A little encouragement for a new student

godsgift2 · Jun 27, 2007

HI I 2 WAS SUPPOSE TO START SCHOOL WITH MY BESTFRIEND AND I START SCHOOL MONDAY AND I WILL BE GOING BY MYSELF I AM SCARED CAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE SOMEONE THERE WITH ME BUT I TOLD MYSELF LONG TIME AGO I WOULD DO THIS WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE THERE WITH ME I HAVE A SON TO CARE FOR AS WELL AS MYSELF AND MY BILLS I CAME IN THIS WORLD BY MYSELF NOT WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND NOW THAT I AM STARTING SCHOOL MONDAY ALL MY FRIEND KEEPS SAYING IS HOW SHE WISH SHE WAS STARTING TOO AND I TOLD YOU COULD BE BUT YOU CHOSE NOT TOO SO ITS OKAY TO BE SCARED BUT JUST THINK AROUND THIS TIME NEXT YEAR HOW YOU WILL BE FEELING SO YOU WILL BE FINE I KNOW YOU WILL AND IF YOU EVER NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL ME @ [email protected] I'M ALL EARS

JoAnnS · Jun 27, 2007

hi all:

i had asked my friend to start with me, but she thought about it for a while and said she couldn't make the commitment.

but we have each other on this site!!!

i think this site is just great. i was nervous about school.... i guess still a little, but i have always wanted to be a nurse. i am finally getting my shot.

go thru all the thread's and read the topic's and answers. you will be surprised on how much information and advise is out there.

i already feel so much better.

i start school this sept 6. i have found an on-line site to study over the summer. i am not going to kill myself over the summer, as other's here have told me to take it easy. school will be a killer as it is.

i would love to hear about your first week of school since you both start before me.

i want to wish the both of you much success, strength, patience, & focus on your studies.

nurses are just the greatest!. i am sure you both will do fine.

read the thread and take some notes from them!

where you all from?

i live in upstate, ny

:balloons:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2007

I quit my well-paying factory job that I had held for three years in order to attend LVN school full time. I did it alone, with no support from any friends, classmates, family members, study buddies, or instructors. I'd hate to bring the gloomy news, but my experience in LVN school involved backstabbing classmates and instructors who had ulterior motives, so I figured it would be for the best if I stuck to myself. I completed the program almost two years ago, and my only regret is that I wish I would have done this sooner in life.

My point is that this can be accomplished without an external support system. It can be achieved alone, as long as you have an internally-focused locus of control. Good luck!

Kerplunk_187 · Jun 28, 2007

I know I probably seem like a big baby "waaaah I don't want to do it by myself - waaah". I guess I'm just awfully scared because even during my college years I had my childhood buddies with me along for the ride. I just feel so lost but also very excited about the program.

Is LPN school more independent study or does it require a lot of group work?

I'm from upstate NY too (central region)!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2007

Is LPN school more independent study or does it require a lot of group work?

I suppose all LPN programs are structured differently, but mine required plenty of independent study. It was a 12 month program, so a whole lot of information had to be crammed into a short time frame. The instructor would lecture, and these lectures often were not clear. Most students had to spend a lot of their independent time reading the chapters at home or retyping notes that were jotted down in class. Also, tests were given frequently.

emy912 · Jun 28, 2007

I just graduated from my LVN program on June 15th, after an 18 month program. I was also hoping that my friend had gotten accepted to the program at the same time, but looking back, I know that things happened for a reason. I got along with the majority of the people in the class and only a handful that I will continue to keep in touch with.

The most important thing to remember is that with hard work and perseverance, you can succeed in the program. At the beginning of the program I was in a study group, but I found that some of the people in my group weren't as serious as I was when it came to studying. In any case, I got a lot more out of studying on my own than with a group of people.

One of my teachers use to tell us that getting an education will make you think differently, you will stand straighter and no one can ever take it away from you. Believe in yourself and see yourself at your graduation, accepting your certificate. I did and now I'm studying for the NCLEX so wish me luck.

lvnhopeful · Jun 28, 2007

Hello Kerplunk, and good luck to you.

I am starting LVN school July 9th. It's a 12 month excellerated program located in California. At 54 years old I am scared that I will not be able to remember all the stuff they throw at students, but I am still going to give it my all.

Actually, I think my family is scared too. They are afraid I will never stop talking about school and how excited I am. Even if I fail I know I made the attempt and did my best.

I am very thankful for this site also. It has given me hope and lots of information that would have taken years to learn from coworkers and other students. Hang in there and we will all do it together.

After the first week I will let everyone know how its going and what you have to look forward to.

Good luck to us all! :lol2:

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 28, 2007

I quit my well-paying factory job that I had held for three years in order to attend LVN school full time. I did it alone, with no support from any friends, classmates, family members, study buddies, or instructors. I'd hate to bring the gloomy news, but my experience in LVN school involved backstabbing classmates and instructors who had ulterior motives, so I figured it would be for the best if I stuck to myself. I completed the program almost two years ago, and my only regret is that I wish I would have done this sooner in life.
My point is that this can be accomplished without an external support system. It can be achieved alone, as long as you have an internally-focused locus of control. Good luck!

I totally agree with you Commuter...I stuck it out alone, and that was the best decision I ever made. There was so much backstabbing and even horrible professors to deal with that I took the risk and stayed alone. I graduated top of the class, and never looked back (didn't even attend my own graduation because of the sheer annoyance I received from even glancing at my classmates).

This is not to say that if you find a positive support system that you shouldn't take advantage of it, but, I decided for myself that I was not taking those exams with help or taking the boards with a group of people, therefore, I just did it alone. I did gain support from outsiders. I had friends in RN programs that reached out to me, my sister in law who is a nursing administrator, and some people that even took the time to tutor me. Once people saw that I was a self starter, they usually reached out to me better.

OP, I suggest that if you find a group of people or one person to bond with, that is great, however, if you even anticipate that they will weigh you down, leave them to the side and don't feel even a trace of guilt. This is YOUR future. And, unfortunately, nursing is not a nurturing profession, either. You may find some to stick close to, but, you have to think for yourself a great deal of the time.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 28, 2007

I suppose all LPN programs are structured differently, but mine required plenty of independent study. It was a 12 month program, so a whole lot of information had to be crammed into a short time frame. The instructor would lecture, and these lectures often were not clear. Most students had to spend a lot of their independent time reading the chapters at home or retyping notes that were jotted down in class. Also, tests were given frequently.

I know I probably seem like a big baby "waaaah I don't want to do it by myself - waaah". I guess I'm just awfully scared because even during my college years I had my childhood buddies with me along for the ride. I just feel so lost but also very excited about the program.
Is LPN school more independent study or does it require a lot of group work?
I'm from upstate NY too (central region)!

Depends on the program. We had both, group work and independent study. The group work weighed me down. I used to look at the syllabus, see the focus on the group project and only speak to the group once to know who was doing what, and I would complete mine within the first week, and just tailor it until it was time to submit it. I used to also go to the professor to let her critique my submission because I wanted her to know it was from me. That was a good thing I did that, because one of my classmates tried to plagerize what I did, but because the professor knew I was contacting her often, she didn't do anything to me.

starbabyfive · Jun 28, 2007

i don't have any advice to offer op. however, i also am starting to get anxiety about starting my 11 month lpn program in 5 weeks. i haven't darkened the door of a classroom in 30 yrs. it's been so bad lately that i 've developed insomnia at night & have been sleeping all day. can't seem to get switched back around. to be honest some of the people who i thought would be part of my support are letting me down big time. so, i guess i can't relate somewhat to the op. let's face it fear is fear. we just have to grin & bear it, so to speak =).

emy912 · Jun 28, 2007

LVN Hopeful:

I'm 46 years old and when I went back to school I was afraid I wouldn't be able to compete with the younger student. I missed making salutatorian by 1 point and I received an award for Perfect attendance. The best thing of all is that I've completed my pre-requisite for the RN program so all I have to do is pass NCLEX, take a 1 unit transition LVN to RN class and apply for 3rd semester for the RN program at my school. I realize that older students seem to be more focused with their studies and are able to balance work, family and school a lot easier. Maybe it's because we've been doing it a lot longer. Good luck to you and enjoy your studies!