csn RN program

DesertRain · Aug 25, 2007

Hi KizzyKat!

I am a first semester ADN student at CSN and I start on Monday, my first class is a lab. I am super excited but I feel so lost! I can't even get a straight answer as to what to wear on the first day! I also cannot believe how many books I had to buy and how I just bought a brand new rolling backpack that I thought was huge...but once I stick my binder and a couple text books in, it's already stuffed to the max! Good thing I don't have to take the bus or walk to school! Thank goodness I have a gigantic trunk on my car! I am nervous, terrified and really anxious to start.

Do you have any words of advice for someone like me just starting out? What items do you suggest I should buy, like what do you think a CSN nursing student cannot live without out? How did you stay organized?

Thanks for your post, it makes me realize just how worth it really is, especially when a new grad is concerned about us newbies....awesome!

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 25, 2007

i am soo happy for you !!! you are on your way to being a RN !!! the most valuable advice i can give you.. is get a study group... 5 or 6 people... i know you get lots of books and tons of papers in class and things you have to download.i just got alot of those folders with pockets. they give you so many papers it's very hard to keep track... at times i used those 5 subject notebooks by the tons. also get highlighters and index cards. i am so happy for you !! believe me you won't get much sleep the whole program but it is worth it. they are tried and true for boards.everything they teach you is to pass boards. from content to testing. keep me updated on how you are doing. i would just wear regular clothes the first day of labs and they will instruct you on the rest.

RegNurstobe2008 · Aug 25, 2007

hi,

1) Read your syllabus.

2) for lab and classes you dont have to wear uniform.

3) for clinical you need white uniform

4) Before clinical you will have 3 weeks in college lab they call it ACE (Alternative clinical Experience), on the last day of ACE clinical instructor will check everyone's uniforms.So here you are ready to enter the real world :lol2: means hospitals.

5) I bought lots of black pens and pocket notebooks for clinicals.

6) Take your tests very carefully.

7)The most important thing is stay calm, and work hard.

8) start study week before any test.

8) Read all the material once before class if you can, i didnt get time for this in last semester.

9) Make a schedule for clinical work and class. do not spend whole week for clinical work.

I saw few students in my class, they were really good with clinical work but failed coz they never got time to study for class tests.

These are just suggestions if i said something wrong I am sorry. I am so happy for you. We lost lots of students in the last semester aproximately 40 students.I am not trying to scare you just take extra precaution for everything.

Best of luck.:balloons:

Hi KizzyKat!
I am a first semester ADN student at CSN and I start on Monday, my first class is a lab. I am super excited but I feel so lost! I can't even get a straight answer as to what to wear on the first day! I also cannot believe how many books I had to buy and how I just bought a brand new rolling backpack that I thought was huge...but once I stick my binder and a couple text books in, it's already stuffed to the max! Good thing I don't have to take the bus or walk to school! Thank goodness I have a gigantic trunk on my car! I am nervous, terrified and really anxious to start.
Do you have any words of advice for someone like me just starting out? What items do you suggest I should buy, like what do you think a CSN nursing student cannot live without out? How did you stay organized?
Thanks for your post, it makes me realize just how worth it really is, especially when a new grad is concerned about us newbies....awesome!

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Aug 25, 2007

I'm in my LAST semester!!! Can't wait to get this done! Little worried about this first 8 weeks though. Lots to do, lots of tests, lots of homework. Where are you working at? I'm in the process of finding a position, so that I don't have to stress so much later. We're moving out of state the month I graduate.

Thanks for checking in on us!

DesertRain · Aug 26, 2007

i am soo happy for you !!! you are on your way to being a RN !!! the most valuable advice i can give you.. is get a study group... 5 or 6 people... i know you get lots of books and tons of papers in class and things you have to download.i just got alot of those folders with pockets. they give you so many papers it's very hard to keep track... at times i used those 5 subject notebooks by the tons. also get highlighters and index cards. i am so happy for you !! believe me you won't get much sleep the whole program but it is worth it. they are tried and true for boards.everything they teach you is to pass boards. from content to testing. keep me updated on how you are doing. i would just wear regular clothes the first day of labs and they will instruct you on the rest.

Thanks so much KizzyKatlove! I totally bought a lot of those folder things...I will pick up some more as I go along, Wal-Mart is crazy these days with college, highschool, elementary school all starting on the same day this year! They didn't have my name tag in yet, I think they forgot to order it but my advisor said not to wear jeans? I only own heavy "dress" pants which won't be comfy enough to wear until probably November so do you think it would look bad if I wore jeans?

hi,
1) Read your syllabus.
2) for lab and classes you dont have to wear uniform.
3) for clinical you need white uniform
4) Before clinical you will have 3 weeks in college lab they call it ACE (Alternative clinical Experience), on the last day of ACE clinical instructor will check everyone's uniforms.So here you are ready to enter the real world means hospitals.
5) I bought lots of black pens and pocket notebooks for clinicals.
6) Take your tests very carefully.
7)The most important thing is stay calm, and work hard.
8) start study week before any test.
8) Read all the material once before class if you can, i didnt get time for this in last semester.
9) Make a schedule for clinical work and class. do not spend whole week for clinical work.
I saw few students in my class, they were really good with clinical work but failed coz they never got time to study for class tests.
These are just suggestions if i said something wrong I am sorry. I am so happy for you. We lost lots of students in the last semester aproximately 40 students.I am not trying to scare you just take extra precaution for everything.
Best of luck.

These are awesome pieces of advice ! Thank you so much RegNur2008! Especially answers 1-4, those were the answers I was trying to get out of my advisor with no luck! And please don't apologize for anything you said "wrong" all your advice is soooooo appreciated and you totally gave me a heads up!

I'm in my LAST semester!!! Can't wait to get this done!

Good luck Woogy, I can't wait to be in your position in a few years! And thanks for your support from the beginning of this for me!

You guys make me so happy that I have chosen this journey with CSN in particular (still getting used to that name change....LOL) I can't tell you how much I appreciate your comments! Thank You!

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 26, 2007

well it's the first lab,,, but the instructor told you no jeans? ugh... i don't want to get you in trouble.. but if thats all you have.. i bet others will be wearing jeans.. see i started in the second semester i was a LPN and they didn't care what we wore to lab...showing up is the main hurdle... i don't know how picky those first semester instructors are,,,

DesertRain · Aug 26, 2007

I think I might just go ahead and wear some jeans...I can't think of any other option besides wearing a dress/skirt and I looked over the lab schedule and we are going over occupied beds (I'm sure some of us will have to be in it) and I would rather come clean in jeans than a sweat suit!

Okay, another huge question? Does anyone know what texts I have to bring to the first lab? Do they usually open the 101 text on the first day or can I do without that?

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 27, 2007

tell me all about your classes and teachers desert... and woogy tell me how your last ( yipeeee) last semester is... i am so happy for you both.... where are your clinicals woogy?

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2007

I'll be at MountainView. I have clinicals Friday/Saturday, which is weird, but at least I don't have clinical in the morning tomorrow! I kinda like having Mon/Tues off to study for 211 classes/labs, then do clinicals afterwards with 3 days off before going back to lecture.

Kinda nervous.

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2007

I think I might just go ahead and wear some jeans...I can't think of any other option besides wearing a dress/skirt and I looked over the lab schedule and we are going over occupied beds (I'm sure some of us will have to be in it) and I would rather come clean in jeans than a sweat suit!
Okay, another huge question? Does anyone know what texts I have to bring to the first lab? Do they usually open the 101 text on the first day or can I do without that?

You HAVE to come to lab completely prepared. They don't "teach" in lab, you practice your skills. Make sure you bring your lab syllabus, which also will tell you what pages you have to read to do the skills for that day. Bring all books they had you read from. You will need them to refer to while you are practicing. At the end of the lab, you will get signed off on that skill (no books allowed to guide you). You will also do handwashing. They put this neon soap stuff on your hands. You then go wash them and return the teacher for the black light inspection. It is soooo hard to get that stuff off. Scrub, scrub, scrub!! Especially under your nails and on top of your hands!

You will have fun!

I have never heard of No Jeans!!! What a joke! I wore shorts a lot. I don't know why they said that. Maybe if it is just for the first clinical, it may be because it will be hard for some people to get in and out of the bed. Although I don't remember if we had to be in the beds. They have very expensive manequins that do that job.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 27, 2007

I'll be at MountainView. I have clinicals Friday/Saturday, which is weird, but at least I don't have clinical in the morning tomorrow! I kinda like having Mon/Tues off to study for 211 classes/labs, then do clinicals afterwards with 3 days off before going back to lecture.
Kinda nervous.

you'll be fine.. i did mtview for my ob and loved it. the nurses are nice and helpful. what days do you have labs and lecture for 211? do you have darlene or renee teaching you? i loved 211 it was fast paced and interesting.they are awesome co teachers. i am soo happy for you... 8 more weeks than clear sailing all the way.:balloons: