It's actually NOT so bad!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I should preface this by stating that I'm all of one week into nursing school, so I can't profess to be an expert. However, this is going to be do-able. I also work full time and have three kids, so I don't have much time, which I thinks makes me quite efficient. (This is the first time I've visited this site in a while because I was studying and such.) My recommendation, when you have summer reading- read it over the summer! I did all 28 chapters, wrote my outlines and took my pretests. So, the four chapters that have been assigned in the first week- not much trouble. For the students that were buying their books the first day of class- they're overwhelmed. I've used all the outside resources for our upcoming med math qualification exam. So when the professors asked how our math calc is going, I could ask a question while many students were wondering when we would go over it in class. They were expecting days devoted to it when we'll actually have one hour in lecture next week. That's it. This is no longer spoon-feeding school. There's a lot to be done and it's up to me to do it. But that's something I can handle. I'm not saying it's going to be easy throughout. The testing format is new to me and can be quite tricky I'm sure. And the schedule itself will be tough with school, clinicals, work and family. We'll all make some sacrifices, but it will be worth it in the end!

I hope that others are finding that things are going well. And for those pre-nursing students, I just want to let you know that it's going to be possible to do it. You just need to put in the work.

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I start in January and this is great info! I am glad that you confirmed that everything I was going to do is actually helpful and not a gigantic waste of time. Thanks!

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Like you said, you're a week into school. I'd like to read your update 6 months to a year from now, lol. Good luck!!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I certainly hope that I feel the same way after some time goes by as well. But after all the horror stories I heard about being immediately overwhelmed by nursing school, I think (depending on your program) a lot of it can be related to personal effort and preparation. I did say I'm no expert, I'm just hoping that some people might be comforted in knowing that it's not necessarily awful from day 1.

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Wait a minute.....you mean all of the drama queens were WRONG!? I can't believe it. :p

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

Your post reminded me of me on nursing school, worked 48 hours per week so I could pay for the school, took care of my dad and uncle, and 2 dogs, graduated with a 3.8 GPA and passed the NCLEX like a breeze...

Don't lose your will power, that is what made me shine, and you are going too!

Let me know in the future if you have any questions and I will be glad to help!!!

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.
Like you said, you're a week into school. I'd like to read your update 6 months to a year from now, lol. Good luck!!

If it helps you can read my whole life on nursing school! Since the first day! I recorded it here, so I had something to remember!

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Im nearing the end of my second week and I feel exactly like you do. The posts on here over prepared me (for the worse), and everything is actually going very well so far.

I'm not overwhelmed (as of yet) and I have been keeping up with the readings, even if it does seem to take forever. Plenty of students just got their books yesterday and they are definitely overwhelmed because they've already missed a week of reading from three different nursing classes which means that the readings for the current week will be put on hold and its going to end up being a cycle. I feel bad for some of them but as you said spoon feeding time is over. The bookstore ran out of books a couple weeks ago and instead of getting the books from other sources (such as Amazon, where they would be cheaper anyway) they decided to try and wait for the bookstore shipment. The shipment never came and they all ran to the computers to order off of Amazon:rolleyes:, lol.

But like I said I agree with you 100%. This is definitely doable if you stay on top of it (for now at least, lol)!

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Specializes in ICU.

This is week 3 for me...Had my first formal skills check off today, first exam is tomorrow, clinical orientation on Thursday. It is total chaos, a lot of work in a small amount of time, and a lot of surprises and things sort of sprung on us in short order. I feel like I'm right in my element. I'm having a BLAST.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
Your post reminded me of me on nursing school, worked 48 hours per week so I could pay for the school, took care of my dad and uncle, and 2 dogs, graduated with a 3.8 GPA and passed the NCLEX like a breeze...

Don't lose your will power, that is what made me shine, and you are going too!

Let me know in the future if you have any questions and I will be glad to help!!!

Daaaaaamn!

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

For me, I found the info wasn't too hard, it's all the work. Keep on top of your assignments so you don't get overwhelmed. And let us know how you feel about it in a few months!!!! :D

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Thank you for an upbeat post. Happy sigh:)

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