need some advice: LPN school.

luv4nursing · May 26, 2007

Hi! I'm new to this site!
I'm currently a nurse tech saving up some money so I can get into the LPN program on Jan 2008.
I would like to hear from others how their experience was in the LPN program..how was the first semester like? as well as any advice to prepare myself for nursing school...I would greatly appreciate it
Thanks!

You are smart to stat saving money now so u can have a little cushioning during school so u dont have to work constantly if it gets too rough. My advice is to simply prepare yourself mentally to dedicate yourself 100% to the program for the year it takes to complete. Most LPN programs have a 50% success rate, with about half the class graduating. My class started with over 30 and we graduated 13 in the end! Some dropped out, some failed, but I have confidence that if u are mentally prepared, u can get through it...u just have to be willing to do whatever it takes and that usually means sacrificing your personal life for the year. I worked part time while in the program (25-30 hrs a week) and graduated top of the class...so it can be done. It will all go by so fast u wont believe it...so just hold on and enjoy the ride! It will be challenging, but so worth it in the end. Good luck to u!

ss07 · May 26, 2007

I just graduated from LVN school. You have to be a serious student to make it there. You have to be dedicated and focused. The tests are not easy, but if you study hard you can make it. You have to want it badly. Almost half my class didn't make it all the way through. Don't be frightened, they weren't serious about it and didn't want to study hard. If you do, you'll make it. When you get in, find a study group among the students. Serious students. Try to get in one where at least a couple of people have good grades. I wish you the best. Personally I'm glad I did it.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 27, 2007

It is quick, intense and tiring. Get used to placing your personal life on hold. Study hard and study well. Time management skills are a must, because you have a certain amount of days between exams to get things together. If your textbooks has an accompanying study guide, purchase it...it usually helps to get to understand the main points and sometimes the professors may even use questions from there simply to see if you chose to purchase it on your own. If study groups work well for you, then, do it. I personally hated them and chose to study alone, but, let me say this...if the study group does not work for you, leave them early. Many people feel that you have to go up or down together and misery loves company. Sometimes you get some that get mad when they see one person is doing better than the rest. Good luck!

niteshiftlvn07 · May 28, 2007

:monkeydance: welcome!!! NURSING school was challenging and stressful. My class started off with 40 students and graduated 28. It was tough 1st semester because 7 students failed. You'll have to get organized becaused laziness will hurt you:nono: . Try to join a study group with positive minded students. Stay as far away as posible from overly competitive,negative, opinionated know it all's. Get as much sleep as you can( I had too many sleepless nights trying to study!!!) Get help (tutoring) before it's too late!! I only passed pharmacology because of a caring tutor!!! Expect the unexpected- the instructors love to catch you unprepared. seek guidance-- during clinicals a nasty hospital patient treated me so poorly, by the end of the day I was in tears. My instructor pulled me aside to let me know that I COULD have gotten help if I had asked for it. Lastly- Stay positive!! Just imagine yourself graduating and getting your nursing pin:balloons: Good luck and God bless you!!!

MotaRolaJota · Jun 3, 2007

thanks for the advice!!

eldragon · Jun 3, 2007

I'm in my third block of LPN school, there are 5 blocks to complete.

We started out with 26 students and have lost 9 so far. The reasons they failed are:

Dropped due to private issues (1)

Failed drug test (1)

Failed first blocks finals (1)

Failed second blocks finals (5)

Too many absences (1)

Make a promise that you will never be late and never miss school or clinical, because people who are late and miss school don't make it.

Study hard and sleep every night. Forget about partying, or the laundry or whatever else you might do during the week - just study and go to school.. You'll have days off on the weekend, don't relax during schooltime.

During clinicals, do your absolute best. Be cheerful, be helpful, and look for work to do. Act professional and your teachers will notice, as will prospective future employers. Act like an idiot and they will notice that, too. (Dancing, innapropriate language, bad attitude, frequent disapearances and/or smoke breaks - you think you can get away with it - think again.)

Oh, and forget about other nursing students being your friends. I am different from most of the other students, so I see and hear them all talking about each other during breaks. They all talk about each other, and and believe me : they'll talk about you when you turn your back, too. And the first time you miss your allotment of days, they'll all be there taking notes to make sure you're out of the program. It's very cut-throat. It's as if these people think they get a bonus when someone else gets the boot.

I never enjoy seeing anyone cut from the program. I wish we would/could all make it.

FLIGHT2RN · Jun 5, 2007

My advice is to simply prepare yourself mentally to dedicate yourself 100% to the program for the year it takes to complete. Most LPN programs have a 50% success rate, with about half the class graduating. My class started with over 30 and we graduated 13 in the end! Some dropped out, some failed, but I have confidence that if u are mentally prepared, u can get through it...u just have to be willing to do whatever it takes and that usually means sacrificing your personal life for the year.

It's weird it happens like that because in my program we started out with 20 students and now there's only 11 left. We lost about 5 in the first term, either because of illness, failing or family issues. Then it went down hill from there. You truly do have to be completely dedicated and focused to attend school and work, whether it's a full-time or part-time position. I have a full-time job and it's not too busy, but I do get extremely tired some days. It truly is a handful, but I've kept the faith and keep pushing on. My Grad date is Nov. 30th and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! I believe I'll take a week off and then focus completely on the NCLEX. Good Luck to all future nurses!