First Day of Nursing School

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I wanted to start this thread again. I've seen so many posts about first days and have lived vicariously through those posts. Now, with that first day steadily approaching, I'd like to start my own thread. I start school on the 21st of August, and I thought that I'd go ahead and start a thread so that it will be good and ready for that first day post. As of now, I have pretty much everything done except I have to have my second PPD read on Monday. I welcome comments from everyone. After all, we are all in this together!

I have heard quite a few people say that they practice a lot on each other at home. I guess as long as you're not at school, they can't be held liable.

Keep in mind, taking needles (of any kind) out of the hospital is against school & hospital policies. It can get students, instructors, and entire programs in a WORLD of trouble. Don't jump the gun. You have a ton to learn and time will fly.

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Oh I wasn't suggesting taking them from anywhere. They are sold at most drug stores (from what I've read on here).

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Oh I wasn't suggesting taking them from anywhere. They are sold at most drug stores (from what I've read on here).

The only needles in drug stores are for things like insulin, for which you need an Rx. They do not sell IV catheters in stores. Patients cannot even be discharged with a peripheral IV. This is stuff that you will learn in time. Nursing is exciting and I know you want to jump right in.... We all did. However, you cannot wish for short 5 hour clinical days and expect to start IVs at the same time. I would recommend not approaching your professors or clinical instructors about either one of these issues. It is best to go in with the "do as I'm told" attitude at first.

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Specializes in CVICU.
The only needles in drug stores are for things like insulin, for which you need an Rx. They do not sell IV catheters in stores. Patients cannot even be discharged with a peripheral IV. This is stuff that you will learn in time. Nursing is exciting and I know you want to jump right in.... We all did. However, you cannot wish for short 5 hour clinical days and expect to start IVs at the same time. I would recommend not approaching your professors or clinical instructors about either one of these issues. It is best to go in with the "do as I'm told" attitude at first.

I second this. Anyway, even if you do not do many in clinicals, you would definitely get your practice in on the job. Nursing encompasses so many skills that it would be impossible to practice them until you were perfectly comfortable with them while in school.

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My first day of orientation is Aug. 12. Class begins the following week. This week I am starting my first cna job. I am a little nervous because of the heavy lifting, but hopefully I will catch on to all of my tasks. I am excited for school to start because this will be a big career change for me.

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I start school on August 26th :) The only things I have left to do (and due by August 5th) are my BLS class, and my PPD test. I'm getting the first part of the PPD test tomorrow and my BLS class is on the 30th. We wont know what the schedule is going to be like until the first day of class, which is nuts!

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I have to get a Hepatitis B blood exam and get a second PPD. Cant wait to start!!!!

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I start school on August 26th :) The only things I have left to do (and due by August 5th) are my BLS class, and my PPD test. I'm getting the first part of the PPD test tomorrow and my BLS class is on the 30th. We wont know what the schedule is going to be like until the first day of class, which is nuts!

I start the 26th too! :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Women's Health, Primary Care.

I am in an ABSN program for the Fall term, we have orientation on September 24 and begin classes September 30!

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It has been neat to reflect on everyone's eagerness to start nursing school. I started (second degree program) the beginning of June and though it is stressful to manage your time, the material has been manageable as long as you go to class, pay attention, and test yourself on the concepts rather than just passively reading.

Most important tips I can offer:

1) Get your life in order! Make a checklist of bills to be paid, hang it on your fridge, and designate a day to pay them, so you dont accidentally forget (very easy to do when you're juggling studying, class, clinicals, etc.)

2) Catch up on sleep! Especially if you are not a morning person. And it is helpful to take frequent naps after lecutre because it actually helps your brain consolidate the information!

3) Vacuum your car (if you have one), get every bit of laundry done, and clean your residence from top to bottom. It is very difficult to manage a clean house once classes start, everytime you do the dishes or sweep you'll wonder if the time wouldn't better be spent studying. I try to designate one day a week to run errands and do chores.

4)It is good to schedule a little "me" time, whether that entails getting a Groupon for a massage, getting a glass of wine at happy hour after a long study session, taking a long hot shower, napping, cuddling with your kids/significant other/animal companion etc.

5) You can never have too many highlighters (if you're a paper/textbook person). I say this as a person that formerly hated highlighters and thought they were silly. You will be thrown a lot of information and it is really helpful to highlight the stuff that either doesn;t make sense and needs to be reviewed, or the really key information that teachers say will be on the test and NCLEX.

6) Most of all, try to relax! It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the material, or to get freaked out reading about the less positive aspects of nursing on All Nurses. Thousands of people in your place have succeeded, and you will too, if you remember how hard you worked to get into nursing school in the first place.

Nursing school, though overwhelming, has been a lot of fun so far :) I wish everyone on this thread the best of luck!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I begin my BSN program on August 28. :D My school is also using Certified Background ("Profile"), but thankfully it was very easy to navigate and everything was approved within a day or two. :up: My clinical does not start until at least October, but my schedule is M-Th, with Friday off. I also have an online class that will probably take up a lot of extra time away from the classroom/simulation lab.

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It has been neat to reflect on everyone's eagerness to start nursing school. I started (second degree program) the beginning of June and though it is stressful to manage your time, the material has been manageable as long as you go to class, pay attention, and test yourself on the concepts rather than just passively reading.

Most important tips I can offer:

1) Get your life in order! Make a checklist of bills to be paid, hang it on your fridge, and designate a day to pay them, so you dont accidentally forget (very easy to do when you're juggling studying, class, clinicals, etc.)

2) Catch up on sleep! Especially if you are not a morning person. And it is helpful to take frequent naps after lecutre because it actually helps your brain consolidate the information!

3) Vacuum your car (if you have one), get every bit of laundry done, and clean your residence from top to bottom. It is very difficult to manage a clean house once classes start, everytime you do the dishes or sweep you'll wonder if the time wouldn't better be spent studying. I try to designate one day a week to run errands and do chores.

4)It is good to schedule a little "me" time, whether that entails getting a Groupon for a massage, getting a glass of wine at happy hour after a long study session, taking a long hot shower, napping, cuddling with your kids/significant other/animal companion etc.

5) You can never have too many highlighters (if you're a paper/textbook person). I say this as a person that formerly hated highlighters and thought they were silly. You will be thrown a lot of information and it is really helpful to highlight the stuff that either doesn;t make sense and needs to be reviewed, or the really key information that teachers say will be on the test and NCLEX.

6) Most of all, try to relax! It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the material, or to get freaked out reading about the less positive aspects of nursing on All Nurses. Thousands of people in your place have succeeded, and you will too, if you remember how hard you worked to get into nursing school in the first place.

Nursing school, though overwhelming, has been a lot of fun so far :) I wish everyone on this thread the best of luck!

Thank you for your pointers and encouragement:)

Sent from my SCH-R830 using allnurses.com

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