How was your first week in nursing school?

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I have noticed that some have started nursing school. How was your first week? let's share our experiences. Regarding supplies etc. what did you forget, that you wish you hadn't. :) I start in September....I will let you know.

Best wishes to all, class of 2007(ADN) and 2008/9(BSN)

nicuRN2007

240 Posts

I have noticed that some have started nursing school. How was your first week? let's share our experiences. Regarding supplies etc. what did you forget, that you wish you hadn't. :) I start in September....I will let you know.

Best wishes to all, class of 2007(ADN) and 2008/9(BSN)

This was my first week. It went great. I had orientation on tuesday, at which they went ahead and assigned us 3 chapters to read by 9:30 the next morning. Today I had Intro to nursing skills and we practiced proper handwashing techniques, gloving, making an occupied and unoccupied bed, bed baths, and assisting with oral hygiene. So far so good. :)

Saved_by_Grace

337 Posts

I can sum up the first week of nursing school with this...:eek:

nursewannabe07

34 Posts

I can sum up the first week of nursing school with this...:eek:

I feel ill! I start on Sept. 14. If what you say is true....what have I gotten myself into?!!!! :uhoh3:

Bless You

dream2nurse

43 Posts

Here is what I wrote to a friend who asked me the same question...

Well I have mixed feelings about the first week... lol! The teachers and all my classmates are SO nice and supportive. You can tell the teachers really want you to succeed and are not there to weed you out.

However, the course work/load is as bad as they say. First week I read 10 chapters, watched about 3 hours of video and had to memorize 250 abbreviations. Yesterday we had a full day skills lab from 8am - 4pm. We did basic skills such as turning a patient, moving a patient, etc. But thing is, after the end of the day, I was exhausted! It takes some time to get used to being on your feet for so long and being physically active the whole time... plus we did not get a lunch break! I guess it is preparing us for the real world of nursing... but on the first day!

It would all be manageable if I did not have to work, but trying to fit in work hours is so hard. I really wish I did not have to work and am already considering looking for a new job. I am not sure I can survive and put in 40 hours.

On a positive note though, I am still so excited about becoming an RN and have no doubt I have made the right decision. As silly as this may be, we practice our skills just like if we were in the hospital, so we walk up to our partner and say "Hello Mrs. Smith, my name is Amy and I am a student RN at..." Even though we are only a "student RN", it still feels good to say it.

Oh yeah, one more quick story... yesterday I walked into the classroom to get my water and there was a student there from another section watching a video on bed baths that we have to watch before next week... and there on the screen is this giant lady parts with the nurse gently washing all the parts! It hit home that in a few weeks I will washing other people's genitalia! lol!

I'm going to have to agree with WannaBLPN2005 :eek: But I am sure it will get more manageble after a few weeks.

tx2007, RN

277 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.

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Oh yeah, one more quick story... yesterday I walked into the classroom to get my water and there was a student there from another section watching a video on bed baths that we have to watch before next week... and there on the screen is this giant lady parts with the nurse gently washing all the parts! It hit home that in a few weeks I will washing other people's genitalia! lol!

I'm going to have to agree with WannaBLPN2005 :eek: But I am sure it will get more manageble after a few weeks.

I noticed alot of you saying you ar epracticing turning, hand washing ect. Did your schools not make you get your CNA license first?? Just curious!

Saved_by_Grace

337 Posts

[

Oh yeah, one more quick story... yesterday I walked into the classroom to get my water and there was a student there from another section watching a video on bed baths that we have to watch before next week... and there on the screen is this giant lady parts with the nurse gently washing all the parts! It hit home that in a few weeks I will washing other people's genitalia! lol!

I'm going to have to agree with WannaBLPN2005 :eek: But I am sure it will get more manageble after a few weeks.

I noticed alot of you saying you ar epracticing turning, hand washing ect. Did your schools not make you get your CNA license first?? Just curious!

No, at my school you are not required to have your CNA prior to entry. Although I have been a CNA in the past. The CNA requirement varies from school to school.

Saved_by_Grace

337 Posts

I feel ill! I start on Sept. 14. If what you say is true....what have I gotten myself into?!!!! :uhoh3:

Bless You

You'll be fine!~ :) It's just all a little overwhelming at first because the pace is outrageously fast, but I really like it and look forward to continuing my nursing degree.

tx2007, RN

277 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.
I noticed alot of you saying you ar epracticing turning, hand washing ect. Did your schools not make you get your CNA license first?? Just curious!

No, at my school you are not required to have your CNA prior to entry. Although I have been a CNA in the past. The CNA requirement varies from school to school.

got it I thought all schools had that as a requirement! LOL

Emma123

142 Posts

I'm so happy to hear that despite some of you having rough days, that you still are excited. I start Monday!!

I didn't get an orientation because my seat was offerred to me after the orientation. When someone decides not to be in the program they go to the next person on the list...which was ME. LOL I was SO UPSET when I found out that I had missed it by ONE. So I was totally excited when they told me I'd be in this year.

BUT...because I missed the oriention, I am wondering what I may have missed. I hope I don't ask questions all day that they covered in orientation. THAT would stink. Plus, I'm still not sure where my first classroom is. LOL

I'm in trouble......:uhoh21:

Let's go CLASS OF 2007/BSN 2008 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yayyyyyyyyyyyyy

Emma

Here is what I wrote to a friend who asked me the same question...

Well I have mixed feelings about the first week... lol! The teachers and all my classmates are SO nice and supportive. You can tell the teachers really want you to succeed and are not there to weed you out.

However, the course work/load is as bad as they say. First week I read 10 chapters, watched about 3 hours of video and had to memorize 250 abbreviations. Yesterday we had a full day skills lab from 8am - 4pm. We did basic skills such as turning a patient, moving a patient, etc. But thing is, after the end of the day, I was exhausted! It takes some time to get used to being on your feet for so long and being physically active the whole time... plus we did not get a lunch break! I guess it is preparing us for the real world of nursing... but on the first day!

It would all be manageable if I did not have to work, but trying to fit in work hours is so hard. I really wish I did not have to work and am already considering looking for a new job. I am not sure I can survive and put in 40 hours.

On a positive note though, I am still so excited about becoming an RN and have no doubt I have made the right decision. As silly as this may be, we practice our skills just like if we were in the hospital, so we walk up to our partner and say "Hello Mrs. Smith, my name is Amy and I am a student RN at..." Even though we are only a "student RN", it still feels good to say it.

Oh yeah, one more quick story... yesterday I walked into the classroom to get my water and there was a student there from another section watching a video on bed baths that we have to watch before next week... and there on the screen is this giant lady parts with the nurse gently washing all the parts! It hit home that in a few weeks I will washing other people's genitalia! lol!

I'm going to have to agree with WannaBLPN2005 :eek: But I am sure it will get more manageble after a few weeks.

My reaction to reading your post::eek: :eek:

Thanks for such a detailed post about your day!!!! :)

kcfmsn2012

5 Posts

I start nursing school this Wendsday. Kind of scary but the story of the big lady parts made me LOL!!!! That is something I'm really NOT looking forward too.

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