Well, I made a promise to myself that I would post my experiences once I start LPN school so any potential student would know exactly "what it is like". Before I give you the run down of day 1 of my program, let me give you a little background on me and my program.
First, I'm 31, married, and the mother to four children ages 12, 8, 4, and 1. I'm taking a part time LPN program that alternates between 2-3 days a week for 22 months.
Well, I had class today from 8 to 2:30. The first hour or so we just went over the school handbook. We talked about absences, that you had to maintain an 80% to pass the course, uniforms, clinical experiences, etc. After that, we hit the books.
We are using the Foundations of Nursing book by Christensen. We covered chapter 1 today in class. Our teacher elaborated on the stuff she thought was really important about the history of nursing and just skimmed the stuff that wasn't that important. We started to work on chapter two (Legal Aspects in Nursing) and we watched a short video about patient rights. That took us until shortly after our lunch break.
From 1 to 2:30 we worked on medical terminology and important abbreviations we needed to know for nursing. At the end of class, we were told we would have a quiz just about every day. The quizes can be (on average), from 1 to 5 questions. So, I really have to study tonight.
Well, I have class both Tuesday and Wednesday as well this week. If I get a chance, I'll give all of you aspiring LPN students a run down as to what we did.
I hope this helps someone out there considering going to an LPN program. I know I always wanted to know "exactly what they did all day during an LPN program"!
Well, another day of clinical down. All in all, it went very well. I had one resident again. I was in charge of her ADL's and daily care. I also got to do my first head to toe assessment on her. Although it took me awile, I'm sure I will get faster as time goes on.
We got to learn how to do glucose checks in the afternoon. We got to do them on one another. Now that we all passed, we get to do them on the floor next week.
We also got to write our first nursing documentation note. Although we only wrote them on the back of our physical assessment papers and not the chart, it was still fun practicing.
We have a bunch of papers to read on insulin. I guess we are going to be learning how to draw it up and give it next week. I can't wait for that. Finally, "real" nurse duties.
I have a test tomorrow in lecture on physical assessment and vital signs. Hopefully that will go ok.
Well, another day of clinical down. All in all, it went very well. I had one resident again. I was in charge of her ADL's and daily care. I also got to do my first head to toe assessment on her. Although it took me awile, I'm sure I will get faster as time goes on.
We got to learn how to do glucose checks in the afternoon. We got to do them on one another. Now that we all passed, we get to do them on the floor next week.
We also got to write our first nursing documentation note. Although we only wrote them on the back of our physical assessment papers and not the chart, it was still fun practicing.
We have a bunch of papers to read on insulin. I guess we are going to be learning how to draw it up and give it next week. I can't wait for that. Finally, "real" nurse duties.
I have a test tomorrow in lecture on physical assessment and vital signs. Hopefully that will go ok.
Take Care,
Marci
Marci,
Sounds like you had a good day! You'll gain more confidence and experience with each patient you take care of. And you will decrease your assessment time as you gain experience. It's fun to see things through your eyes...don't lose the excitement!
Wednesday was a pretty fun lecture class day. We all had to bring in oranges to practice giving injections on. We practiced cleaning off the vial top, measuring the amount of med we needed in the syringe, injecting the air into the vial, then turing the vial over to fill the syringe with the med, recap the needle using the scoop method, cleaning our orange with an alcohol wipe, removing the cap, and then darting into our oranges. I thought it was a pretty cool lab session. I injected my poor orange with so many meds that you couldn't squeeze it anymore! It was a hard, round ball:lol2:
I only have two days of class next week. Clinical on Monday and lecture class on Tuesday. I only have eight more clinical days left of this level. Although I like being in a nursing home, I can't wait until level 2 when we are going to an acute care facility.
No tests next week. Yeah! However, I have to turn in my careplan and drug cards on Monday.
Well, I'll keep you all posted as to how next week transires. Please keep us all posted as to how all of your programs are going. I'm sure our experiences are helping to alleviate some of the anxiety for future LPN students.
Congrats on ur first week.... I am in a full time program and yes it is very intense b/c of so much information in such a short amount of time. We basically did the same thing u described the firsI week. Our fiirst test consisted of 100 questions and that week I went over the chapters with a fine tooth comb...... The Sunday b4 my test I woke up at 5am and studied until noon.... I scored a 93 on that test and for me it felt great...... I wish u the best and look forward to more of ur updates... Good luck Monday.
I had clinicals today. It turned out to be an ok day. However, my resident refused to cooperate this morning. I went into the room expecting to do a head to toe assessment and her a.m. care. Instead, she told me to leave her alone because she wanted to sleep! So much for getting my work done on schedule. I went and helped my fellow classmates for about a half hour and then returned to see if she was a little more cordial during that visit. Fortunately for me, she was.
Nothing else really major happened today. We got to do the glucose scan's for the floor. I got to use the hoyer lift with a patient. Other than that, same stuff we've done before.
However, here's the kicker! I get to play "nurse" next week and pass meds! Yippeee! I don't get a resident to take care of, per se. But, I do get to pass meds on all of the students patients. I can't wait.
Well, I have class tomorrow. No tests, thank goodness.
I had a great day at clinicals today. I got to pass meds and it was sooooo much fun. I did tube feedings and meds, glucoscans (a ton at 7 and 11:30), administered oral meds, eye drops, ear drops, nitroglycerin patches and for the finale: I gave my FIRST injections today! I got to give 5 insulin injections. I wasn't nearly as nervous as I thought I would be. I have to be a sick nurse because every time someone needed an injection, I wanted to be the one to give it to them!
I'm so tired now. When I'm with the med cart, I'm on my feet all day long. I didn't even get a break because I had so many meds to administer. I also didn't get to take a lunch until 12:30, well after the time the rest of my classmates got to go to lunch. Oh well, passing meds was fun.
I have class tomorrow. We have a pharmacology calculations quiz to take (10-15 questions). Wednesday, I have a 30 point test on First Aid.
OMG! This thread ROCKS!!! I am more motivated than ever to be a LPN. I'm currently just getting started. I'm enrolled in CNA class that starts in Aug. I have to request and wait for my CC to receive my transcripts before I can start on my pre-req's. Hopefully, I can apply Fall 2009. However, in the meantime. I am enjoying your thread! Keep it coming Marci and others!:bowingpur
OMG! This thread ROCKS!!! I am more motivated than ever to be a LPN. I'm currently just getting started. I'm enrolled in CNA class that starts in Aug. I have to request and wait for my CC to receive my transcripts before I can start on my pre-req's. Hopefully, I can apply Fall 2009. However, in the meantime. I am enjoying your thread! Keep it coming Marci and others!:bowingpur
Glad I can help. I'll keep you posted as to how my program is going. In the meantime, keep working on getting into your cc's nursing program. You won't regret it for a moment. Good luck in August.
Never thought the day would arrive! I will letcha all know how it went as soon as I collect my thoughts. I hear it is a grueling program, but I'm up for the challenge.
Well, I got a 100% on my first aid test and another 100% on my pharmacology calculations test. I didn't think either were to hard. That brings my overall average to a 96% for this level. We only have 10 more lecture days and 6 more clinical days left this level. However, when you are part time, that will take you to June.
Nothing new to really report. We are working on the cardiac chapters now. Hopefully I will do ok on that exam.
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rnmomtobe2010
1,051 Posts
this kinda stuff gets me motivated!! thanks for sharing!!