After months of document submittal, subjecting myself to immunizations and physicals, taking pre-reqs and 2 entrance exams, doing several interviews, and finally getting accepted - I'm ready to start on January 4th.
The school had its orientation last Friday. We were fitted for uniforms, given our textbooks, and informed of the class/clinical schedule for the first 6 months. I'm happy to report that we will get a very occassional day off here and there, but in late May, they give us a whole week to regroup, catch up, take care of business, and generally live life for 7 days!
The school director reinforced the notion that NS will be difficult but not impossible. The critical point being that we simply can not get behind. We need to understand all the concepts that we will be taught, because sure as snot, the one(s) we don't "get" will be the one(s) that will hang us up on NCLEX. She explained how the NCLEX CAT is designed and that if you show weakness in an area, you will get repeated questions to fully check for understanding (or not) of the subject. That was enlightening.
She further discussed the 4 levels of brain work that will get us through the next 11 months.
memorization (and lots of it, no getting around it)
understanding (the boatloads of material)
application (of the above), and finally
analyzing (all that we've learned)
Nurses aren't born, they're created. And I need to get going cuz they want us to hit the ground running. They gave us our first assignment due on the 4th. Eight chapters and complete the workbook. There will be a vocabulary test and a shorter quiz on the first day of class.
On your mark, get set, go.....
Anyone else want to start a new thread for January 2010 starts to share experiences? I'm game!
Oh! I just found this thread or I wouldn't have started another one the same. Great to see others in this thing with me I start Tuesday. I got in early off the waiting list, so I missed orientation and everything and feel a little behind the game to start with. Hopefully that doesn't last long!
I started in September, similar assignment for the first day. Since then it has been a crazy 3 months. Never thought I would do this much and stress out so much in so little time! Keep focused and you will make it. We started with 30 and are down to 19. Wednesday is the last day before break, still 2 more finals to go. When I come back in Jan we start clinicals 4 days a week and we start in med/surg I! I cannot wait. Just so thankful I have made it this far. Does your program require volunteer hours? Ours is 100 and I simply cannot find time for one hundred hours!
In my class we started out with 35 now we're down to 20.
I'm starting clinicals January 13. We had orientation this past week and they threw us right into our first lab on I/O. Now we've had others to start on until classes actually begin this week. I am excited and scared to death at the same time. I am prepared to study, study and study some more. I actually did find a post in here from 2004, that helped with memorizing the positions. That's when I decided to join this. Good luck to everyone!! At least we have a place to look around for help if needed. I've got myself hooked up with 3 other girls to study and practice with. That is the ticket according to previous students I know. Push eachother....and when anyone needs it, this might be a good place for some moral support!!!
oh man good luck! i feel so behind! if all goes well ill be starting nursing school next year. seems like an adrenaline rush. ill be looking forward to it!
We had a short first week, just 2 days. We have two instructors that alternate through the day. I wish that they did anatomy and then micro and then...but they do a little bit of everything every day/week, which means multiple tests every week. I'm not sure when we will start skills lab. I was told (by a 2nd semester student) that we only have one week of clinicals this semester and it's at the nursing home, the last week of the semester.
OMG I start on Jan 25th and I am tooooooo excited!! I have been wanting this since I was 5 yrs old and realized what my mom did for a living. I am picking up where she just left off in Dec (after 45 yrs)! To say that I am anxious is an understatement. I am just ready to go already!!
A&P is coming to an end. can't say that I am saddened. it's been a real push to get it all crammed into my head, but I did it with a good grade. NF 1 is also finishing up. we're getting checked off on NG and catheter placement, suctioning, bed making, administering O2, vitals, assessments, etc.
clinicals start next week. pharm starts in 2. we are moving along at a good clip.
We had the first Fundamentals test on Monday. I got a 92 and I'm thrilled!!! I always worry about the first test, with a new to me instructor and never know if I'm studying right. I think I did the right kind of preparation for this one, that's a huge relief!!!
we had our first full day of clinicals today. I have got to hand it to anyone who works in a LTC facility. it is hard and not particularly pleasant work.
my main pt was CVA c/hemiplegia. required total ADL. helped c/other pts who were in similar condition. helped pass meds and did some wound care. quite an eye opener. there's more to come...
I started on January 25. I am learning a lot but the program I'm in seems kind of disorganized. We start on our first nursing home clinicals in two weeks, and I don't feel prepared at all. We only have access to our skills lab on Fridays (the upper-level LPN classes use it the rest of the week) so I'm kind of worried I'm going to get to the nursing home and not know how to properly transfer a patient or even how to put the freaking footrests down on a wheelchair.
NM nurse to be
172 Posts
Oh! I just found this thread or I wouldn't have started another one the same. Great to see others in this thing with me
I start Tuesday. I got in early off the waiting list, so I missed orientation and everything and feel a little behind the game to start with. Hopefully that doesn't last long!
Good luck everyone!