Just got into associates in nursing program

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I just got into a 2 yr program at a local community college here in SoCal....I am super thankful and excited but also incredibly nervous. What are some things I can do to prepare myself for the first semester? I start in Feb. Thanks!

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If you start in February, I would honestly say, live your life and do everything you want to do now. There is no need in starting right now or trying to "get ahead" since you don't have an idea of what nursing school is about or what you need to turn your focus to yet. Unless you already have all the books and the syllabus, I wouldn't sweat it. You will be on lock down for 2 years. So enjoy the freedom to do whatever you want to do now! Be with your family, your significant other, your friends, devote time to hobbies you love. And I'm totally serious when I write this. I'm going into my last semester and when I'm on break, I'm on break. I don't crack open a book at all. Since I know when school starts, that's all there is.

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This is great advice. I know when I was in school, I had NO time for anything but school. Op, you better enjoy some freedom while it lasts and congrats!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Nurses like to worry in advance, so it sounds like you are in the right career trajectory! I recommend you follow willowita's advice. Also, let your riends and family know that you may not be available for all the get-togethers during nursing school. They will be proud of you when it is all behind you.

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What I wish I would have done is plan on how I would take care of ME... I focused so much on school that I failed to plan how I was going to eat and exercise and make sure I was healthy

After my 1st semester, I made a meal plan that included a shopping list. e/o weekend I'd go shopping and make some food that I could grab in a hurry. I worked FT and went to school FT and eating fastfood was not helping me overall. I figured out when I could add exercise into my day (hint: EVERYONE has an extra 30 mins to exercise, you just need to prioritize). The rest of my semesters were so much easier when I was healthy and happy

Otherwise, enjoy this time where you have nothing to worry about. seriously. You'll be up to your eyeballs in nursing stuff soon so don't spend 2 months worrying about it

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I agree with the other writers. Enjoy your time now and don't sweat it. You will have plenty of time to get bogged down in the books. If you feel you just HAVE to do something, I would recommend studying up on some medical terminology if you haven't already had a class on it and maybe start on lab values. But, honestly, I would just enjoy the Holidays and go have some fun. Congrats on getting in and good luck!! You will look back when you are finished and those two years will be a blur.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I agree- take this time to have fun and communicate with friends that you'll be off the grid for the next two years. Plan ahead for meal and snack ideas, get a crock pot, etc. I do a lot of my reading on my treadmill (crank up the incline and walk slowly, still get a good burn without the nausea! LOL), so I can still get in a workout AND study. Think about those little tricks that might work for you and start jotting them down.

I TOTALLY agree about the meal plans, too. I did that, and I'm glad. I created 3 that were 7 days each, and rotated between them my first semester.

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Thanks for the advice, guys! I have relaxed a little bit more and am not as nervous about starting school :)

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Specializes in OR, Medical/Surgical, Orthopedics.

I agree with everyone else. I was just like you when I started nursing school when it came to trying to prepare everything I could beforehand. You won't have much free time after school starts, so enjoy every minute of it. Nursing students have no social life and that's the sad truth.......the trash goes out more than I actually do :/ So soak it up, be social and enjoy it ! :) Oh! and Congrats on your acceptance!

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Congrats! I start this month too and I am really nervous. Good luck! :up:

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No preparation! Just enjoy your free time for now. Then get a planner and hit the ground running in February!! Have fun. I'm in an ADN program also 3rd semester

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Congratulations! Enjoy your free time while you can! Once school starts, you will dedicate most of your time to studying!

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