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 start my 1st semester of a 2 year ADN program on Aug 19th, as it seems many others do. Schedule = Mon Theory/Lecture 10am-12pm, Tues Lab/Skills 2pm-5pm, Wed Theory/Lecture 10am-12pm, and simulation Clinicals on campus for 5 weeks from 8am-2:30pm on Thurs & Fri. After we pass various skill checks, (I believe that is the criteria) we move to a LTC facility for 8 weeks for clinical and then to a local hospital for the last 3 weeks of the semester. (There are 60 students accepted to the program annually, approximately 40 to the day program and 20 to the evening program, so this is just one of the schedule options.) Students attend theory/lecture classes together but separate into different lab and clinical groups. There are times we will need to be on campus for other things, but this is the fixed schedule.

Our school provides a syllabus and course guide for these 3 different areas of study together as a custom book that we pay $60 for, and it just became available in our campus bookstore. I picked it up on this past Friday and it is a highly detailed and specific 216 page document. I've been reading it, combing through each section...it was overwhelming at first. But now that I've gone through it a couple times it feels less overwhelming and more like a roadmap for success. Everything is laid out, all of the assignments, all the expectations, the readings, the supplemental resources available for each area of study, the material covered in each week of class, lab and clinicals, tips and suggestions for conquering all of these areas of study, and more. Everything seems to be spelled out for us, and that is a tremendous relief. I've had a couple disorganized and inefficient teachers in my pre-reqs. It can be so frustrating to know you need to meet certain expectations to earn your grade but not have the tools given to you. Due dates, assignments, rubrics for projects or papers not given or continually changed around, waiting forever for tests to be graded or to get a response to an email. Ugh. This is a welcome sign of the quality of this program. I'm sure there will be more to learn as time goes by, but I'm excited to have clear direction as I begin nursing school! I've been gathering my supplies, scrubs, materials, books, etc. I need to get my house in order, I have 4 kids ranging in age from 14 years old to 15 months and a supportive but busy husband. Things are about to get interesting!

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Our first day of class is August 20th. Our first dosage calculations test is the 19th. Yes, our first test is the day before classes start.

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Our first day of class is August 20th. Our first dosage calculations test is the 19th. Yes, our first test is the day before classes start.

The first math tests are a piece of cake. I recommend dimensional analysis because that is what you will need for chemistry. Makes it a whole lot easier if you learn it now. I can do most of the nursing math in my head though.

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My program doesn't start until 9/23 but we have 18 chapters to read (13 out of the fundamentals textbook, 2 of pharmacology, and 2 in med-surg, 1 in nursing diagnostic) and 3 assignments, including a rough draft of a care plan, due the first day of class. I am feeling slightly overwhelmed right now! At least I am finding my textbooks fascinating :)

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I wish my instructors gave us our syllabus' early. We get ours on the first day of class. :sorry:

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Our school provides a syllabus as well...but I think it's about $200. I hope that for that price it is extremely detailed.

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Our school provides a syllabus as well...but I think it's about $200. I hope that for that price it is extremely detailed.

You have to PAY for your syllabus? What in the world type of school do you go to?

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We have to pay for our syllabus too. I think the price is around $60. I think this is a very common thing.

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I go to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

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Hey sealford! If you don't mind me asking where are you going to school? My first day is August 21 as well!

Never mind I see now. Good luck!

I start my program with an orientation on August 21st. I have my schedule and almost all of my vaccinations/background check/drug test turned in.

My books come in a package from the school for $680. On Amazon the total came to almost $800 so for the first time ever it is cheaper to get them from school.

I am having troubles finding white scrub pants that are not see thru. I hate the idea of my pants being see thru. If anybody has found any that are thicker please let me know!

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!! :)

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Specializes in CVICU.
Our school provides a syllabus as well...but I think it's about $200. I hope that for that price it is extremely detailed.

Wow, $200? I just got mine today and it was $20. It includes details on all the assignments, tests, and case studies to come. Clinicals information, skills lab information, communication lab information, etc. It also includes calendar pages of each month we have classes with the days labeled with the lectures that will be done, the skills that will be taught, if we have a test, etc day-by-day. It also includes a 'planner' in list-style format if you don't like the calendar.

Our syllabus is over 100 pages long. I am only on like the 10th page and LOVE it so far.

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Specializes in Hospice.

You are kidding me??????? Pay for a syllabus????? :wideyed: I have never, ever heard of that. That just burns my hide. Talk about sucking every dime out of students that they possibly can. Are these community colleges? Universities? Diploam Program? Tech schools?

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