How ready are you for nursing school?

[openyourmind]

Just thought this would be an intersting topic since I am becoming more aware that some of my peers aren't completely ready, including I.

I am speaking on terms of physically and mentally/spiritually.

To share where I'm at, I feel I'm not ready on the physical aspect of nursing. The idea of ambulating a patient over a specific weight by myself is a little daunting. I'm hoping (for safety concerns) I'll never have to do some of these things by myself. I am currently working on trying to strengthen myself in this area.

I combined spiritually and mentally because many people do have belief systems that limit them, whether they realize it or not.

My advocation on this is that I will be able to treat a patient as fairly as the next patient without preconceived judgement due to a limiting belief. This goes for many unlisted "controversial" topics that currently exist in healthcare.

My mind is capable of wrapping around the fact people are different, and the patient should come prior to whatever my beliefs are.

So, how ready are you nursing school, physically and mentally?

[mom2twins9909]

I say: BRING IT ON!!

[Mommy_RN1211]

This semester was my first semester in Nursing school and our school throws you into clinicals as of day 1 pretty much. I saw, felt, smelt, dealt with a lot in just one semester. I delt with adults who had AIDS and other "controversial" diseases, dying patients, amputees that needed lifting etc. I found that at first it was tough mentally but I more so felt sorry for these people instead of judging for them having AIDS, etc. I know other stuff down the road dealing with kids/babies will probably not be so easy mentally but you do the best you can.

Physically, all my classmates worked so well together. We helped each other with the larger patients in terms of moving them etc. Based on your post not sure if you are starting nursing school or asking if you are ready to be a nurse but in school they teach you how to pick up heavier people and the techniques make it pretty easy.

I think the best thing you can do is look at everyone as a human, try not to judge or let their choices influence your care. When you walk out of the building take a deep breath and try and leave it there. :) Good luck!

[openyourmind]

Very positive way of looking at things futurenurse1211! I have no doubt that I and others are going to have to see and deal with all kinds of diseases and procedures. Our job as a student is just simply to learn. I am curious how students handle some of these things, and you put it well when you emotionally detach by leaving it there when your day is done, and not letting it consume your days.

I actually start this fall so I have time to just get myself together all around. I think I have a really good study group who has stuck through since completing pre-reqs. Very rare, but I think it shows how great groups can be so I'm sure we'll stick like glue throughout the madness that is nursing school. I'm excited overall!

[guest07/14/15]

Mentally and physically I am ready. I have been in a healthy eating diet plan and I now exercise daily twice a day. The exercise has helped me to build up my energy and clear my mind. I believe I am ready for nursing school.

[openyourmind]

I try to limit animal products by consuming more greens. Eventually I'd like to eliminate meat products or at least not consume the way I do now. I lack greatly in the exercise dept and I find it hard to motivate myself in that area.

If anyone has any tips, please share!

[Mommy_RN1211]

I have stayed with the same study group through my pre-reqs as well and it has worked out great! :) Good luck, you will do fine!

[datalore]

I've been doing strength-training workouts 3 days a week to get ready, doing more cardio, and trying to re-acquaint myself with my love of yoga and mindfulness meditation (it's my preferred stress-reduction tactic). I'm not ready yet, but I will be in a few months when it starts!

(P.S. If you're telling yourself, "I'm not physically ready," it's not too late to start! You can do it!)

[daetor2012]

I believe I'm ready, but until you can say you've been through nursing school you can never be 100% prepared I guess. Being a male will probably help me out in the physical aspect of nursing as far as lifting patients/boxes, but I'm not counting on it being easy at all.

[openyourmind]

Definitely need to be serious about this, thanks for the reminder.

...and trying to re-acquaint myself with my love of yoga and mindfulness meditation (it's my preferred stress-reduction tactic).

[RunBabyRN]

Getting into a good health regimen now can be really helpful. I ran through school and lifted weights (pretty much let my swimming and biking fall by the wayside, as running is more flexible). I also carried most of my food for the day with me in a cooler.

School will teach you how to handle the emotional/mental side of things, and you'll learn about therapeutic communication.

Do your best not to judge your patients. One thing to remember is that you never know someone's whole story. There is often a reason why people are in their situations, and often it stems from something that was not their fault- abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, etc., and they were never taught the skills to handle life's stressors. Many drug-users are self-medicating to manage psychiatric disorders or to bury past trauma. I had a patient with HIV who received it from his cheating wife. There's always more to the story. Never assume you know all of it. Your job is to provide the best care possible, and to listen if they're willing to talk. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason! :)

I don't think you can ever be 100% prepared, because it's hard to know exactly what you're walking into. Recognize that your whole class feels the same way! It's okay to be nervous. Work together with your peers, keep in communication with your instructors, manage your time well, and manage your stress with healthy choices.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

Great advice, RunBabyRun! And sometimes the illness is caused by lifestyle and you have to check your judgmental behavior at the door, and keep your emotions off your face, which I think is even hard for some seasoned nurses to do. As for being "ready" for nursing school, nothing I did made much difference, my first year was still culture shock! The pace, the grading scale, the skills tests...... THE MATH!