First day of Nursing school..What should I expect?

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My first day is on tuesday and I am very nervous..Already starting badly.I recieved an email from the teacher who assigned us 88 pages of homework.I am not able to get my books until tuesday so I am going to have to read those pages before wednesday..Thats not a big problem..just going to pull an all nighter while me kids sleep...I am just very nervous and anxious.I would like to know what to expect in my first class and any additional advice will be appreciated..I am currently a medical assistant and I heard that the first nursing class is like a CNA class..is that true..

It's hard work, a difficult upper college level type lecture class is what you sould expect. Clinical might be like CNA type work but from my experience the lecture and lab parts are just as difficult, actually more difficult than any pure science elective such as the bio's or micro.

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Our first day was dreadfully boring. Reading through a million pages of the study guide and syllabus, talking about policies and procedures, going over a tentative schedule for the whole first semester, and a VERY long Q&A which often repeats itself--that about sums it up rather nicely. Good luck :)

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Specializes in Home Health.

May I add on to ArmyGirl's wonderful advice? My advice is ALWAYS LOOK professional. This means scrubs that are clean and pressed, at the very least a dewrinkle setting on the dryer. The only thing that chaps my @$$ more than wrinkled or stained scrubs is when I can tell that you are wearing a thong or I can tell what pattern are on your underwear. Believe me, scrubs are thin. Even though you are wearing RED, I can still see your black and white striped undies. :D

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get in, buckle up and hang on cuz your head is going to spin like never before...I've made it through my first 2 weeks and the nerves are setting in now like never before (of course I get my first patient in clinicals this week)

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I'm currently applying to nursing programs. 88 pages of homework mailed to you? ;x i'm scared. Good luck!!!!! I hope to be in that same position very soon!

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The first day of every semester for me was always very confusing and disorienting. None of us (in my class) ever felt like we knew what all was expected of us. We all felt very much like we had no idea what was going on. If your class is like mine, you'll feel that way too, but don't worry, it'll pass. You'll work together and get it all figured out. Make friends, you're going to need each other over the next few years. Enjoy yourself, it's a tough experience, but it's one you'll never have again. Have fun and learn! Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC- as CNA, L&D, Current- Oncology.
If I'd known then what I know now....study all the psych you can get your hands on. You'd be surprised how many people are absolutely, positively crazy -- and I'm talking about the families, too, not just patients. Learn all you can about labs -- not just the numbers, but things like why a person in DKA who's on an insulin drip's potassium is going to fall, even if they came in with high K to begin with.

Learn everything you can about COPD, CHF, diabetes, Kidney disease (acute and chronic) and addiction -- that's going to be the 5 big diagnosis you see as a nurse, unless specialize out into oncology, psych, burns, surgery, etc., and those 5 can complicate care in any specialty area. Know what those diseases do to labs, what they cause, what makes them worse, what makes them better.

Learn referred pain. And learn how referred pain relates to the different sexes. A guy with a history of a MI complains of pain in his back, I'll look at him closely. A woman with a history of a MI complains of sudden onset nausea, pain between her shoulder blades -- and it may present as "my backache's making me nauseated" == especially if she's just a little short of breath, red alert! And if you have someone who's a long term diabetic who looks like they've got every symptom of a MI except chest pain -- diabetics often don't have chest pain, they have the silent heart attacks until they have the big one. If you're watching someone who's going for a cardiac cath and their BP drops and the HR doesn't correspondingly rise and they aren't on a beta blocker -- assume they've got a bad blockage, and tell someone!

And keep in mind when you get on the floor -- nobody gives the nurse you're with a lighter load just because she's got a student, she doesn't get more money, and if she does something you don't like or understand, ask her first, but don't do it "on stage." Some families are always looking for something to complain about, and they've got no problem complaining about you, so don't give them any ammo.

Finally, there's my first rule of nursing: Everybody dies, sooner or later. Second rule: You don't get to change rule one.

WOAH! Just a LITTLE intense for a post about "advice for starting nursing school" lol Great info here no doubt....but good lord I wouldn't be surprised if you scared the OP half to death with this. :lol2:

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yeah, that was good advice, but probably a little much to absorb just yet.

88 pages, is pretty much nothing to be honest. We have to read about three times that every week. You get used to it.

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Hey Emory Jessica!!

I am a new student at Emory! Tomorrow will be my 2nd week and I am a nervous wreck when I think about how to approach these classes, particularly Fundamentals, Health Assessment, and Integrated Science. Can you give any advice on how to do well in these classes and be prepared? I can't believe it will be one more week till we start our Clinicals either. I will be at EUH Midtown!

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Specializes in LTC- as CNA, L&D, Current- Oncology.

Hey shining star :) I'll send you a private message.

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