First-time Nursing Student

I couldn't figure out how to send you an email so I'll just post here. STCC was difficult, but so are all schools. Even with hind sight I still think it was the best choice for me. You can't beat the price in the Memphis area. I thought it would be a breeze since I had all this experience. Well, it was really difficult. Not just the tests, but being a 24 hour nursing student takes a toll on your state of mind. The instructors are very willing to help, but I promise that won't be the issue. You are being trained to think like a nurse, to look at a problem and see a nursing solution. Forget about common sense or what you always do at your facility. Thinking like a nurse is something I only grasped tenuously as I took the NCLEX, and almost a year later I'm still working on it. In most facilities there is barely a difference in pay from ASN to BSN. We had counselors from U of M come talk to us about the RN to BSN program and it sounds like a vacation compared to getting my ASN. I would rather do 2 years of mental anguish and follow up with a BSN later, than have 4 years of nursing school hell. A huge plus is that now I can pay for all those bills that began to slide during school and still afford to go back to school. Good luck with your decision, I hope some of this is helpful.

Hi, I just started Southwest's nursing program last month. It is a lot of work and you have to be very organized. The program is fast paced. You will be going into the hospital about the fourth week into classes. But the other students are great and everyone kind of supports one another. If you can email I will try to send you book lists so that you can start to purchase them now because it's a lot of books and you have to buy your uniform amongst other things. You may want to start investing in a good stethscope now also. One is included in the bag you purchase but some people having problems hearing. Besides that all I can say is breath. My name is Stefanie and you can ask me as many questions as you like. I wish I knew about this before I started so that I could have had someone to help guide me a little.