Nervous/Anxious about starting Nursing Program!

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2013

I love that show. I start in a month, orientation is the 12th. All clinical requirements, background check, Liability Insurance and other docs ahve to be uploaded to certified background by august 2, and I still have my second PPD to upload, which will be read tomorrow. Stress doesn't come close to describing how I feel! I ordered my scrubs, have all my books for first semester, and am starting to read my fundamentals book. I am going to spend the next month brushing up on A & P, and dosage calc, and am starting an exercise program, vitamins and fiber, and changing my eating habits. My study area is almost ready. The countdown is on! :nailbiting: Just remember how much you have invested in this already, and that you deserve to be there! (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

nursingstudentjess · Jul 25, 2013

My orientation is August 27th. I need to go back to the Doctor to get my PPD booster, and just renew my CPR which ill be doing through my school (mine expires in November). I bought my books on amazon and almost fell through the floor when my 55 lb package of books came, it was a struggle to get it up 3 flights of steps! I bought my stethoscope, which I was very excited about! I have not bought my uniforms or whatever other supplies I will need because I will find out on day of orientation. I think my school requires all white uniforms and shoes =\ I'm going to need to invest in a lot of bleach pens.. Like you I have been trying to go over medical calculations, I have hw that I was assigned by the program to review medical terminology and I will brush up on my A&P. Good luck to you, and thank you for the positivity!

AdrianaZimmer · Jul 25, 2013

My acceptance walk is Aug 14th. Classes start Aug 19th. good luck ladies and gents...

Jaynie_Marie · Jul 25, 2013

I start my ADN program on August 19th and am starting to get pretty anxious, as well! I have most of my books ordered - thank the Lord for amazon and half.com, as I spent $230 on books that would have been $600 from the bookstore. I still have two required books to buy and a couple recommended ones...also need to pick up my uniforms and a bundle of books from the bookstore (they aren't telling us what books are in the bundle, so unfortunately I cannot buy those online). We don't have any assigned homework and all my immunization records, ppd, etc were due at the end of June, so I don't really have anything to keep me busy til class starts (except work, of course)...I'm taking vacation next week to spend some time with my family, and then I'll try to brush up on some A&P. Good luck all...I'm sure we'll do great!! :)

boogalina, ADN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN · Jul 25, 2013

Everyone breathe! You'll make it through this thing called nursing school!

A couple survival tips:

1. For those white uniforms (ugh) remember to avoid chlorine bleach b/c it will yellow the (usually) non-bleachable fabric. (Except bleach pens are OK.). Do invest in undershirts and/or beige underthings b/c they tend to be see-through (bonus!). An alcohol wipe will remove many stains safely.

2. Consider a recorder for lectures. You can listen again on your commute or while exercising.

3. Exercise & watch your diet...most everyone in my cohort packed on the pounds.

4. Get an NCLEX review book and use it as an adjunct to your studies...will help you acclimate to the questions, which are a bit difficult to acclimate to. The Saunders PN review is excellent for first-year content.

5. If you love notecards but hate carrying them, consider Quizlet, an online flash card maker that also allows you to play games, print tests and "listen" to your note cards.

Whew! That's plenty! I just graduated and its taken me about 1.5 months to start breathing normally again!

ambitiousBSN · Jul 25, 2013

I'm also a Medical Assistant with 6+ years experience, and often wonder if I'll be able to make it through nursing school. I'm basically going in with the thought that although I do have experience, that I'm really not any more privileged than other students because there's still a lot of material and skills that I need to learn. Sure, my experience puts me at an advantage, but I'm not approaching this with an ego. I start on August 28 and was finally deemed "compliant" this morning by Certified Background. :-) I have all of my books; my scrubs, lab coat, polo shirt, and skills kit are ordered; my husband upgraded my old steth to a Littmann Cardiology III; and I'm pushing forward with the required reading that my Fundamentals professor assigned for summer reading. It's been hard though this summer because I am still working full time (I will be working part time during the semesters, though) and all I want to do after work is either relax and watch TV, or sleep! I'm super excited though- I can't really say I'm nervous anymore, but I'm sure I'll go back to being nervous when August 28th comes around! :-)

You deserve(d) your acceptance, and we both will rock in our programs! :-) Stay positive and you'll succeed just like the rest of us first semester students!

SherriJones · Jul 25, 2013

This poem, mounted as a decent size poster right above the desk where I studied each night, kept me going, kept me from quitting the program, and got me through all four years no matter what happened in school or life, or in the past:

[h=3]When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,When the funds are low and the debts are high,And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,When care is pressing you down a bit-Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,And many a fellow turns aboutWhen he might have won had he stuck it out.Don't give up though the pace seems slow -You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;Often the struggler has given upWhe he might have captured the victor's cup;And he learned too late when the night came down,How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,And you never can tell how close you are,It might be near when it seems afar;So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.[/h]

SherriJones · Jul 25, 2013

For those white uniforms (ugh) remember to avoid chlorine bleach b/c it will yellow the (usually) non-bleachable fabric. (Except bleach pens are OK.). Do invest in undershirts and/or beige underthings b/c they tend to be see-through (bonus!). An alcohol wipe will remove many stains safely.
I swear by bluing (to prevent or treat dingy, yellow, over-bleached whites), a product you add to your laundry. I guess there are homemade recipes for it but I always bought mine. For more info,
Mrs. Stewarts Bluing â€" Whitening Whites Safely Since 1883

Lbenoit07 · Jul 25, 2013

I am starting my first semester of nursing school this fall as well! I start August 26! We have orientation on the 22! I am so nervous, but keep telling myself that I will be just fine! Stay positive, organized, and study hard! Good luck this semester and the rest of the program! We can do this!!!

nursingstudentjess · Jul 25, 2013

Sherri Jones, that is a beautiful and empowering poem thanks for sharing it!

Thank you everyone for the positivity, good luck to all us future RN's =]

Flnolegirl · Jul 25, 2013

I start my ADN program July 31. Orientation July 29 talk about a nervous wreck all I have cpmpleted is my background check, and required shots. My school orders the uniforms and books so I guess I wil get all reading assignments and whatever else on Monday.

GOOD LUCK to everybody starting their journey to becoming a nurse...