, then they sent us "updated" letters for us to become CPR Healthcare provider certified through the AHA, not regular CPR through ARC. So now I am certified in both for a total of $120! And the next time I go to Outback some one better choke on a steak or I'm gonna loose it. We got our book list,so I went into the book store check out what I was in for and the girl who worked there said "I'd wait if I were you, If you end up with Brown for 101, she'll want ya'll to get different books" So so much for that. So stessing I will go. I just keep reminding my self school statrs Aug 16th and I 've got to enjoy what summer I have left. Sometimes my little reminder works, maybe it will for you too. Oh yeah and one thing I did get out of my second CPR class is if you are renewing your CPR Health Care Provider Certification, and it has not expired, you can do so on the internet. I don't know if thats the certification you need to update but if it is you should check it out. Good luck in school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I have to retake the entire CPR Professional Rescuer course, because mine had lapsed. I'm taking it Monday and Tuesday night, but I have no clue how I'm going to do chest compressions, as I've torn the rotator cuff in my shoulder, and any pressure on it causes a great deal of pain. I'll have to "wing it" somehow (no pun intended!) because I can't start classes without a current card either.

Strange how they make you renew every year. Maybe because they think 2 years w/o any practice makes one "forget" how to do it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I know what you mean. I'm only taking one course and I get a little freaky myself. Hang in there, it gets better, oh in about one year after you graduate. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Yup...it can lead to some stress...to say the least.

I had to take CPR certification for Health Care Professionals on the 2nd day or orientation (last June) and it only cost us $8.00--given at the school and the book was free so I guess we got a good deal.

Included in our acceptance letters was the info on uniforms, where to buy, etc. and also the booklist for our freshman year. After I finished year 1, we met with the jr. level instructors and they handed us the book list for that level before we left for our summer break. I just picked up the junior level syllabus and there seems to be more books on it than I already received so now I have to compare the two and see what I'm missing...if anything.

I was so stressed before I started last year but it will all settle down into a routine for you so not to worry--you're not alone! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure if my school will require CPR every year or not, but I'll tell you, I feel for you guys, because the card is good for 2 so I can't see why they feel diffrent. However, keep this in mind, there are two types of CPR certs., one for the healthcare provider and the other for the good samaritan, they differ, becasue one teaches BLS and the other is more of a first responce thing, perhaps that is why, you have to get a new every year. Check to see if its because you don't have BLS and only first aid. Next, if they require a new one every year (which is crazy) before your due, check with the red cross and local hospitals and fire dept. they sometimes offer free refreshers;(which is all you need) Even if they don't offer a free one, it will be a smaller fee, then going through your school. Check with nursing homes as well, they offer free ones to there employees, however sometimes they accept outsiders and only charge $15. Remember, now that your a nursing student, you can get a lot. And if you work partime at any hospital, they'll get you one, free of charge. Lastly, If your going to have to refresh every year, think of this option: if you become an instructor of CPR (which if you can volunteer at the redcross a few hours a weekend, they'll train you in it.) Your CPR is good for life.You can just put in for it as an instructor and get one every year for free. Some don't even get a new one, because it is understood theirs is good for ever as long as there teaching (the card says instructor right on it). A little extreme, but if your going to school for 4 years it may be an option you'll want to think about, not to mention, its also a good partime job. Hope this helps, and keep in mind this is how it is my area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment