Hey Fall 2009 new nursing students... How is it so far?!

Aarika · Sep 24, 2009

Hello! I just started nursing classes after a year of doing pre-requisites. I'm enrolled in a 2 year ADN program, so my experience might be a little different from everyone else's...

This is just my first semester (Nursing 120), but so far I think the sheer amount of material is more challenging than the actual content of the material. Not to say the stuff isn't difficult, but man, there is a lot to know! Plus, we were in class 4 hours a day, 5 times a week until last week when we started clinicals. Now, we have a 4 hour lecture on Mondays, 5-6 hours of clinicals at the hospital on Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 hours of lecture and skills evaluations (things like bed baths, setting up a sterile field, catheters) some Thursdays (when we don't have any evaluations, it is 4 hours of lecture), and 4 hours of lecture again on Friday. After you factor in studying time (about 1-2 hours per night for myself, I know other students do more), and any other classes you have to take (Nursing 120 only counts for 9 hours at my school, which is ridiculous), plus any other obligations and responsibilities, it is a bit overwhelming at times. I have a one-year-old, so it's tough that I don't get to see her as often as I like. However, I still have time to go to the gym 5-6 days a week for an hour, and have a few hours of personal time through the week.

So, to answer your questions:

One thing I was very glad to discover is that I love the nursing curriculum! Then again, I always enjoyed anatomy and physiology. Also, all of the not-so-pretty aspects of nursing (wounds, drainage, poop, etc.) haven't bothered me at all.

Actually working in the hospital is my favorite aspect of the program. Though, this week when I took care of an extremely nice and funny patient that a lot of very serious medical issues, I left the hospital feeling very saddened. I'm trying not to let things get to me personally.

Not enjoying? The way our tests are, I find them very difficult. They're styled after the NCLEX, and it's all critical thinking, which I hadn't really had to do since high school. Half of our class is failing lecture (which in our nursing program means getting a 76% or below on an exam).

Well, I have to hurry and go study now, good luck and I hope this helped!

Lilloman · Sep 25, 2009

Just hit mid-term.

Loving every minute of it.

Lots to do but it's a blast.

3 tests down, 3 to go.

The school also just changed the cirriculum, so there is a lot of give and take going on. So far everyone has been great from the school director through the NA's at the clinical sites.

Start focusing on being process driven and keeping the big picture in view.

And if you struggle through tests, start now to find ways to be the master of a test.

Best of luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

I'm under tremendous stress at the moment, because my nursing program requires a 100 percent score on the dosage calculations test, or the student will be forced to withdraw from the program. My program gives the students three opportunities to take the dosage calculations exam. If a student cannot pass with a perfect 100 percent score by the third attempt, that person will be kicked out of the program and allowed to re-enroll if space allows in a few months.

I'm cognizant that med math is very important, because I'm already an LPN/LVN. However, I'm simply anxious right now, and I'm doing everything possible to avoid having all this effort go down the drain.

cingle · Sep 25, 2009

So far, so good. The curriculum is challenging, to be sure, but so far I've not encountered anything unexpected. What has been most difficult for me is living away from home and being separated from my family...and dogs! The second my difficult part (for me) is having to work in randomly-chosen small groups in a couple of my classes. One of the small group projects will be a BIG chunk of my grade and I'm not crazy about the lack of control and being dependent on others' work for my grade. That obviously wouldn't be a problem for people who don't have serious control issues coupled with social awkwardnesss!

christinann · Sep 25, 2009

The nursing program is def. harder than I thought. I am almost done with my fundamentals classes and I am about to go into my 1st. med. surg my 1st clinical. I am a little nervous, considering that about half of the students if not more fail out of this at wcccd...:/ I will just have to be in the half that passes Plus I looked my teacher up on rate your professor and he has horrible reviews.. Any advice?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

I'm under tremendous stress at the moment, because my nursing program requires a 100 percent score on the dosage calculations test, or the student will be forced to withdraw from the program. My program gives the students three opportunities to take the dosage calculations exam. If a student cannot pass with a perfect 100 percent score by the third attempt, that person will be kicked out of the program and allowed to re-enroll if space allows in a few months.
I'm cognizant that med math is very important, because I'm already an LPN/LVN. However, I'm simply anxious right now, and I'm doing everything possible to avoid having all this effort go down the drain.

That is how ours is as well, it's a lot of pressure when you no there is no room for error, I mean obviously their is no room for error in real life but it's different when everything is on the line and all the pressure is there LOL.

To the OP, their is an awesome post probably on page 2-3 now in this forum that is like 27 pages long of everyone saying how it is so far, would probably give you a lot of insight I will go bump it to this first page.