First day of nursing School *unleashed* post yours

[9livesRN]

Well, I would like to share my first day of nursing school experience.

It all started last night when i could not go to sleep, then I woke up at 4 am, because I was so excited and anxiety had taken over! Well I got up, took a shower, took care of the dogs, and even ironed my uniform.

I ended up leaving home at 6 am, for the 1 hour commute, since I was afraid that I would be caught in the middle of traffic.

I ended up at school at 7 am, I sat in my car, had my coffee, and at 730 people started showing up. Well I found out that classes would not start until 9 on the first day, since they had people lost on the buildings, trying to find the classrooms, teachers coming back gathering loads of stuff, from a side to another, and finally classes started. It was funny to see all my peeps from pre-reqs there in addition to some other new faces!

It all started by our Pharmacology teacher (we have pharm all day long on Mondays) asking us to write a paragraph on:

- Why nursing?

- Semester goal

- 3 year goal

After we wrote that, she made us one by one, read it to the class, as an introduction! Well, I heard maybe half of the people with the CRNA goal, the other half with money/or NP goal, LOL hopefully they'll get there!

Then she started the syllabus, in which:

• 50% are tests
  
• 10% presentation
  
• 10% group work, participation
  
• 5% post test
  
• 25% finals.
  

Which is not bad. My first impression is that Our teacher is a nice Lady, she has been a NP for 12 years, and on still works 2 days a week on her private practice, which I thought was a plus, since she is updated on things.

Well, then lecture started, and we went over the nursing process, and then the 7 rights, and then we covered chapters 1 and 2 of the book (keep in mind 5 hour lecture LOL) the funny thing is: We have to know chapters 1-9 by next Monday!!! For our first test, she will give us multiple choices only, and will allow us to use a 4X6 flashcard, where we can write stuff on one side, and hand it to her, then she will return it to us on the first test day, keep in mind that we have 5 tests. OMG that is a lot of info, even though I had answered the questions already on the study guide...

She is really nice to us, always asking if it is all clear, anymore questions! I like her I guess! (Although you know... some people on the break room already started venting... blah)

Then she was telling us that we will have clinicals starting on the end of the month, so we can learn how to talk to our patients, practice some basic skills. (For the first 3 weeks we have Thursday and Fridays just for skills!!! 10 hours a week!).

She said that we will not do any invasive skill on ourselves, meaning no drawing each others blood, or giving any sort of injection. How the hell am I going to learn??? How did you guys learn this??? It makes me wonder, since I have no previous experience with that other than a few lovenox abdominal shots.

She said that in May we will start giving IM, IV, Sq, and all that good stuff. (But then again with no previous human attempts! She said that if we were to do it among ourselves, somewhere else... Whatever! But not in class!)

So it was exciting today, lots of information, and homework! Can't wait for tomorrow (but I am ok, anxiety level is down now).

We have fundamentals ALLLLLL day tomorrow, starting at 8-2pm

So, bottom line, so far I am very happy with everything, the nursing staff seems amazing so far (have dealt with them since pre-reqs) and all my classmates are cool (of course, there is the sleepy one, the parrot one, the repetitive one, the fancy girls, the CNA knows it all's, but they are ok so far!)

Comments are welcome!

Those who start(started) soon please post your experience here! Lets make this thread last all the way through our graduation!!!

[mom35]

YEAH babe!!!!

i passed my drug dosage caluclation with 100% yeahhhhh

Awesome job!!:up:

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

hi,

just curious, was your drug calculation test on basic conversions and iv drip rate or was it more complex? just curious cause i start my pharm class in the fall and would like to start practicing now.

thanks!

usually on accredited programs you will have more than 1 drug calc test, i mean, you will have it in other classes such as medsurge and peds

on pharm was more like kg/mg/dose or day, than we had some drip, drops, than some how long to infuse, then tabs, grains, and metric conversions,

on pharm you usually go more into the drugs, then calc, although you have 1 calc test on pharm.

on medsurge we had more like safe dose, underdose, infusion time, rate, piggyback and primary calc, weight and and ml ratios.

hope it helped!

just focus on:

- your basic math skills

- "cross multiplication" will save your life

- remember gtt/ml x 1ml/gtt x 60/1 = flow rate

- fluid over hour = ml/h

- amount to be infused/ time x drop factor = gtt/min

1 ounce = 30 ml

1 tbsp = 15 ml

1 tsp = 5 ml

1g = 1000mg = 1000.000mcg

1kg = 1000g

1000 ml = 1 liter = 1000cc

1gr (grain) = +- 60mg

*** some times you see 1/4gr wich is 1 quarter of a grain so 60/4, you can see like 3/4gr and so on

you can also see like iiigr wich is grain * 3 then 180mg (they can use the roman numbers i ii iii iv v vi ...)

- remember your roman numbers

- how to do your ratio and percentage

- 1 kg = 2.2 pounds

tc = temperature in degrees celsius, tf = temperature in degrees farenheit

tf = (9/5)*tc+32; tc

tc = (5/9)*(tf-32);

that is all that i could think for now!!!

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

Hi,

Just curious, was your drug calculation test on basic conversions and IV drip rate or was it more complex? Just curious cause I start my Pharm class in the fall and would like to start practicing now.

Thanks!

If this is your very first cal test you shouldn't have IV problems on it. Our first semester we didn't do IV stuff in clinicals, so we were not taught drip rates at first. Just oral meds; pills or liquids. When you take pharm they will tell you what types of problems to expect on the first test. After my first semester we received a practice test to use to get ready for the real test every semester. The first one was given to us over the Christmas break and the 3rd one over the Summer break. Our second test included tube feedings calculations and simple IV rates. The 3rd one had piggyback IV problems and pediatric calculations for safe dose ranges and wt. conversions from lbs to kgs. I haven't taken the last one yet, but it will probably be like the 3rd one. Like someone else said just know your conversions really well! Good Luck!

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

If this is your very first cal test you shouldn't have IV problems on it. Our first semester we didn't do IV stuff in clinicals, so we were not taught drip rates at first. Just oral meds; pills or liquids. When you take pharm they will tell you what types of problems to expect on the first test. After my first semester we received a practice test to use to get ready for the real test every semester. The first one was given to us over the Christmas break and the 3rd one over the Summer break. Our second test included tube feedings calculations and simple IV rates. The 3rd one had piggyback IV problems and pediatric calculations for safe dose ranges and wt. conversions from lbs to kgs. I haven't taken the last one yet, but it will probably be like the 3rd one. Like someone else said just know your conversions really well! Good Luck!

see it varies!!!

my first one had about 4 iv calcs even though we did not hang them yet

and my second test was like your third!

so they will let you know

[Iwantobeanurse]

Csantos, you are dedicated to your future and the future of others. I enjoy reading about your experience ant I also wanted to thank for your help with the NET on your other thread since it helped me pass and get into the nursing program. I enjoy reading everyone's post and wish everyone strength and dedication cause nursing takes more than luck. I start in the fall and I am so excited even though I know it is going to be hard. Will continue to read and can't wait to post and ask questions about first day of school and learning nursing.

[arriola03]

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

I CAN ALSO RELATE TO YOU AND CONGRATS! GETTING INTO A NURSING SCHOOL ISNT THE EASIEST THING TO DO. ESPECIALLY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO BE A NURSE AS WELL. BUT WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS ACCETPED INTO MY NURSING SCHOOL, AT KAPLAN IN SAN DIEGO. I WAS SO THRILLED, THAT I AS WELL COULDNT SLEEP THE NIGHT B4. I WAS ACTUALLY AN ALTERNATIVE, AND JUST FOUND OUT A DAY B4 THE OFFICAL FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. EVENTHOUGH I WAS EXCITED AND HAPPY KNOWING THAT I WAS ACCEPTED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TRANSITION. I LIVED IN L.A AND HAD TO COMMUTE TO SAN DIEGO 3 DAYS A WEEK. ALL THE DRIVING MADE ME EXHAUSTED. SO WHEN I FINALLY MOVED OUT TO SAN DIEGO, I WAS SAD TO BE SO FAR AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE I LOVE AND CARE FOR BECAUSE THEY ARE MY SUPPORT SYSTEM. SO AT FIRST, MOVING TO SAN DIEGO, WAKING UP AT 4AM JUST TO GET A HEAD START IN STUDYING FOR THE DAY, AND READING SOOOOO MANY CHAPTERS WAS HORRIBLE. BUT NOW THAT IM USE TO IT AND UNDERSTAND MY TEACHERS TEACHING STYLES I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I GET IT NOW! AND THAT IM NOT DISCOURAGE AND THAT I WILL SUCEED BECAUSE NURSING MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME, AND ITS WHAT I WANNA BE, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:nurse::nurse::redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

[dianadicknite]

Congrats to all on your first day of nursing! You should be really honored to be accepted into this extrememly hard program!

My name is diana and i am a returning Kaplan college nursing student and have two versions or first day jitters. When i first found out that i was accepted into the ADn program at Kaplan i was very excited and knew that i was willing and capable to make this work for me. Day one came and i was siting in a class with no friends and teachers, financial aid, the DON, addmission, reps everyone and anyone who could scare you into not continuing came in to emphisias how hard this program would be. In the back on my head i was like they are over exagerating and i should be fine. Day one of Foundations of nursing along with some general education calsses(2) there was just so much to juggle. i had to read 5-6 chapters out of two different books for my nursing class andother chapter for my gen eds and i just didnt know how to manage my time. I felt like a chicken with my head cut off! (something i forgot to mention was i then had a newborn baby to also manage) I was going crazy i ended up getting behind because i just couldnt keep things organized i knew i knew the material but i just didnt know how to explain or do them i was just completely lost. i was also unfortunate to not have that good of a support system. evidently i didnt pass and wasnt sure i was ready to go back a face it again... i was really discouraged on going back!

Almost Four years later i decided that i was ready to back a face what i had always wanted in my life... to become a nurse. Well again came day one of the nursing program. I thought because i have a lil taste of what to expect that i would beable to handle things better and i was right. it was easier for me to get organized and manage my time better. i still had ALOT to read but in my eyes it was DO ABLE! at times i still felt like a chicken with my head cut off especially when anticipating grades or when and where to go for clinicals but other than that it was actually pleasant. I have a great study group that i meet with multiple times a week and even though i associate myslef with everyone i know exactly who i would and wouldnt study with!

I dont know if this helped anyone ease or feel better about thier first day of nursing school but hard work and determination will get anyone what they want if they truely want it!

A teacher once told me that nursing is a 40 hr worrk week. if your in class 10 hrs then your should be home or at the library or in the lab the other 30 hrs making sure that you understand the material you just learned in class.

Hope you all succeed in your nursing careers and good luck!

[Iwantobeanurse]

I cant wait to my first day of my first nursing course. Fall 2009!

[ICAN!]

Thanks to all of you who post here and share your days with us. I love reading about your experiences in NS.

[Resolute00]

I start in Aug 09 and I can't stop talking and thinking about. This will be my second career. And thanks to all of you who shared your first day and good luck.

[mickjordmoll]

We used hot dogs for our injections--especially helpful with ID Injections!! The wheal rises up beautifully!!

[shaversd]

Any new nursing students out there starting their first day? Doesn't even have to be the first day actually. Would love to hear about it.