For those that have started school already?

Nursing Students General Students

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How is it? Is it as rough as you've heard? What's the best/worst part so far? Tell me everything!

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by mkue

so do all of you have to cut your nails too???? lol.. actually i didn't mind cutting mine, but they are the shortest they have been in years ! :eek:

yes, the nails are supposed to be at a certain length. however, this will not be a problem for me.
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Are all of these hair and nail things just for school? I have been wanting to cut my hair short (it's very long right now) and my husband keeps telling me no but now I may have an excuse for when I start school.

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I just wanted to help some of you that haven't started yet be less nervous. I survived my first semester and am now going into my second. I can tell you that I was scared out of my wits to start my first semester, I had heard all the horror stories of how NS was the hardest thing ever and how I was going to have to give up everything in my life, and my family was never going to see me. Well that is not how things actually turned out. Yes first semester is tough, it isn't so much that the material is hard there is just so much information that has to be learned in a very short time. So what I am saying is organization is everything, if you aren't a very organized person you may struggle at first until you get into the groove. You are going to have to make some sacrifices, but just remember that it is all going to be worth it. Before you know it your first semester will be over and you will look back and realized how much you learned...which will be A LOT!!! Try not to stress yourself out before school even starts, because you will have more than enough stress in your life when school does start. Go into the semester with a very positive attitude, check any doubts you may have about yourself at the door as these self doubts could very well be your down fall.

Here are a few tips that will hopefully help you: Don't be afraid to ask your professors or fellow students for help, try to build yourself a nice cushion so that when finals roll around you don't have to ace the final to pass the class, keep up with your reading because once you get behind it is nearly impossible to catch up (I know from experience), don't be hard too hard on yourself nursing school is not a cake walk so if you aren't getting the grades you usually get it isn't the end of the world passing is passing as long as you understand the concepts it doesn't matter what grade you get (well as long as you are still passing), and most importantly try to have fun when and where you can NS is going to fly by and you will be done before you know it.

Good luck to everyone waiting to start stay positive and I am sure that you will do well.

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I just wanted to help some of you that haven't started yet be less nervous. I survived my first semester and am now going into my second. I can tell you that I was scared out of my wits to start my first semester, I had heard all the horror stories of how NS was the hardest thing ever and how I was going to have to give up everything in my life, and my family was never going to see me. Well that is not how things actually turned out. Yes first semester is tough, it isn't so much that the material is hard there is just so much information that has to be learned in a very short time. So what I am saying is organization is everything, if you aren't a very organized person you may struggle at first until you get into the groove. You are going to have to make some sacrifices, but just remember that it is all going to be worth it. Before you know it your first semester will be over and you will look back and realized how much you learned...which will be A LOT!!! Try not to stress yourself out before school even starts, because you will have more than enough stress in your life when school does start. Go into the semester with a very positive attitude, check any doubts you may have about yourself at the door as these self doubts could very well be your down fall.

Here are a few tips that will hopefully help you: Don't be afraid to ask your professors or fellow students for help, try to build yourself a nice cushion so that when finals roll around you don't have to ace the final to pass the class, keep up with your reading because once you get behind it is nearly impossible to catch up (I know from experience), don't be hard too hard on yourself nursing school is not a cake walk so if you aren't getting the grades you usually get it isn't the end of the world passing is passing as long as you understand the concepts it doesn't matter what grade you get (well as long as you are still passing), and most importantly try to have fun when and where you can NS is going to fly by and you will be done before you know it.

Good luck to everyone waiting to start stay positive and I am sure that you will do well.

The school I will be going to says that you have to keep an 80% at all times or you get kicked out. Does this mean that you can't make below an 80 on any test at all or does it mean if you make a 70 on a test but still end up keeping an 80 in the class it's fine? This part confuses me?

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That sounds confusing to me too! I can't imagine that they would just kick you out because you did poorly on one test and that dropped you a couple of percentage points. I know that at my school we have to have a 75% to move on to the next semester, but by no means do you have to maintain that throughout the semester. If you haven't had orientation yet you may want to ask about that when orientation time comes around, or call the school and see if they can clarify that for you. I am really hoping that they wouldn't kick you out for not maintaining an 80

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I know. Me too. That's what stressing me out the most. I will post the info about the classes. At the bottom is says "must maintain an 80% grade level through out the program"

Practical Nursing Program Mission

This program prepares the student for employment as licensed practical nurses. The program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.

Licensure/Certification

Graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination to practice as a licensed practical nurse. Students are eligible to take the State of Florida Nursing Assistant Certification Exam upon successful completion of the first 165 hours. ( National license is transferable to any state.)

Occupational Completion Points

Students successfully completing the first 165 hours are qualified nursing orderlies or aides.

OCP ABasic Healthcare Worker90 hours OCP BNursing Assistant75 hours OCP CPractical Nurse1185 hours

Total Length ~ 1350 hours (52 weeks)

•The Practical Nursing Program is available either full-time days or part-time evenings. •Full-time program starts in January, May and September.•Evening program takes 18 months to complete and start date varies. Admission Requirements •Must be a minimum of 18 years old•Education - High school diploma (with official transcript) or GED with scores•.Nurse Entrance Test (NET) - with a Reading score of 65% and Math 72% ** Number of retests are limited - see your counselor or advisor for details.•Complete Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) background check•Proof of physical and dental examination•Proof of Titer or Record of Immunization MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), tetorifice, and chicken pox•Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination series or declination statement•Two references Program Tuition & Costs Approximately $4,500

(All figures are approximate and subject to change) Initial Application Fee

(one time non-refundable per program) $25Program Content

Practical Nursing training includes

• Vocational Adjustments Fundamentals of Nursing

• Anatomy and Physiology

• Individual Family and Community Health

• Basic Nutrition for Nursing

• Medication Administration/Pharmacology

• Introduction to Computers

• Medical Surgical Nursing

• Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Geriatrics

Program Description

The program provides theoretical instruction and clinical experience in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing; acute and long term care situations; vocational role and function; personal, family and community health concepts; nutrition; human growth and development; body structure and function; interpersonal relationship skills, mental health concepts; pharmacology and administration of medications; legal aspects of practice and current issues in nursing.

Clinical experience is an integral component of the program.

Unique requirements

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds

• Maintain an 80% grade level throughout the program.

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It's so interesting to read everyone's topics about starting nursing school. I can't believe I was there just a year ago. Now I'm a senior nursing student. It's crazy how time flies. I was here asking all of the same questions, I was nervous and excited. Nursing school is hard but it's different for everyone. It was nerve wrecking and difficult like I expected but it much different ways that I had anticipated. It's a great experience too. Good luck everyone!:)

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I totally agree. The first coupl of semesters of nursing school I was really nervous and stressed out all the time. I remember the first week of nursing school we had tow test on abbreviations and drug calculations where we could only miss a couple on the abbreviations test and ge a hundred on the drug calc. As you go on its still hard but you cope better with it. Everybody experience is different and its all worth it in the end.

With my school we have to wear our hair up if its long and a natural color, only one piercing per ear and it doesnt matter where, no facial piercings, no tattoes that are visuable, no perfumes, and our nails have to be short as well and no colored nail polish. I guess most schools are the same with these.

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I haven't had short nails since I was a pre-teen!!! I'm waiting until the night before class to cut them!!!! I also have to get my hair trimmed & buy some white scrunchies. Our hair must be above our collar. I just keep telling my self...........It will all be worth it in the end :) !!

They make you cut your hair??? Or only if you dont want to wear it up?? I'v been growing mine out for 2 years, and its past my shoulders a bit, I would hate to have to cut it, but i'v seen girls at my NS on campus with long hair, so hopefully that dosnt apply to us, thats crazy! Even if you pull it into a pony tail, they make you do this???

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When I started school I had side swept bangs and a few instructors mentioned that I had to pin them back which looked awful, so I grew them out.

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I know. Me too. That's what stressing me out the most. I will post the info about the classes. At the bottom is says "must maintain an 80% grade level through out the program"

Practical Nursing Program Mission

This program prepares the student for employment as licensed practical nurses. The program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.

Licensure/Certification

Graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination to practice as a licensed practical nurse. Students are eligible to take the State of Florida Nursing Assistant Certification Exam upon successful completion of the first 165 hours. ( National license is transferable to any state.)

Occupational Completion Points

Students successfully completing the first 165 hours are qualified nursing orderlies or aides.

OCP ABasic Healthcare Worker90 hours OCP BNursing Assistant75 hours OCP CPractical Nurse1185 hours

Total Length ~ 1350 hours (52 weeks)

*The Practical Nursing Program is available either full-time days or part-time evenings. *Full-time program starts in January, May and September.*Evening program takes 18 months to complete and start date varies. Admission Requirements *Must be a minimum of 18 years old*Education - High school diploma (with official transcript) or GED with scores*.Nurse Entrance Test (NET) - with a Reading score of 65% and Math 72% ** Number of retests are limited - see your counselor or advisor for details.*Complete Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) background check*Proof of physical and dental examination*Proof of Titer or Record of Immunization MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), tetorifice, and chicken pox*Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination series or declination statement*Two references Program Tuition & Costs Approximately $4,500

(All figures are approximate and subject to change) Initial Application Fee

(one time non-refundable per program) $25Program Content

Practical Nursing training includes

* Vocational Adjustments Fundamentals of Nursing

* Anatomy and Physiology

* Individual Family and Community Health

* Basic Nutrition for Nursing

* Medication Administration/Pharmacology

* Introduction to Computers

* Medical Surgical Nursing

* Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Geriatrics

Program Description

The program provides theoretical instruction and clinical experience in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing; acute and long term care situations; vocational role and function; personal, family and community health concepts; nutrition; human growth and development; body structure and function; interpersonal relationship skills, mental health concepts; pharmacology and administration of medications; legal aspects of practice and current issues in nursing.

Clinical experience is an integral component of the program.

Unique requirements

* Must be able to lift 50 pounds

* Maintain an 80% grade level throughout the program.

I am thinking that maybe that means you must maintain an 80 percent in each semester. That is my understanding of this but you should ask better safe than sorry

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Our requirements are pretty similar, and they're for clinical only - you can come to class in your PJs with long hair down, piercings in, and tattoos showing. We aren't allowed to wear cartilage earrings to clinical though - one girl in my group already asked. Also, I have hair down to my waist. We're only required to pull ours back, but my instructor recommended that I wear mine in a bun - she's right, I don't really want it falling in anyone's bodily fluids.

Classwise, it was a ton of work, and I second the recommendation not to fall behind in the reading. You will anyways, but if you make a serious effort not to you may still be able to catch up. Several of my classmates found out the hard way that you actually have to do it all. However, I didn't think it was actually that HARD. It was a ton of info to learn, but like I've read on here before, it was more the amount that was challenging than the actual material. Good luck to all!

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