Day in the life of a new RN Nursing student?

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Hi! Will begin RN-Nursing degree in January 2011 for SPC and am really curious as to what to expect in both the classrooms and clinicals. Can anyone provide a sort of a "day in the life" of a first semester RN nursing student both in class and at the hospital? Any and all info/details would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you :0)

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Say goodbye to your social life for a while :) I am half way through, the MOST intense thing I have ever put myself through. When I am not at school or in clinical, I am studying... and when I am not studying I am sleeping, eating, crying.. something along those lines. :)

WOW! You guys are all awesome!! Thanks so much for all the info, it seems daunting but it helps to know that it can be done - does anyone have kid(s), I have a 2y/o (as of January 6th he'll be 2) and I have awesome family support but would like to know if any of you have tips so that I can still spend as much time with him as possible while getting done what needs to be done - my schedule is:

Mon - 1pm-3pm lecture (with travel 12pm - 4pm)

Tues & Wed - 6am - 3pm (with travel 5am - 4pm)

Thurs - 8am - 11am (with travel 7am - 12pm)

I have him set up to be taken care of during those times and he wakes up around 8-8:30am and naps 1pm - 3pm and then goes to bed at 7:30pm (he's SUPER active so he likes to sleep!) so I am thinking that when I get home at 4pm on Mon - Wed & 12pm on Thurs. I can be with him, feed him & put him to bed at 7:30pm and then commence to studying my butt off for as long as it takes (at LEAST until 11:30pm which would mean 4hrs per night, 28hrs a week devoted to study time) and then Friday do whatever I have to do at the school, be with him, study at night and then study as much as I need to over the weekend.

I'm a pretty good student and pretty good at time management and definitely aware that none of the above is set in stone and things come up but does that seem pretty reasonable to you all?

Thank you all again so much, I didn't think I'd have so many responses so soon!! Best, Christa

IrishGrrl-I wouldn't worry about having a kid (or two). I'm not a nursing student yet, but my cousin is about to graduate the ADN program that I'm applying to and she is graduating with a mom of 5 kids. She said she does better than students in the class with no kids and are younger than she is. It can be done! It's all about time managment and you seem to have that down already. GL! :)

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I think I have a gf still. I mean I see her in passing, her clothes are still around my house and there is always food in the fridge. Other than that I dont know if she exists anymore.......

Im just kidding. It is as bad and busy as you want to make it OUTSIDE of class. I had friends that would spend hours upon hours to look up meds. Just be efficient in what you do and you will have some time to do what you want and be yourself.

Do you have a job THAT GUY? how many hrs you put in?

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I graduate in 7 days and have a job lined up. I didnt work at all through school, so my opinion might be a little different than most

okokokok

I work about 30 hours a week for a police department, and honestly I don't put much time into nursing school. I'm probably an exception to the rule. I have a strong background in the sciences so tying all that in is easy for me, and I have an inherent interest in "medical stuff" so for the past eight years or so I've looked up just about everything I wanted to know about medicine and healthcare. The whole nursing process junk is the new stuff, but that's so easy to grasp. Having been a paramedic makes it easier even still. Next semester may be more difficult, and I hope it is because that'll probably mean it's more detailed and fulfilling.

I have a nine month old. I take my lecture courses online so I can keep him out of daycare. I have clinicals all day monday and tuesday and wednesday skills class and a skills appointment or two a week. I am kinda like THATGUY, I have a strong background in science so I have not devoted as much time as most to my nursing program. If your 2yr old is on a regular schedule, use that time to study and do your assignments. With good organizational skills, going through a nursing program and still having a life is very possible.

Specializes in ED.

When it comes to studying. Skim skim skim. Study the tables. And the powerpoints

Specializes in Psych.

I have 3 kids and my youngest was 4 when I started the nursing program. I think kids are the perfect antidote to nursing school. When you come home all frazzled about tests or studying, they don't care. Getting down on the floor and playing trucks or snuggling to read a story is great therapy and always reminded me what was more important than grades.

I'll admit that finding study time was tough, but you learn to pick up a ton in 10 minute bursts. I'm not a flashcard person (no time to make them), but many people swear by reviewing at the park, gymnastics, etc. I always just dragged my textbooks along to all those places. Also, listening to recorded lectures is pretty helpful and can be done while playing with your little guy.

Specializes in Critical Care.
I work about 30 hours a week for a police department, and honestly I don't put much time into nursing school. I'm probably an exception to the rule. I have a strong background in the sciences so tying all that in is easy for me, and I have an inherent interest in "medical stuff" so for the past eight years or so I've looked up just about everything I wanted to know about medicine and healthcare. The whole nursing process junk is the new stuff, but that's so easy to grasp. Having been a paramedic makes it easier even still. Next semester may be more difficult, and I hope it is because that'll probably mean it's more detailed and fulfilling.

Sounds similar to my situation. I always had lots of interest in the sciences, and had originally planned to major in biochemistry. But I soon realized I enjoyed the medical aspects of science and found nursing to be a good fit. So much of nursing school came really easy to me, but my classmates would freak out over an upcoming test and study non-stop. Sometimes I think they studied to the point that they made themselves more confused.

I worked in EMS the entire time I was in nursing school. I worked 42 hours every week (3 x 14 hour shifts). My schedule actually worked out very well. And the EMS experience helped tons with nursing school, and still helps me in my nursing practice today.

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