I got accepted into Nursing school

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2016

Congrats. Just to clarify, you are in the total nursing program, right? Not just the clinical component. Because nursing school is way more than clinical. Way more.

One thing I learned over the past couple of years, is truly the clinical component is the easy part. The hard and overwhelming part is lecture and the testing. Realize you are not learning the skills needed on the job in nursing school, you are learning how to think like a nurse and how to pass NCLEX. That is why you are there. I'm in my fourth semester and I have never started an iv, put in a cath, lots of stuff. I've given meds lots, Trach care, suctioning.... It was whatever was up with my patient that week. I finally gave up on all of that last semester and just take whatever comes my way in clinical. I focus on my testing and passing NCLEX.

You will also probably be told first day that as a CNA, you are to forget what you know. That nursing school does not do things the way your facility does them. I've seen techs in my cohort struggle with that. You will be learning things the way nursing world wants you to learn, not necessarily how it works in the real world.

This final semester has been my most difficult one. I've had to adjust the amount of time I study. I'm at my max right now of being able to give 12 hours of just study time along with my 12 hours of clinical and 6 of class a week. I'm devoting around 30 hours a week to school in addition to a job, being a single mom, and trying to balance a relationship. It's difficult. I'm also trying to buy a house which takes up anywhere from 8-10 hours a week tracking and sending all the paperwork and stuff required for that. Right now, my sleep has been losing out.

It's a crazy ride but will be well worth it in the end.

awsumsaus · Mar 1, 2016

Congrats!

I'm just going to throw it out right now: nursing school sucks. Go in knowing that it's not going to be a walk in the park, and that you might very well find out what your mental limits are. They're going to pile the work on and if your school will be anything like mine, they'll give you 50 ways to fail out with no mercy.

However, the successes you gain are pretty empowering. I am also slowly learning not to look too far into the future...enough to know when the next med surg test is, but not much further, it's very easy to become very overwhelmed and demotivated that way. Instead I'm trying to look behind me more. I am halfway through the 2nd semester, and the things I've learned and done since my first days of Anatomy (when I got super nervous about even looking at a cadaver) in Fall 2014 is amazing. I have had some doubts about if I want to do this, then I will get to see or do something in clinicals and will think "oh yeah, I want this".

Be enough of a perfectionist in clinicals to keep yourself motivated on doing things right, but strive to make mistakes. It is the best environment to make them in. Depending on the location for your clinicals, you should not be put down over making a mistake. Your nursing professors should constantly be looking over your shoulder since it is their licenses on the line. You're also human and cannot truly learn without tripping a few times along the way.

One last note, be patient with yourself the first semester. We didn't have clinicals until the very end, and spent a large portion of our time in a lab giving mannequins Foleys and giving each other bed baths. So if your school is starting you out on baby steps and you feel yourself getting bored or frustrated, give yourself until the second semester. Last week I spent all day in the OR just watching the nurses, and tomorrow is my fourth round of receiving a pt, doing an assessment, and handing out medications. That is where I'm reminded.

Sorry for the book but hopefully you'll figure out something that works for you. :)

giraffe4 · Mar 1, 2016

I'm nervous but ready! Thank you for the advice. I'm ready to take it on!