Orientation in less than 12 hours!

[MCPHSkel]

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. I will be starting orientation at Mass. College of Pharm for my 16-month accelerated BSN program.... I am so nervous, you guys! Please, any kind words, or advice you could think up---post it here!

I guess I should just get over my nervousness because I'll bet everyone in the program (38 students total this year) is just as nervous. I have the schedule for tomorrow and everything, so at least I'm not totally in the dark about what'll be going on. I'm just really shy around new people and it's hard for me to make friends. With only 38 people in the class, I'm afraid everyone might already know each other, or something. I'm 22, but tonight I feel like I'm going to the first day of 2nd grade or something. I am such a baby.

I already have my books (ouch!, expensive), my tuition is paid (ouch!, expensive), and I have registered for classes, but I don't know anything about my professors, my classmates, the uniforms we'll be required to wear, etc. *sigh*

My schedule is pretty crazy. I have patho/pharm (6 credits) Tu/Th 8:30-12, skills class (4 credits) Wed 9-12, nursing history (3 credits) Fri 9-3:30 (but this one's only for the 1st seven weeks), and a skills lab (1 credit) Monday 12:30-3:30. After spring break, I'll have nursing essentials (3 credits) on Fridays... So that's a total of 17 credits this semester, I think.

Well, guys, thanks in advance for any kind words. I'll definitely post more tomorrow to let you know how my orientation went. :)

[jamonit]

you'll be great.

hi.doc

[MCPHSkel]

thanks for the reply, jamonit. it made me feel a little better. i'll let you know tomorrow how it went.

[Megsd, BSN, RN]

I'm in my second quarter of a 15-month accelerated BSN program and I totally remember my overwhelmed feeling before and after orientation. Your program will be quick, and tough (I have 18 credits per quarter), but I have found it to be incredibly enjoyable. My best advice to you is to take one day at a time. Don't get overwhelmed by all the stuff you need to know by the end of a term -- you'll get there when you get there.

Also, utilize every second of your clinical time. Because the program is short, you need to make the most of the hands-on experience. Go up to nurses on your clinical unit and give them a list of skills you want to practice. See if one of their patient requires that skill and see if they, or your instructor, is willing to watch you do it. Practice is very important, and since you don't have 2-3 years of school to learn it in, you need to make the most of every opportunity.

Good luck in your program!