i need advice, new lpn student

paramedic90 · Oct 22, 2015

You will get through it. I am sure almost every body has those thoughts. And it seems as though you worked hard to get where you are so do not give up now. When you do graduate you will be so damn proud of yourself and so happy you never gave up. Drawing blood used to scare the sh** out of me and I loathed every day when it was blood draw time. Now, 8 months into my new job, I breeze through them like its nothing. You got this.

woodly · Oct 22, 2015

You will get through it just don't give up on yourself. There were times when I wanted to quit but, my parents pushed me through it. Trust me you will be more worried about the NCLEX then the actual class after you get done with it :up:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2015

Since the OP is a current student in a practical nursing (PN) program, this thread has been moved to the LPN / LVN Nursing Student forum for more responses.

allnurses Guide · Oct 22, 2015

I think most people feel the way you do to one degree or another. My advice would be to break down what you're really afraid of and make a definite plan to deal with it. What I'm reading between the lines is mostly fear of the unknown. Until you have specifics to work with your inner problem solver has nothing to work with. It may boil down to just showing up, scared or not at first.

Most nursing programs will have a form of "the speech". I believe the purpose there is not to scare you but help ground you to reality and get you to take the program seriously. There are many people who don't and he/she needs to cover all the bases in their introductory spiel.

Resist the idea of freaking out over things that may occur weeks or months down the road, after you've been in the program for long enough to identify the actual reason for the impending lab or clinicals disaster. Nothing in nursing school is like a claw machine that picks you up and drops you in a land you don't recognize.

It's a step-by-step process. The person who starts lab or clinicals in 3 days is totally different from the person who just heard "the speech". Many people also come into it with no prior healthcare experience, and other than familiarity and experience in very basic nursing procedures, those MAs, CNAs, HHAs, etc, are brand new nursing students just as you are,

You may find it helpful to read through some of our many threads and articles covering that topic extensively! Here is our site map where you may find things of interest.

All the best to you!

acim · Oct 22, 2015

I think most people feel the way you do to one degree or another. My advice would be to break down what you're really afraid of and make a definite plan to deal with it. What I'm reading between the lines is mostly fear of the unknown. Until you have specifics to work with your inner problem solver has nothing to work with. It may boil down to just showing up, scared or not at first.
Most nursing programs will have a form of "the speech". I believe the purpose there is not to scare you but help ground you to reality and get you to take the program seriously. There are many people who don't and he/she needs to cover all the bases in their introductory spiel.
Resist the idea of freaking out over things that may occur weeks or months down the road, after you've been in the program for long enough to identify the actual reason for the impending lab or clinicals disaster. Nothing in nursing school is like a claw machine that picks you up and drops you in a land you don't recognize.
It's a step-by-step process. The person who starts lab or clinicals in 3 days is totally different from the person who just heard "the speech". Many people also come into it with no prior healthcare experience, and other than familiarity and experience in very basic nursing procedures, those MAs, CNAs, HHAs, etc, are brand new nursing students just as you are,
You may find it helpful to read through some of our many threads and articles covering that topic extensively! Here is our site map where you may find things of interest.
All the best to you!

Pretty much everything written here. I felt the same WITH experience in the healthcare field. It's quite normal to feel this way. The worst thing you can do is over study, make sure you take breaks and tune in to know when your brain has had enough. Ask questions! Too often students who feel inexperienced will not ask for clarification. There's nothing wrong with not knowing, that's why you're there. Besides, just because your classmates have experience does NOT mean they will pass and you will fail. Everyone there has to learn the same things you do.

I won't lie, the course is rigorous and a beast but doable. An important tip: nursing fundamentals is your core from here on out no matter what educational path you venture on to. It forces you to critically think. It will pop on all tests.

Best of luck.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Oct 23, 2015

I agree with everyone else here. Also, remember that during clinical, you will have an instructor with you who will be with you when you perform something for the first time. They don't just put you on the floor and say do it. Clinical instructors will look for new things for you to experience too.

Hang in there and in the end, you will be very proud of yourself and all that you learned and can do. But, also remember, that in nursing, you are always learning, long after graduation.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

After my very first A&P class I thought "i cannot do this" and seriously had to talk myself into returning two days later. I just set my eyes on the prize and plugged away, one day at a time. I wish I had better, earth-shattering advice, but I do remember that feeling

dreamer0x · Oct 23, 2015

Ugh the a&p is a pain, but I'm trying.

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Oct 23, 2015

Don't talk yourself out of this, you will psych yourself out. Granted, I do think it will be slightly more challenging for you if you haven't been in any healthcare setting but that should really only apply to clinicals and not your actual book work. I have been an LPN for over 5 years now and I still feel inferior in my LPN to RN bridge program at times. But I fake it till I make it and it usually works. Sometimes, that's all you can do. That and put hard work in and you should be fine.

Scottishtape · Oct 23, 2015

After my very first A&P class I thought "i cannot do this" and seriously had to talk myself into returning two days later. I just set my eyes on the prize and plugged away, one day at a time. I wish I had better, earth-shattering advice, but I do remember that feeling

This. One day at a time. You got this.

SheilaBrooks · Oct 31, 2015

Hello!

Im going into my 4th month of a PN program. Don't let the other students with medical experience discourage you. I thought that because I've been a CNA for 10 years that the program would be easier for me... ITS NOT! What you learn as a cna is only a small small I'll emphasize that again SMALL portion of the theory and dialect you'll learn in nursing school. After 3 months I'm kind of just getting the hang of things and beginning to see how I learn and the best ways for me to study. It's a life altering process.. One in which you'll reinvent yourself. Don't worry about clinicals you will do just fine. Take it day by day and remind yourself that you are new to this.. Be easy on yourself because as novice students WE WILL make mistakes. Good luck on your journey you'll be just fine!