10 Things You Should Know About the First Semester of Nursing School

[LoriRNCM]

1) Family Understands; Not!

Even if your family says they understand, they really don't. You may as well tell them, and your friends too, that you are being deployed for 2-4 years, depending on your program. Because you will be MIA every. single. weekend. And most nights too.

2) Buy Stock In Paper

Buy stock in Georgia Pacific. Because as much copy paper as you will use, you may as well own part of the company.

3) Buy Stock In A Printer

While you are at it, buy stock in Canon or whatever inkjet or laser printer you use. You now own Canon and Georgia Pacific.

4) Don't Forget About Your Pets!

Come to terms now with the guilt you will inevitably feel from neglecting cuddle time with your pets. They have an even harder time understanding your absence than your family. Make them homemade treats. It will temporarily assuage your guilt.

5) Say Goodbye To Your Beautiful Nails

If you have nice artificial (or even natural) nails, mourn them now. They aren't allowed in clinical. Only short, stubby, unpolished nails are allowed in clinical. It's an infection control thing that you will soon understand. Besides, even with PPE, you will be glad for less nooks and crannies that you have to scrub out after being in the hospital all day, especially if you have a patient who..... oh, never mind...... You'll see.

6) No More Haircuts - STUDY!

On that same note, figure out how to get by without a haircut for months at a time. You won't have the time for such inconsequential things as keeping up your appearance. And if you did have the time, you wouldn't have the energy. Because you would be sleeping. And if you aren't sleeping, you will be studying. And if you aren't studying, you will be feeling guilty about not studying..... so you may as well study and save yourself the guilt.

7) Failing is BAD!

If you are an A student, get over it. Your As may well become Bs, and that's ok. I haven't cried even one time over a B. And I'm a previous A student. It's not that you are trying less, or that the material is harder (it is), it's that a 90 isn't an A anymore and a 79 isn't even a C. It's now failing. Failing is bad. Bs are not bad.

? You Are Now Boring. Be Proud!

Tell your friends and family that on the rare occasions you see them that you will bore the crap out of them with all the things you've learned. And be proud of it.

9) Donuts And Coffee Your Best Friends

Accept that donuts and a coffee from 7/11 is a food group in and of itself.

10) Don't Miss Class! Make Plans.

The world doesn't stop turning now that you are in nursing. Unfortunately, things still happen to throw obstacles in your way. Make a plan now for what you will do when Junior barfs all over his teacher's shoes and he needs to be picked up from school. Because you can't miss class, or clinical. Especially not clinical.

So, now that first semester is wrapping up, I would also add that it has been a huge, life-changing learning experience. I have learned how to study, how not to study, how dirty my car can get and still run, how many ginormous textbooks I can fit into one scrap of zippered nylon, how to tell when the neurons have just totally stopped firing and it's time to stop studying because no more info is being retained anyway..... And now, after exams, a nice, long, well-deserved break is almost here. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, whatever you celebrate!!!

More information on "My First Semester in Nursing School..."...

10-things-you-should-know-about-the-first-semester-of-nursing-school.pdf

I've been studying and reviewing my A&P, because I am assuming that in nursing school we will dig deeper into that subject...do you agree?

Deeper? No.

But you will use it throughout so it should be fresh.

I want to prepare, but will preparation help for accelerated nursing school?

Yes! That was my experience.

[malenurse69, MSN, NP]

If I'm an A student I might as well get over it? What the hell is wrong with this site and its fetish for mediocracy? I plan on grad school afterwards no I wont get over being an A student I'll just study harder. Man, statements like that made daily on this site are un-freckin-believable.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

If I'm an A student I might as well get over it? What the hell is wrong with this site and its fetish for mediocracy? I plan on grad school afterwards no I wont get over being an A student I'll just study harder. Man, statements like that made daily on this site are un-freckin-believable.

Good luck with that. Seriously! I think if you maintain your 4.0 through NS you will be in the minority but kudos if you do. I doubt I will. And I work my tookas off. Otherwise, your intensity is frightening. Calm down.

[smf0903]

If I'm an A student I might as well get over it? What the hell is wrong with this site and its fetish for mediocracy? I plan on grad school afterwards no I wont get over being an A student I'll just study harder. Man statements like that made daily on this site are un-freckin-believable.[/quote']

It's not a fetish for mediocrity, it's by-and-large a statement of reality. I was a 4.0 student carrying between 17 and 22 credit hours a semester prior to my nursing classes (and not peanut classes, genetics, molecular bio, etc) and have yet to achieve an A in any of my nursing classes (I usually hit between 90% and 92%, which would be an A in any non-nursing class).

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

It's not a fetish for mediocrity, it's by-and-large a statement of reality. I was a 4.0 student carrying between 17 and 22 credit hours a semester prior to my nursing classes (and not peanut classes, genetics, molecular bio, etc) and have yet to achieve an A in any of my nursing classes (I usually hit between 90% and 92%, which would be an A in any non-nursing class).

I don't mean to LIKE it, but I mean to say yes, truth. The grading scale takes my previously A grades to high B grades, or barely there A grades. BUT, on a happier note, I still get 100s on my projects and papers MOST of the time.

[Levitas, BSN, RN]

I was yet another aspiring 4.0 student that felt the harsh reality of Nursing School B's, and yes, sometimes C's....

It hit me especially hard with my senior (2nd) year. I fell into a depression, and almost didn't climb out. But I did, I graduated. My GPA is 3.23, and I couldn't be more proud! 2nd in my class, and I'm already registered for my RN-BSN, (which, by the way, is much more important, in terms of GPA and continuing education). Though, that doesn't really apply to you BSN students, because your GPA is your GPA, where as mine will reset when going into this other program (in which the classes will be far easier, and Iwill get my 4.0 back!)

Also, nice read, OP. I sympathized with some, empathized with others.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

I was yet another aspiring 4.0 student that felt the harsh reality of Nursing School B's, and yes, sometimes C's....

It hit me especially hard with my senior (2nd) year. I fell into a depression, and almost didn't climb out. But I did, I graduated. My GPA is 3.23, and I couldn't be more proud! 2nd in my class, and I'm already registered for my RN-BSN, (which, by the way, is much more important, in terms of GPA and continuing education). Though, that doesn't really apply to you BSN students, because your GPA is your GPA, where as mine will reset when going into this other program (in which the classes will be far easier, and Iwill get my 4.0 back!)

Also, nice read, OP. I sympathized with some, empathized with others.

Good job!!! Good luck to you from here on out! So happy you found your way through the obstacles.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

4) Come to terms now with the guilt you will inevitably feel from neglecting cuddle time with your pets. They have an even harder time understanding your absence than your family. Make them home made treats. It will temporarily assuage your guilt.

That is not true. My cats could care less if I am studying. They will sit on my open books, papers, computer until they get their cuddle time.

[smalltownhero]

If I'm an A student I might as well get over it? What the hell is wrong with this site and its fetish for mediocracy? I plan on grad school afterwards no I wont get over being an A student I'll just study harder. Man, statements like that made daily on this site are un-freckin-believable.

man, you took the words right out of my mouth. " fetish for mediocracy" hit the nail on the head. Awesome post. i like your ideas and your work ethic. A+++++

ill go to war to maintain my 3.86 GPA. ill never settle for average.

[Levitas, BSN, RN]

Just so you guys realize... a 4.0 student doesn't always make the best nurse.

Beyond that, nothing wrong with maintaining the highest GPA feasible! It's not a battle of who's right, or wrong, but an individual choice to be made by us all.

I settled with my B (almost B+) average. If that doesn't suit you, but still you see your grades slipping, don't kill yourself over it. I believe that's the underlying statement being made when folks 'round here say, "Get used to not getting A's all of the time." Not to go into the program hoping for less than you're capable of attaining. I don't believe anyone is saying that.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

man, you took the words right out of my mouth. " fetish for mediocracy" hit the nail on the head. Awesome post. i like your ideas and your work ethic. A+++++

ill go to war to maintain my 3.86 GPA. ill never settle for average.

Good for you! May I remind you B is not average.

[smalltownhero]

Just so you guys realize... a 4.0 student doesn't always make the best nurse.

and sometimes they do.