Freaking out soon-to-be first semester nursing student

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I start nursing school in 3 weeks from today! I am just about ready, just wiating for the rest of my books and uniform to come in the mail. I decided it'd be a good idea to flip through all the books I just got in the mail today. BAD IDEA! I feel totally incompetent and lost at all of the information I'm going to have to learn. Any other students have this overwhelming flood of information anxiety? Any nursing students or NS vets have any advice? Is this anxiety and freaking out a sign that I wont be able to do it?? Thanks for any words of wisdom.

-amy

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I'll be starting my 2nd semester of nursing school and I remember how overwhelming I felt when looking at the library of books that are needed. It's crazy!! I just got my books today for nursing 2....definitely not as much as 1st semester, but wow! Anyway....good luck!!

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Amy,

Take a deep breath and relax. I am starting my second semester next week. My program required a pile of books for the first semester, no additional to buy for the second. There will be a lot of reading but it is manageable. There are good videos on youtube and ati(assuming your program uses ati) Many people have done this before you, and they were human too. You will not have to tackle it all at one time. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Take a look at drug calculations and different types(catagories) of drugs and the "rights" of meds, this will put you ahead of the pack. How long until you are in clinicals? Good luck with your classes!

Charlie

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Hi! First off, Congrats for getting in! I will be starting my 3rd semester in a week and I can honestly say that I feel like it's my 1st (I'm so nervous/excited!). Nursing school is very competitive and is a breeding ground for feelings of inadequacy and information overload. However, it's not impossible to do well. In my opinion, alot of other students feel just as nervous and scared. So... your feelings are totally normal and you'll fit right in. Good luck fellow student nurse! :)

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Thanks guys! I actually already have a Bachelors degree and all my pre-reqs are done so I'll be starting right away with Fundamentals, Health Assessment, Patho and Nursing research. From the sounds of it, we are in the skills lab for 5-6 weeks and then start clinicals in February. I'm just so nervous about not being able to hear BP's, not being able to remember all the steps to things, etc etc. I guess I have to remind myself that if I was expected to KNOW all of the information in these books, I'd already be a nurse and they wouldnt have classes that teach it! Jeez, I can only imagine what I'm gonna be like once the semester actually STARTS! :uhoh3: lol Thanks again!

-Amy

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Once you actually start rotations and lab practice you will find that those things arent really so hard. And thoughout your nursing school career it becomes easier to learn things and then store them in the back of your brain for later use. Nurses are not born, they are made.

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I'm glad I saw your post. I start the program on the 20th and feel totally overwhelmed too! I actually had a nightmare the other night that I showed up for the first day of class totally unprepared, and I had forgotten to do a quiz that everyone else was handing in!

I've waited so long and am sooo excited but really nervous too. Best of luck to you - hopefully the nerves will just make us that much more prepared. :p

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

I freak out a little at the beginning of every semester, and think "I don't know if I can do this!" Then my dad calmly reminds me that I say that every semester, and every semester I end up doing really well in school. It is overwhelming at first, but you don't learn it all at once. It moves quick, and is alot of information. But just think how much smarter you will feel at the end of the semester! I always feel a little bit smarter, anyway. :D Seriously - you will look back at the end of the semester and everything will fall into place and you will be amazed by what all you have learned. Good luck!

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I'm freaking out now and I don't start until September. It just seems like so much information I don't understand how someone can possibly remember it and keep it as knowledge vs memorization. But I know it's just anxiety as I freaked out about not being able to comprehend Anatomy and I still remember some questions that were on my first exam three months ago.

The good thing about nursing is for the most part, everything you learn keeps getting used throughout the semesters. So it's harder to forget things you are still using and practicing. I'm still a little scared about remembering a laundry list of meds, what they treat and symptoms of disease, but if I put in the time I'm sure I'll do fine and I believe the same is true with you. =)

I actually did you one step better and peeked at a few of the questions inside of a NCLEX-RN book. Let me tell you it's something I will NOT even think about doing again until I'll at least somewhat through my first semester.

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Specializes in None yet.

I honestly dont think you will have a problem at all especially because you have a Bachalors degree already so you will be one step ahead. I am finding it difficult but thats only because Ive been out of school for 7 years and its tough to get back into things. My sister has just finished nursing and she just says dont worry about all the information and books - just focus on what you are learning/studying and try to absorb as much as you can - and you will do fine. All the best .

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First Congrats and good luck!

We are about to start our 4th semester. I remember the stress of looking at all those books just before the start of the first semester. Don't stress out, you will learn quickly which ones are best for you as well as additional sources such as Youtube video. I would suggest a couple additional books to you.

Fundamentals Success

Medical Surgical Success

Med-Surg Rationales and Reviews

Here's my favorite - Saunders 4th edition NCLEX Review (Blue cover) - this book is awesome for use in Med. Surg.

Again Congrats!

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First semester for me was quite tough, mostly because of the new styles of test taking and overwhelm amount of readings (most of which i found really useless). I ended up with a C, this is coming from a person who gets As and Bs in pre reqs. I am determined to get at least a B in nursing 2, but the boook i just got for nursing 2 is MASSIVE! But i know i can do this. You just gotta keep telling yourself you can do this and you will be able to.

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