First semester in Nursing school quickly approaching!!

Momofzra · Jan 9, 2013

I am totally with you! I don't start until the 22nd but as each day passes, I get more and more nervous. I went to the bookstore this week and picked up my syllabus. Holy crap, it was 269 pages long! As I was reading through it, I really started to panic and feel exactly the way you do. Do this, don't do that...ugh...it is hard on the nerves.

ab51 · Jan 9, 2013

I am totally with you! I don't start until the 22nd but as each day passes I get more and more nervous. I went to the bookstore this week and picked up my syllabus. Holy crap, it was 269 pages long! As I was reading through it, I really started to panic and feel exactly the way you do. Do this, don't do that...ugh...it is hard on the nerves.[/quote']
I'm about to start my final semester of nursing school, and remember feeling the same way. Just try to take a deep breath and remember you are just beginning. No one expects you to know everything. This is your time to learn, so make the most of it. It really hasn't been a hard as I thought it would be. Seek out opportunities in clinical, don't be afraid. And do lots of practice questions. Oh yeah, enjoy it; it goes by so fast!

PurplePRN · Jan 9, 2013

I start Monday too. I've been having those "OMG" moments about once every hour. Best wishes!

Tutz926 · Jan 9, 2013

A 200+ page syllabus would freak me out too! I start on the 26th and am excited, nervous, anxious at the same time. I think its because we've worked so hard and now that we've finally gotten in its surreal. I've gotten tons of advice from a million people that have gone through it or are going through it... All they keep saying is stay organized, don't get overwhelmed and its very doable if you dedicate yourself to it.

No turning back now! Good luck to all us newbies~~~~

traumanurse2b? · Jan 9, 2013

I also start Monday. I have moments where I completely forget about it and then moments when I think "oh my gosh!!!!" I can't believe its finally starting. Its been 6.5 months since I got my acceptance letter and I'm sooooo ready to start! Yay!

afollenweider · Jan 9, 2013

I definitely feel the same way! I start January 30th and I am becoming very nervous and excited. I feel that I do not have enough information at the present moment to go rushing into clinicals...I am afraid I will screw up and not pass! Good luck to you! I am sure you will do great!

CardiacKittyRN · Jan 9, 2013

I felt exactly the same when I first started... first class, lab, test, clinical... each new milestone had me in a bundle of nerves!! I remembering looking at the syllabus & reading assignments, care plans, and projects and thinking "I can't do this! " but a friend who is a nurse gave me some advice that I have carried with me every semester. She said don't look at the whole calendar, take it a day at a time. Like what to I need to do today to be prepared for tomorrow. Doing a little each day will keep you on track & (less) overwhelmed then if you try to do everything at once. I've made it to my 4th of 6 semesters and it has worked for me... good luck & always remember YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

NurseJennayOR · Jan 10, 2013

Congrats to all the future nurses starting the nursing program. I graduated in May. I started nursing with no medical background at all. I'll admit, when I went to the bookstore to pick up my first semester nursing school books, I cried. They were over $1,000 and I had to have someone help me carry them out. My first day of school, we went around the room and talked about our backgrounds and I discovered I was the only person who wasn't a CNA or a tech of some sort. Needless to say, I already felt behind. My first day of clinicals, I was terrified. I had never interacted with a "patient" before and felt like a mumbling idiot. But I have to say one thing, IT GETS BETTER! I studied hard and joined study groups whenever possible. We all had days when we cried on each others shoulders and kept each other going. This is normal! Nursing is tough which is why it's such a respected career. Throughout my first semester, I developed more confidence in myself. The best advice I can give is don't give up! You can do it! Find good friends/family that you can lean on for support. It's such a rewarding career.

LES28 · Jan 12, 2013

NurseJennay I felt the same way as you my first semester! I'm starting my 2nd semester TOMORROW and like you, I had no clinical background and had never interacted with a patient. I was terrified to give my first patient a bath. I remember walking out of my first day of clinical trying to hold it together, got in my car, and starting balling! That first day was so overwhelming for me. But as my first semester went on, I gained confidence and things seamed a little less overwhelming. :)