ANY AUM STUDENTS or Graduates out there????

outkastinme · Feb 24, 2005

I'm a current AUM student :) I enter Upper Division this coming up Fall.

AUMnurse2b · Feb 25, 2005

I'm a current AUM student :) I enter Upper Division this coming up Fall.

I am also a Jr. in Upper Division at AUM; hope to make it thru this semester. Isn't it hard?

outkastinme · Feb 25, 2005

I am also a Jr. in Upper Division at AUM; hope to make it thru this semester. Isn't it hard?

I've been told it's hard. Guess I'll find out in the fall. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.

AUMnurse2b · Feb 26, 2005

I've been told it's hard. Guess I'll find out in the fall. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.

I felt just as you do now, one year ago!

The first semester is stressful and busy, but not hard. This semester is proving to be less stressful but hard. We have Pharmacology, Nursing Research (busy work class), Geriatrics and Pediatrics this semester. I have been placed in a group of 8 and we will be finished with our peds and geriatrics clinicals by next week. We are all going to have to play catch up because they have kept us busy with paperwork.

Yes, I won't lie....Upper Division is not a piece of cake. We lost 10 folks the first semester and about 3 this semester. Some dropped because it wasn't what they thought it would be. Some failed. One got kicked out this semester and the others have dropped, but our group is still the largest to stay together thus far.

It is hard work; you have to keep up with your reading; sometimes 10 chapters per week for each subject (primarily this semester). There are projects you have to do as well. The first thing to do when you get accepted (and frame that piece of paper), buy a 12 month calendar (get a book) with spaces to write down your due dates for papers and tests. When you get your syllabus for each class -- write down due dates then. The most important thing is Time Management. Know how to work with PowerPoint -- important! And when it is time for check-offs on your skills you learn -- love it, sleep it, breathe it -- you will use them your entire career. Know your systems (respiratory, etc.) because you will have to know how to assess a person on each system -- not only in Assessment class but in your clinicals as you begin your day on your patients as well. And learn to love the mannequins in the beds in the NRC (in fact, if you haven't walked in over there at the school, feel free to do so). We have 10 beds set up like a hospital, on the 2nd floor, that has mannequins -- you will have to talk to them for check-offs and perform your skills, etc., sterile wound care, foley caths and IVs on them. You practice you injections on Nerf footballs and it feels the same giving it to a person (maybe easier). And some of us juniors contributed money for a birthing mannequin, so maybe they will be there for you guys to use next year.

You will see things in clinicals that will touch your heart, make you angry and challenge you. Don't be afraid of the patients -- they appreciate us student nurses! We give them so much attention!

There will be times you ask yourself -- what was I thinking enrolling in this program? Hey, we all have, but we have all stumbled onto something to keep us going -- concern for our patients. Always remember -- DO NO HARM and we are PATIENT ADVOCATES! Whatever keeps you going or sent you in this direction -- God, a dying grandparent....keep a symbol of it "nailed" to your bookbag as inspiration. Mine is an amber cruxifix -- I wear it at all clinicals and checkoffs.

However, the seniors have told me that after this semester, it is all downhill. Summer is supposed to be easier with lots of time on your hands. And if you don't want to compete with the large crowd coming in Fall, you can choose part-time temporarily. You can take a few classes this summer; a few classes in Fall and then switch to full-time in Spring. We have had a few part-timers that have become full-timers this semester (and we had 1 or 2 full-timers switch to part-time; however, at the end of Winter semester, the switch is permanent -- you remain full-time or part-time.

Don't let me scare you! As our instructors say -- it's doable! Again -- look forward to you joining us next year! And introduce yourself to the seniors -- don't be shy -- we have walked in your shoes -- we will answer any questions you may have! Good luck in your studies! (And sorry to make this so long -- wish I had been able to speak with a Junior last year!)

outkastinme · Feb 26, 2005

Don't worry about it being "too long" it can't be long enough :) That's the kind of thing I want and need to hear about. Thank you so much for that! The more you can tell me on what to expect, the better it is for me!

AUMnurse2b · Feb 26, 2005

Just keep my name here if you need any questions answered. If Shannon can't answer the question, I will try to do my best!

NurseforPreggers · Apr 22, 2005

AUM 2004 graduate - working in L&D at BMCE