This disorganization is making me very anxious!!

[Bojamashell]

So, I should just be excited right about now. I mean, I've gotten my immunizations, background check, drug screening, CPR certification, everything that I, as a student, am responsible for. Our class orientation is on Thursday and our program orientation is next Tuesday. I receive a pell grant. Financial aid is a must for me to complete my plan of becoming a registered nurse. For those that don't know, the way financial aid works at my school is that you enroll in your courses and based on the number of hours, financial aid will reward you a percentage of what you are allowed (i.e., If I have 6 credit hours, I get half the amount; 9 credits I'd get 75% of the amount). Once the money is awarded and you are enrolled, the school takes out tuition costs and puts the remaining on your account in the bookstore.

That was supposed to happen today. I called and have no money there. Turns out, because enrolling in the nursing classes must be approved by the director, only the program director can enroll me in my classes. Therefore, my account shows I'm only enrolled in one class so far so I cannot get the required things I need for orientation Thursday. I called and talked with them at the school and they seem unorganized and just wanted to get me off of the phone. First they sent out the wrong textbook list with the acceptance letters. Then they don't match up with what the book store lists and turns out we are supposed to combine them. I've tried to be patient this summer as I see many people on here talking about their orientations being during the summer. Our classes start August 20th and our orientations are not much earlier than that, which already made me nervous. But now how am I supposed to get the required equipment and books I need for orientation Thursday if they haven't even enrolled me yet?

I like to plan ahead. I'm the type of student that makes note cards for everything and sits down with the syllabus at the beginning of class to mark down due dates for the entire semester on two different calendars (one wall and one planner I carry with me). So for me to have to wait until the last minute like this, with the possibility that I may not have the required things when I need them is adding stress before the semester even begins. Anyone else have this kind of disorganized mess at the start of your program? I'm hoping it's temporary, but I must say the lack of consideration and organization for the new students entering the program does not give me much hope to how it's going to be once it has officially started. And don't get me wrong, it's a good school. High-ranking academically and highly recommended by medical personnel and graduates. So maybe this is temporary and there are things going on behind the scenes that are making it difficult for them to start this year efficiently. But man am I starting to STRESS already!!

[veggie530]

From my experience thus far, financial aid and nursing tends to be something that gets messed up in all regards. Some institutions are great, some are terrible. Good luck to you and try to chill, as hard as that is.

[Bojamashell]

Haha. Thanks. A friend just reminded me that I have to learn to adapt as I'll hear PLENTY of times in nursing school (she's entering her senior year at a different school). I guess I just need to stop trying to control it and just accept that it will work out. I've done all I can at this point.

[BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Ours is the same when it comes to them registering us. I know there's no chance of losing my seat due to registering late but I am the same way about wanting things done and having to wait drives me insane. Of course financial aid is always tied to that and is continuously late because of that. Just try to take it in stride and know you're not alone! :)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I believe the colleges do students a real disservice by hiring minimally trained personnel for financial aid. If this is a process they go thru every few months then there ought to be a procedure to follow so that the student can be serviced. After all, it is how the school gets tuition money. That said, I will add that stress is a by-product of nursing school. Hope yours gets to a reasonable level soon!

[ProudStudent]

I have had horrible experiences in financial aid, however it always works out in the end. I have the same issues, as far as not being able to get all ends to meet and feel accomplished. The nursing department at the school I attend, stays pretty in tune to what is happening in the bookstore and with financial aid. Although, my classes start in two weeks... we had orientations back in April. We actually had months to prepare and take care of paperwork and such. I can't imagine the stress, but as a nursing student -you'll handle it just fine

[inacopina]

Yeah our school was very disorganized starting from block 1 orientation alllllll the way through block 4. From the FA office, to the homework schedules/calendars, to the clinical groups... My school was also a top ranking school and the first thing they taught us day one was "the f word" .... Flexibility! They said being a nurse is all about having to be flexible. Schedules, aren't always going to go your way. you're not always going to have the tools/supplies you need. Patients aren't always going to react how you want. So when something went 'wrong' or took an unexpected turn they would say "remember the f word!" (of course I was always wanting to think of a different f word) you get kind of used to it. I'm severely OCD about my schedule and what not too. I would always have a couple calendars and very organized binders. I still do as a nurse. I just know to write it in pencil now, not pen. also, all the changes and shinanigans, kick start your ability to critical think! Which is key in nursing.

[Bojamashell]

I borrowed about fifty bucks from my mom so I could get the required homework packet for orientation today. I saw that packet and thought "Oh my! What have I gotten myself into?" Just the homework packet for the one class is thicker than my text book, so I'm a little more anxious for orientation today. Still haven't enrolled me so I can't get my books after orientation, but I hope to have some questions answered and at least put my mind at ease a little bit with orientation today.

I have 3 kids (one epileptic, one ADHD) and I've been working full time and going to school for years now, so I think I'm used to the stress. It's just something to deal with. 2 years from now and I'll look back and write RN at the end of my name with pride that I got through it and am trained and equipped to finally help people!

[BelleNscrubs04]

Although my program's a good one, it always seems a disorganized too. It drives me crazy! Last minute assignments thrown up on blackboard, classes at times not listed as class time announced a couple of days ahead of time. Like the other posters have said my program claims that it prepares us to be more flexible for the unpredictability of nursing. I think that's just a cop out. Then again it does often seem that they do things purposely to ramp up the pressure and stress. I'm sure their intentions are good. I just try to deep breathe and keep my eye on the prize. Make sure you have several backup childcare sources just in case.

[Tonks57]

I agree with everyone else... Being flexible for the craziness sucks, but it is necessary. I understand the anxiety you are feeling... my program is pretty behind on everything right now and we start in 2 weeks! We do not even have our scrubs yet, all of our books are backordered and we are supposed to read several chapters before day 1, financial aid is a nightmare as usual and they keep changing our schedules even though it was "final" 2 weeks ago! So annoying when things like that are out of our control.

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

Haha. Thanks. A friend just reminded me that I have to learn to adapt as I'll hear PLENTY of times in nursing school (she's entering her senior year at a different school). I guess I just need to stop trying to control it and just accept that it will work out. I've done all I can at this point.

Yes I try to remind myself that but it still frustrates me and Im a senior Its annoying because they expect so much out of us without any give so I figure they should at least be able to give close to the same but no.