Nervous new student here

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Hello. I start nursing school Tuesday and I am SO nervous. I'm 26 so it's been a while since I've been in school. Also, I have a husband and 4 kids...

I think the thing I'm most nervous about is learning to start an IV...I've had very bad experiences with them myself and I don't want to put anyone else through that...stupid, I know...:uhoh3:

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Good luck to you! It will all come together. :saint:

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

i've put together a couple of links for you to check out. the first one is a site every new or returning student should read. the remainder is information on starting iv's. your best response to the bad experiences you've had with ivs is to learn as much as you can about them. i was an iv team rn for many years and was also a crni. it is a skill that many nurses never really develop a good mastery of. there is a lot to learn about it to become a master at it. you most likely will not be introduced to the actual techniques of starting ivs until you are at the very end of your nursing classes. a good many states still do not let unlicensed nursing students start iv's on patients, so your actual real experience starting an iv may not be until you are on the job. if you need links to explanations and quizzes on iv drip/flow calculations i have a bunch of those as well.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/ssindex.htm - strategies for success, an online primer and tutorial on how to study for students from the alamo community college. this is a pretty extensive resource with links on the right side of the page to click into the following subjects: learning styles, note taking, memory techniques, time management, overcoming procrastination, sq3r (a method for getting the most out of reading your textbooks), study tips, critical thinking, preparing for tests, and oral presentations. also, take a look at the faq's (frequently asked questions).

http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=582125 - "on the road to successful i.v. starts", a ce offering from nursing 2005, may 2005. a beautiful article with explanations and good photographs of what the author is explaining. (might take a little time to download.)

http://enw.org/ivstarts.htm - iv starts. . .improving your odds! a very nice article on starting ivs.

http://www.ocalaregional.com/cpm/venous.htm - venous access devices self-study module. the major thrust of the information here is on central iv access devices (piccs, central lines, tunneled catheters)

https://allnurses.com/forums/f18/iv-tips-tricks-3793.html - you want to check out this thread on ivs, either bookmark it or take notes and put them away for a time when you are starting to insert iv's yourself. this is a treasure trove of information on starting ivs.

i've put together a couple of links for you to check out. the first one is a site every new or returning student should read. the remainder is information on starting iv's. your best response to the bad experiences you've had with ivs is to learn as much as you can about them. i was an iv team rn for many years and was also a crni. it is a skill that many nurses never really develop a good mastery of. there is a lot to learn about it to become a master at it. you most likely will not be introduced to the actual techniques of starting ivs until you are at the very end of your nursing classes. a good many states still do not let unlicensed nursing students start iv's on patients, so your actual real experience starting an iv may not be until you are on the job. if you need links to explanations and quizzes on iv drip/flow calculations i have a bunch of those as well.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/ssindex.htm - strategies for success, an online primer and tutorial on how to study for students from the alamo community college. this is a pretty extensive resource with links on the right side of the page to click into the following subjects: learning styles, note taking, memory techniques, time management, overcoming procrastination, sq3r (a method for getting the most out of reading your textbooks), study tips, critical thinking, preparing for tests, and oral presentations. also, take a look at the faq's (frequently asked questions).

http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=582125 - "on the road to successful i.v. starts", a ce offering from nursing 2005, may 2005. a beautiful article with explanations and good photographs of what the author is explaining. (might take a little time to download.)

http://enw.org/ivstarts.htm - iv starts. . .improving your odds! a very nice article on starting ivs.

http://www.ocalaregional.com/cpm/venous.htm - venous access devices self-study module. the major thrust of the information here is on central iv access devices (piccs, central lines, tunneled catheters)

https://allnurses.com/forums/f18/iv-tips-tricks-3793.html - you want to check out this thread on ivs, either bookmark it or take notes and put them away for a time when you are starting to insert iv's yourself. this is a treasure trove of information on starting ivs.

thank you so much for all your help! i will definately be checking out these links over the weekend! i know i'm probably worrying about nothing...i tend to do that alot! thanks again for taking the time to share this information with me!:)

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

My first day was yesterday and I have to say, it is REALLY overwhelming. I've already started to lose sleep. :lol2: However, though it's been only two days, I'm starting to KIND OF get the hang of it. We really wanted this, so I believe you, me, and any other nervous student out there will be alright. We just have to start managing our time and relaxing. You'll be OK. Good luck, hon!!!

Specializes in LTC.

I was a nervous WRECK when I first started nursing school and being nervous is very normal. The more you learn and adapt to the terminology and information, your reading should come faster. And also, think about what your doing TODAY, don't keep worrying about doing things in the future, I mean it's good to plan but why WORRY about something you didn't even do yet. I always had a problem with worrying about the stuff to learn in the future. When you go to class on your first day, think about NOW and don't worry, every thing is a learning experience and it takes time, patience, motivation, confidence, etc. I'm tired, hopefully that made sense. Good luck and remember, your not the only one!

I was nervous about iv's and phlebotomy too. Practice will get you more confident. in my school we are allowed to practice on eachother with instructor supervision. I've probably stuck, and been stuck, 100 times. I'm no expert, but after a few months of doing it, I have to say I'm a lot more confident.

Specializes in LDRP.

Well, as far as I know, you wont just jump into starting IV's! So, you have a while to build confidence and make some friends to practice on. Relax, I bet you will love school. And use your lab time! Too many people skip practicing outside of class and it shows!

GL! ;)

Thank you so much for all the support. Yes, I do tend to worry about things needlessly...that's the way I am. I am working on that. OMG only 1 more day!!!!!! Luckily I have a very supportive husband, but I learned from my Grandma last night that my mom called her and asked why in the world I was going to nursing school. My grandma got upset and said "well, maybe she wants to DO something with her life." So I guess I know how my mom feels now.:angryfire :bluecry1:

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Alright, Grandma! Guess who is going to be the first one your mom calls when she gets a boo-boo or a medical question?

Alright, Grandma! Guess who is going to be the first one your mom calls when she gets a boo-boo or a medical question?

Yeah, you're probably right. It just really hurts that I don't have her support. Not that I've ever been close to my mom. I guess I should expect this sort of reaction from her. It seems like whatever I've chosen to do at any point in my life, she's had a problem with it. I always dreaded telling my parents each time I was pregnant because they would always act like it was such an awful thing and couldn't understand why I would want more kids.

:p
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