First 5 weeks of nursing school

Congrats on starting nursing school!

For me, the first 5 weeks were spent getting to know classmates and instructors, reading, practicing skills, studying, and trying to get yourself organized! It took me 2 years to figure out how to take a nursing exam. LOL. Clinical preparation was the hardest for me to adjust to.

Don't stress yourself out too much! It will click eventually :)

I'm not certain, but I believe it took a while before my first clinical. Maybe I had one at a nursing home by the end of 5 weeks. We had tests every two weeks so maybe two tests were completed. There was a math test for pharmacology that had to be passed at 100% real early on. Lectures twice a week every week and skills lab lectures once a week. Mostly CNA skills in the beginning in skills training. I bombed the first couple of tests so don't be a slacker like me. I still passed though.

Each program is different. We started clinical our first week.

first, get to class early and get a good seat up front and where you can see projection screens if you have them,,,,,be ready for depression when you see how thick your fundamentals book is, be ready to study at least 2 hours a day after class, which may be till mid day, get you some voice recorders for each class,,, but to answer the question, my school was going to class from 8 till about 12 monday, wednesday, and friday,,then we'd have clinicals from 630am till 630pm, on select tues/thursdays,,,half of you class will have failed out by 3rd semester, learn all you can about hearts, diabetes, endocrine, as you will see it every semester.

Sounds like good advice. I am listening to it.

Each program is different.

Very true

My class schedule was this the first 8 weeks:

Monday: Nursing Theory 7-11, 1-2:45

Tuesday: Clinical 6:30-2:30

Wednesday: Clinical 6:30-2:30

Thursday: Pharmacology 1-4

However, the first 3 weeks were slightly different. Monday through Wednesday was a mix of nursing theory (fundamentals) and basic skills lab (bathing, handwashing, etc). The Friday at the end of our 3rd week was orientation at our clinical site. It was on week 4 when we actually started clinicals.

My program was pretty intense the first few weeks. Just so much was thrown at us. And, because we weren't really able to critically think yet, it wasn't clicking. It wasn't until the 2nd or 3rd month when we all had that ah ha moment and it all came together. I think more than half of our students cried at some point during the first 5 weeks just from being overwhelmed. But, we are all doing great now. :)

Each program is different. We started clinical our first week.

We do also!!! What am I going to know in 3 days to do anything in clinicals? (im a little nervous! haha)

We do also!!! What am I going to know in 3 days to do anything in clinicals? (im a little nervous! haha)

Vitals, assessments, procedure for med pass, feeding, bathing, peri care, injections both sub q and IM, infection control, interviewing pts, HIPPA compliance, medical math, etc etc. the list goes on and on lol. It will be overwhelming but worth it.