First week- will I die of boredom?

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This is my first week of ADN nursing school and already I'm wondering if I will make it. Not because its hard or overwhelming, but because the intro to nursing classes are so unbelievably boring. Today we role played communication situations and I felt like I was in kindergarten. Nursing theory? That **** has to be BS. Someone tell me that it gets more interesting. Even hard would be good at this point. Yes, I have 20+ years of CNA experience and aced my pre reqs, have walked through the medical system with critically ill family, and have taken a ton of other college courses but I wanted to come into this humble and willing to learn. I want a challenge. I'm suddenly more worried about being bored than about being challenged. I don't have the option of another program or PA school or whatever right now. Advice appreciated. Anything so I don't fall asleep in class and never wake up. :dead:

Just give it time. Initially I thought the nursing process and therapeutic communication was all ridiculous. However it is essential when it comes to answering NCLEX questions where you have to determine priority. Have you had your first test? Second test? That is often the wake-up call for most people especially if your program starts right off the bat with NCLEX questions.

I still think a lot of the therapeutic communication is ridiculous. I'm not convinced that it's something that can be taught in class. It's something you learn through life or you don't. Some people are good at it and some are not.

Some stuff we learn is for the NCLEX. I remember asking my teacher on a clinical about something (I can't remember what exactly) and following it up with "or is that just ideal world vs real life?" She grinned and didn't answer. That was answer enough. She was a very experienced ER nurse. She knew the difference.

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Specializes in Ortho.

Don't worry, if your school gives a crap about NCLEX pass rates, it'll get plenty hard.

(Final semester student and drowning)

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.
Don't worry, if your school gives a crap about NCLEX pass rates, it'll get plenty hard.

(Final semester student and drowning)

ME TOO! I can't believe how much is crammed into this final semester! Add in all the job search stuff on top of everything else, and I am just having to take it day-by-day. Glad to know I'm not the only one!

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.
I still think a lot of the therapeutic communication is ridiculous. I'm not convinced that it's something that can be taught in class. It's something you learn through life or you don't. Some people are good at it and some are not.

.

I actually disagree with this. Granted, most of the therapeutic communication stuff didn't fully "click" until my psych rotation, but it has spilled into my personal life even. It's become a part of who I am, where it never was before (and I'm 36!). My communication in my marriage has undergone a drastic change. I went from saying things like (angry voice) "WHY are you you being such an @55hole?!" to (calm, concerned voice) "you seem upset." It's really changed how we interact with one another for the better! Don't discount it, it can help every facet of your life, not just your job.

I will say that the early lectures didn't help much, like I said, it was psych where I was dealing with it in practice that really solidified it for me, and made it more a part of me.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

You completely forgot that you need to also be PATIENT. The thing that will be tested the most during nursing school is your patience. You may have overshot the expectation that it would be academically rigorous and physically and psychologically demanding but I think the special snowflakes of the world have kind of caused things to dial down a bit. I just graduated and have been working a few weeks and these weeks of actually work have been the most intellectually intensive that I have ever endured (and this is actually at a place I already worked at prior and was preparing for while I waited on the residency to start). Don't worry, it's coming. It won't be when you think it is, though.

And yeah, nursing theory is fairly godawful but it fills in the "nurse as researcher" gap that needs to be filled. Even though it's kind of awkward and definitely not inspiring of any research. I know that might not be something you're interested in but, if you ever happen to find yourself at a place where the nurses do active research, it'll be helpful to be at least familiar with it.

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Here's the the low down on nursing school. It can be very "Trade School Like" it teaches specifically to the test,...that being the NCLEX. All it is designed to do is to prepare you to pass the NCLEX. With a smattering of clinical skills. Those you will learn on the job. Much of the material is mind numbing. The actual material is rather easy to comprehend but the sheer volume of information makes it difficult. Trying to read and absorb hundreds of pages of textbook information in 1-2 days, is impossible. I gave up reading the whole readings assignments in the first week of school and concentrated on the lecture material for studying for test. My huge investment in nursing textbooks were relegated to reference purposes only. I completely stopped even trying to read 6 chapter after the first week. Everything you will be tested on is covered in the lectures. I taped the lectures and relistened to them the night before the test at an excellerated speed while review i

the class notes and using the textbooks to clarify anything that was vague during the lecture. Never actually read the text books. Worked for me and I aced all the tests easily. I even used the tapes to prove the lecture material was false.. Faculty HATED THAT! As for nursing diagnosis,..pseudo intellectual drivel by a profession with an identity crisis and inferiority complex. The do not belong in any nursing program. As far a the highly touted "nursing Theory" yes, drivel indeed. I raised my had during my Semester long nursing theory class and asked, when where the "theories" actual generated? I asked if it was in the 1960's? The instructor with a PhD in nursing theory responded, yes, they all were written in the 1960's I replied, oh, ok,..that explains it. They were all strung out on some psychedelic, mind altering pharmaceuticals. That can be the only explaination. The "Nursing Theorists" MUST HAVE STRUNG OUt ON SOMETHING? Altered energy states my my A$$! What a waste of time an energy.

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If we're tested on lecture then I'm really screwed because my instructors generally don't lecture. Class time is wasted with meaningless group projects and chit chat. That might change as they adjust to needing to control the class (one hopes). I really hope it gets better when we get into the blood and guts. I understand that this is job training and not meant to be intellectually stimulating. UGH. I hope its a challenge because boredom is my worst enemy. Thanks for all the replies.

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walk now... run later... trust you will be running soon enough and before you feel confident in doing so....

That being said... There are many boring and uninteresting (and sometimes seemingly useless) parts of nursing school. Get over it, cause you'll soon have an amazing, dependable, stable, growing, and not boring career...

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*smile* I hope so!

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It's really boring in the beginning. Think of it as an easy A and start studying for pharmacology or med-surg in the meantime. Get an NCLEX review book and start reading ahead.

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Thanks for the honesty, I agree!

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I love your answer and agree with you perfectly. I spend countless hours writing wonderful nursing care plan in school only to never actually do it in real like, not once in 20 years. You are right, our profession does have an identity crisis. Thanks for the honesty.

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