Eat, sleep, breathe nursing program???

[leslie_23]

Hello, Everyone!

A little re-introduction...

I am Leslie. I am 30 years old and will be starting nursing classes on August 26th. I have been married for nine (going on ten) years. I do not have children, yet.

About school...

I have chosen to start in a 15 month LPN program. I already have almost three years of college behind me, however, that was as an education major. I thought that starting in an LPN program would give me a chance to "get my feet wet" in the field of nursing. The rule for the LPN to RN transition (bridge) here is that a person has to work for a year after becoming an LPN. During that one year time frame, one can complete the remaining prerequisites for the RN program. Then, the RN program takes a year to complete. That's my plan!

I am a little nervous about starting nursing school. My sister-in-law's mother just graduated from an LVN (LPN) program in Texas. She said that her mother was incredibly stressed and that she basically had to eat, sleep and breathe nursing school in order to be successful. I have also heard that very same assessment from a nursing student that just graduated from the same program that I will be starting this month...

Has anyone else heard the same information about their program? Who else here has been told that they will be eating, sleeping and breathing nursing school?

Good luck to all of the new nursing students out there!

Leslie

[Motivated, SN]

Leslie_23,

Yes, I have also heard "eat, sleep and breathe nursing"; and I'm

looking forward to doing that. I also am starting school on the

26th; and have already started studying. I have subscribed to

more nursing journals and I visit all.nurses.com everyday. I hope that I don't burn out quick by doing this. I basically believe that its important to have balance in your life and that is something that I have struggled with for a long time. I started my prereqs for RN in 2000 though and left; because the rest of my life was consuming me. I couldn't be as dedicated as I needed to be to nursing. Now though, I feel more involved. Good Luck.

[Mkue]

hi leslie and lisa and everyone. i have heard some people say their programs were easy and some say "hard".. i think it does depend on the person. and if you have a lot of classes out of the way it really helps.

[babynursewannab]

I agree with everyone. Just stay focused. I still managed a 4.0 during and after a nasty divorce while taking care of my daughter and working.

P R I O R I T I Z E!

You'll do great.

[nursing aussie]

yeah it can be very hard to handle as life goes on and it has to fit in around ur studies. at the moment i have 13 assignments due in 13 weeks plus my homework for classes each week and im absolutely flat out but all i can say is stay on top of things and then u wont be up all hours of the night trying to get things done. i usually spend a couple of hours every afternoon getting my work done and while i dont get a huge social life im managing to keep ontop of things. do take at least one day a week off where u just relax and do what u want to do and not touch ur studies. u will go mad if u dont!!!! lol i also attend uni with alot of parents who try and study and raise children as well and they are my inspiration because if they can do it anyone can. good luck.

[lindagio]

I just recently graduated. The best advice someone gave me and I would love to pass on is to consider school a 9-5 job mon-fri and spend the rest of the time with family and for yourself. I did great in nursing school and stood by this rule. If i got out of clinical early or had no class I would spend that time studying in the library. I always went to the library because it was easier not to be distracted from kids and husband. Best wishes let me know if you need any help.

[leslie_23]

Everyone,

THANKS for the words of encouragement about nursing school. You all offered such great advice!

I have already purchased a new calendar/organizer so that I can manage my time well. Yes, I have been known to procrastinate, but I am too scared to procrastinate on anything in nursing school! LOL!

I have spoken to a woman who just graduated this summer from the very same program that I will be starting this month. She is in her early 40's and already has a four-year degree in education. She said that nursing school was very difficult for her and that she literally had to arrange everything else around her study time. She is a bright woman and someone that I respect (she managed to graduate at the top of her nursing school class). So, if she says that school is difficult and time consuming, I believe her!

Good luck to everyone who will be starting nursing school this month! Let us all know how you are doing! I am sure that I will be sharing my "freak out moments" here quite often in the days and months ahead!

Leslie

[debyan]

Hi, I was 30 when I got my LPN too. I had twins in first grade and a kindergardener. My husband drove truck over- the -road from Bosten to LA, never home. My family was supportive but could not help much. If I could do it you can too, I am no organazational wizard just very stuborn. Good Luck

[Love-A-Nurse]

originally posted by debyanelsworth

hi, i was 30 when i got my lpn too. i had twins in first grade and a kindergardener. my husband drove truck over- the -road from bosten to la, never home. my family was supportive but could not help much. if i could do it you can too, i am no organazational wizard just very stuborn. good luck

deby, welcome!

[debyan]

I am an LPN working on my RN too ! One class at a time. thanks for the welcome been lurking here for a while. Deby:D

[emily_mom]

MOTIVATION!!!

DETERMINATION!!!

YOU GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT!!!

All excellent advice!! When you're dealing with care plans and teaching plans for the first few times, it does seem that's all you do. And then you think, I have to do these for the next two years? But, once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad. Always share your care plans with others and vice versa. You never know when you might be able to use a piece of one (also helps on writing rationale).

Good luck to you!!!!!!

Kristy

[nicoleinphilly]

Yup, thats what everyone told me too. My first semester I was so nervous all I did was eat, sleep, and breathe nursing (hmmmm....wonder why?) Then I had a panic attack in the middle of class and my wonderful teacher sat me down and spoke a few smart words to me. #1: It does not say "C" student on your nursing pin, if you get a C, noone knows it but you. #2: Make time for yourself, I quit working out which is something I love to do and she said it was the worst mistake I could make. Keep doing what you love.

SO I did what she said, I still tried my hardest and made more time for "me". And guess what? My grades got BETTER!

DOn't stress yourself out and dont listen to other people. You're going to hear so many things that will scare the hell out of you and then you come to find that its not that way.

Ive changed my study habits this way: I take notes in class, rewrite them when I get home, and read a up a bit on what we learned. If you look up diseases your studying on the internet its much more understandable because they are geared for the patients to understand.

Best of luck.....youll be wonderful!:roll

[Love-A-Nurse]

originally posted by nicoleinphilly

yup, thats what everyone told me too. my first semester i was so nervous all i did was eat, sleep, and breathe nursing (hmmmm....wonder why?) then i had a panic attack in the middle of class and my wonderful teacher sat me down and spoke a few smart words to me. #1: it does not say "c" student on your nursing pin, if you get a c, noone knows it but you. #2: make time for yourself, i quit working out which is something i love to do and she said it was the worst mistake i could make. keep doing what you love.

so i did what she said, i still tried my hardest and made more time for "me". and guess what? my grades got better!

don't stress yourself out and dont listen to other people. you're going to hear so many things that will scare the hell out of you and then you come to find that its not that way.

ive changed my study habits this way: i take notes in class, rewrite them when i get home, and read a up a bit on what we learned. if you look up diseases your studying on the internet its much more understandable because they are geared for the patients to understand.

best of luck.....youll be wonderful!:roll

nicole, hello and welcome to the board! i thank you for your encouraging post. all the best to you!