First day of nursing school

lvnhopeful · Jul 11, 2007

I don't know if its true JaroPennies. I do know that for those that refuse they have a dummy to work on. When the time comes, I will post what they say. I am hoping that it is a joke also. There is no problem for me with the needles, or getting my blood pressure read, however. I will even let them stick me a few extra times if I don't have to do some of the other things.

The bed bath thing I am not very comfortable with either, but I will do it. Its just that I am a lot older than my classmates, (54), and uncomfortable with the idea. Maybe I can loosen up and accept some new experiences. :uhoh21:

Alternator81 · Jul 11, 2007

We used dummies for catheter insertion. I can't imagine doing it on each other! Talk about a close class!

I was thinking the same thing. I would have to decline.

shaan · Jul 11, 2007

Congrats on ur First day.

I am writing this for those of us that fret about the unknown.
Today was my first day of LVN nursing school. Our school has a rule that anyone even one second late does not get into the classroom, so a lot of us were very early. I was 40 minutes early and there were five other students ahead of me. A couple of students came in a little late, but I think they were docked.
The classroom was open so we came in and picked our seats. The woman next to me told me she hardly slept at all the night before, and that remark was reiterated by everyone close by. She said she had a dream that she was in a hospital with a disease that no one knew about. She attributed it to a fear of failure to become a nurse.
At the proper time we were introduced to our five teachers and their subjects. Then the head teacher passed out paperwork for us to fill out, (I have never filled out so much paperwork as for LVN school). Then the student handbook was passed out and the whole class (60 of us) took turns reading about the rules, regulations and school Mission Statement. It was made clear to us that the school set high standards and expected nothing but the best from its students.
We were then informed that we would be giving each other bed baths, NG tubes, and foley catheters, in addition to shots. I know I will not be involved in having a foley or a NG tube, but the rest I can live with. If students don't want to commit to a certain proceedure, its not mandatory, however, the students that volunteer for those activities will be the first to do them in clinicals.
The syllabus was not available so we were given our first assignments by our respective teachers. This program is seven hours a day, five days a week. We were told that for every hour of class time we were to have three hours of homework. That equals a 28 hour day not counting everything else besides school. They say we will have time to catch up on weekends. I guess that means I won't be posting as often as I have been lately, lol.
Uniforms were passed out, but we won't be using them for the first eight weeks. Thats when we start our clinical rotations. We were told that we would be working some evenings and some weekends. Oh well, I don't have a life anyway:o
I hope this helps some of you who are wondering what the first day is like. It must vary from school to school. Tonight I will try to catch up on the sleep I didn't get last night because I was sooo nervous about the first day of school. Well, at least I will try to catch up after I do some homework.
Good luck to you all.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2007

Allow me to point out something to all of you about clinical procedures as well as your general performance in nursing school that you probably didn't consider. I always tell nursing students that as well as studying and learning you also need to treat nursing school as if it were a job. The reason is this. Your instructors are going to be watching, observing and forming an opinion about you every day. When you go out into the world after you graduate and get your licenses, the only people that have any kind of knowledge of what your performance is likely to be like as nurses is going to be all those clinical instructors who were watching and observing you during your time in school. And, most employers know this and depend upon their opinion. Most potential employers will want at least one reference from a school instructor. In today's world, many school's, like most businesses, compile the evaluations made about each of you by the instructors into one document that they will release to prospective employers. Some of the things employers are looking for in an employee don't exactly coincide with what you think a good nurse should be at this point in your new career. While you might be interested in just learning the basic mechanics of being a nurse, an employer might be more interested in things like:

Initiative - Autonomy
Dynamism - Energy
Positive attitude
Responsibility
Orientation to the client and co-workers (ability to provide customer service)
Learning capacity
Productivity
Adaptability - Flexibility
Leadership
Team work
Tolerance to pressure
Analytic ability
Professional development
Attendance

So, think about how putting up an argument about demonstrating a clinical procedure is going to look to someone who holds the power and authority to make a decision about your actions. Will they judge you to be flexible? Eager to learn? A joy to get along with? Have a positive attitude? Or, be belligerent? Constantly wanting to break rules? Disruptive?

When it comes to performing procedures on each other keep in mind that nursing programs have been doing this for years. You have to ask yourself if they are causing you some kind of permanent physical harm. I've heard students put up tantrums about having to pair up and do bed baths on each other. There've been several threads on this. Patients get bed baths all the time and as I've been a nurse for 32 years I've never heard a patient put up a bigger fight NOT to get a bath than some students have. What better way to learn what a patient experiences so you can do a better job of it? (And, by the way, we only did arms, legs and trunk--no private parts) And, when we gave our IM injections to each other, an instructor was by our side the entire time and we were never left alone. We were given the choice to submit to the insertion of an NG tube, again with an instructor present. The insertion of a foley catheter is too invasive a procedure and carries the danger of the introduction of bacteria into a sterile area and causing a bladder infection and is not likely to be done except on a manikin. When we taught student doctors how to insert IVs they were climbing all over themselves volunteering to insert IVs into each other for the practice and experience. They got an "A" for the effort, but I have to say that like all new learners they were really bad at it for their first times.

I would keep in mind that your instructor is listening and paying attention to what you are saying and beginning to form an opinion about you when you are voicing your thoughts about not wanting to do some of these things. You never know who is repeating what you. Remember that you volunteered to be there to learn. What a shame to spend so much energy to get oneself through the process of getting into nursing school only to sabotage one's own success by displaying unacceptable behavior.

lvnhopeful · Jul 12, 2007

Third day out and its just about exactly the way Daytonite explained. Tomorrow we do bed baths and the instructors are having us wear shorts and loose tops. I want the learning experience, but I am glad to not have to expose all there is of me, lol. Not a pretty picture!

Today we learned about vital signs and inflicted our blood pressure cuffs on each other. My arms are still sore, but I am thrilled to know how to do this step correctly. I came home and cuffed my husband immediately. Later on I will do it again. He will eventually get tired and protest, but I will get in as much practice as possible.

The homework is really building up after three days. The only way to catch up is work all weekend. Of course I have a friend that I haven't seen in five years that just came into town and insists on seeing me, so I told her she had two hours of my time. My pregnant youngest daughter is calling nightly asking for medical advice and I have gotten more phone calls than ever. Just as we were told when we started the class. Shouldn't be on this forum but, oh well, this is the time I need for me.

Yesterday a cell phone went off in class and the student had to leave until break time. I sweated that one because I had forgotten to turn mine off. We were tested today on vital signs and will be tested tomorrow on how we conduct our bedbaths. In the interrim we have about four chapters of nursing fundamentals and a couple in anatomy and physiology to read to get ready for some tests next week.

CNA's in the class were given the option of whether or not to get credit for vital signs and bedbaths. They could leave (after they were tested) and have that day off. Of course, if they failed any procedure, they would be put on probation. No one took the offer.....:uhoh21:

JarOfPennies · Jul 12, 2007

lvnhopeful, thanks for the update. This is a great idea for a thread. I hope you will give us more updates as you go through the program. I'm sure you'll do GREAT and I'd enjoy hearing more of your experiences.

Good luck and congratulations..... even on the soon-to-be grandbaby!

lvnhopeful · Jul 13, 2007

Fourth day and I am looking forward to the weekend!

Today we did bed baths. No, we weren't naked, they were kind enough to let us wear shorts and tops. We also brushed dentures, shaved balloons, put antiembolism stockings on and then off, made beds that were unoccupied and then occupied, and worked on homework for next week.

Tomorrow will be more of the same and working on papers that are due. We also had to turn in papers on the above tasks that spelled out exactly how we went through each procedure. In between we work on medical terminology.

A lot of the students were like me, hardly sleeping at night. Guess we are all worried about being good enough.

We keep up with our journals daily. We are supposed to write about what we have learned during the day.

Going to bed now, good:sleep:night.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Jul 13, 2007

Are you serious? Some opf you are actually giving bed baths, inserting NG tubes, and putting in foleys on your classmates?

That is a violation of all that is decent if you asked me.

I'm shocked!

EleniRN · Jul 13, 2007

I agree with everyone.. I go for my orientation tomorrow and begin classes on the 20th of August.. I am nervous and scared...

Help

Helen

lvnhopeful · Jul 13, 2007

We were all scared our first day. And the second and third and on.

On the first day the teacher had everyone in the class say who they are and what experience they had in medical areas. To say the least it was daunting. It went from no experience on up to people who had worked as CNA's, or in hospitals in some capacity, some for several years.

However, our teachers have been clever enough to wear us down a little and get us to working with each other, by choice or order. We have to sit with new people each day. It is really quite enlightening, and contributes to acceptance of people we would normally not "hang" with.

Also, everything we have done (so far), has been under the careful guidance of a teacher who has coached us through everything. I now realize that I don't have to stress a lot about the next skills lab (where we give bed baths, vital signs, etc.), because there is a teacher there who will help if we hesitate or get stuck. My experience is they let you repeat assignments if they are botched. The level of education is the leveler of the playing field, so to speak. I, who have little experience, have knowledge in areas that others don't. It works out.:monkeydance:

If you don't have the answer be sure to ask. The only stupid thing you can do is sit there and say nothing thinking you will try to figure it out later. It is also a good idea to read a chapter that you will be lectured on (theory, they call it) before the lecture. If you are like me I write really slow and miss stuff. Its easier when you know basically what is being discussed.

Today we were asigned to groups of six, given a topic (ours was how to move a patient from a bed to a chair), and on Monday we will get together and each group will present a learning module to the rest of the students. There are 60 students=10 modules. We will be tested by each group of students and if we do well we don't have to repeat the training. Its kind of fun, and helps us develop our teaching skills.

Our journals will be turned in for the first time, and there are a few tests, one on anatomy and physiology, one on nursing fundementals, and something else.

There is a lot of work to do, but if you keep at it you should be okay. Don't let anyone guilt you into spending studying time with them..... You will regret it if you do....... :nono:

caosper · Jul 13, 2007

wonderful description of your first day. i'm book marking this thread to post it when other students ask, "what is the first day like?" you did a wonderful job of explaining it!
good luck as you make your way through the program.
by the way, in my nursing program 34 years ago we also had to give each other bed baths and our first im injection. looking back, i really do think a good deal of it was to get the anxiety out of our systems as well as for the instructors to give us criticism in a safe environment. my thumb never shook so bad as it did the day i gave that first shot. and, i couldn't stop it! now, pfft, it's like throwing a dart--no big deal and my thumb has never shaken like that again (and i went on to do a lot of iv starting).

thank you so much for the fabulous flow sheets. i am starting my last semester of the adn program and am trying to center my thinking for my approach -- these are wonderful for that! (although at my school, the instructors continually re-invent the wheel and we'll be up all night before clinicals doing care plans, instead of something useful like this!)

lvnhopeful · Jul 18, 2007

This is the second week of school and we are hitting the books hard. Today we had two tests on Nursing Fundamentals and a quiz, and lectures. Tomorrow we have a test and lectures and skills lab.

The reading is piling up and everyone is a little braindead. It is great getting the first tests under our belts and knowing whats ahead. Tests were done in the NCLEX style, and needed to be scrutinized closely. Our teachers are very supportive and the only downside really is the talkers that arrive before class.

One woman missed her test (which can't be made up) because she was late from break. She had to wait outside and has to make up the hour of class she missed.

People who didn't know each other at the beginning of last week are really starting to work together well.

Though I was scared my first week, hated the staff for deciding that I could be a nursing student because I thought I was floundering, today is a different day and I am very happy I made this choice. On talking to others I found out that they felt the same way.