Hi everyone! This is my first post, been lurking on this site for a while, and I must say, its awesome!
I just started ADN evening program last week, then classes were canceled for 3 days due to the huge winter storm...does anyone else wish they were here? :onbch:
So my question is this: I am taking a basic intro to nursing and an entry level anatomy and physiology (which I just took last semester, but they won't let me test out), and it all seems not so bad compared to some of the horror stories I've read on here, does anyone else feel the same way with their program?
I realize that Im not doing an accelerated program or full time, but the content so far is pretty easy...which I guess I should relish in and take advantage of this quarter, b/c it won't be like this next quarter!
At the same time however I try to keep things in perspective. I'm not working and don't have kids. We also haven't started clinicals yet and I know the frequent breaks and hour 1/2 lunch breaks we get where I do a lot of my studying are going to dissapear. And as the load increases I'll have to manage my time much better.
Some advice about clinicals: Do whatever is assigned for clinicals ON those days. Drug cards and care plans for your patient(s), you should have two assigned (or at least we do). I don't do anything but review each subject for 10 minutes on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday since those are clinical days. Since you don't work and have kids, you can use Saturday & Sunday to dig deep into the subjects, and on class days, pay close attention and reserve at least two hours per subject study time on class days.
I really think it is different for everyone. I have had classes that were easy for me and others failed and some classes that I had to really apply my self too...
Hmm...things that were harder for me than my current nursing school:
1) Being married to my first husband :smiley_ab
2) Childbirth with no drugs...twice (not by choice...)
3) Having to sell my baby blue TBird to help pay bills
School is a major privilege for me. I'm fortunate to be where I am! I have my moments, but it is so much fun to be learning everything. I actually like taking tests and challenging myself. Every time I hear "this is going to be the hardest thing you've ever done" I laugh. I wish we could all be so lucky!
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
I just wanted to get out as quick as I could. I loved clinical but classroom stuff was usually boring. It has been a great profession for me however. I could not do anything else.
Hmm...things that were harder for me than my current nursing school:
1) Being married to my first husband :smiley_ab
2) Childbirth with no drugs...twice (not by choice...)
3) Having to sell my baby blue TBird to help pay bills
School is a major privilege for me. I'm fortunate to be where I am! I have my moments, but it is so much fun to be learning everything. I actually like taking tests and challenging myself. Every time I hear "this is going to be the hardest thing you've ever done" I laugh. I wish we could all be so lucky!
Things that were easier than nursing school for me....
1) being married to my first husband (and imagine the worst choice you've ever made in your life, times 2, and that would be him, a walking talking lying cheating neglectful bad choice, lol)
2) childbirth twice with no drugs and (by choice!)
3) selling my first thing I ever owned that mattered to me...my house....only to see the proceeds ate up after getting scammed on a "lease" home
But yeah. :)
As far as school goes though I think it really depends on your teacher. I have 2 teachers that split the courseload. Neither of them really knows how to teach and the only thing that makes or breaks you is if they're "in a good mood". One of them has gotten a second job and suddenly not only doesn't care to teach, but doesn't pre-read her test questions to make sure they make sense, read the chapters before teaching them to us, let us even see our tests after we take them until the day before our final (I found 3 errors in just 1 quiz where the book said one thing and the quiz marked it wrong based on what the book said elsewhere). She was great in Fundamentals and I got a 93% for the class (would have been an A but I did not study for one of our NLN tests because it wasnt supposed to count for anything and then suddenly on the day we took it we were told it would add points to our final exam grade based on how well we did for it). This semester, I'm going in to take my final this morning and I don't even know if I'll be here still next quarter.
Count your blessings. Appreciate your teachers that are actually teaching you because not everyone has that luxury. I hope your teachers have better stamina than ours do as far as wanting to teach you. Ours were fantastic first semester and suddenly seem to be ready to quit and find new jobs, and we are all feeling very much left out to dry.
I have a lot more horror stories (a LOT) but I need to go get ready to go to school this morning and take my test. Wish me luck.
I just graduated from nursing school and it had its up and downs. The first few semesters were pretty basic but the last one with 12 straight weeks of clinicals stunk.. a & p was okay but the terms and pharm you will need to look over and prepare.
ZanatuBelmont
278 Posts
Some advice about clinicals: Do whatever is assigned for clinicals ON those days. Drug cards and care plans for your patient(s), you should have two assigned (or at least we do). I don't do anything but review each subject for 10 minutes on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday since those are clinical days. Since you don't work and have kids, you can use Saturday & Sunday to dig deep into the subjects, and on class days, pay close attention and reserve at least two hours per subject study time on class days.