New LPN student with a few questions and a hello :)

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Hi! As someone who is about to become a new nurse ( I hope) I'm glad I found this site to discuss nursing, or rant lol, with like-minded people. :)

I just started my LPN classes today. 60 students applied to the program and only 16 got in. I was one of the 16 so I was excited about that, but now the reality of what I've gotten myself into hit today lol.

Pros: Things I think will help me in my budding nursing career.

-I already have a Bachelor's degree. It's in journalism. So it's basically in a subject that deals with no math or science. However, I think that since I have been to college I am more ready for the loads and loads of studying that is about to soon be coming at me. I am also a very avid reader. I always have been. You pretty much have to pull me out of a library. More importantly I'm pretty good at comprehending what I've read so I think that will come in handle with the magnitude that I have to memorize and understand in this field.

-I'm also on the CNA registry.

-My study habits- I am person who reads a chapter in its entirety first. Then writes down and answers all review questions after the chapter. That includes all questions that are in the study guides that come with the books. I also plan to watch the videos and go to the websites to do the review questions on there as well. I note card any and everything that looks important so I can do on the go studying. Also studying for hours on end does not bother me. Well no to be more accurate it does bother me, but I can do it, and have done it numerous times doing college.

-No children. No job. Two things that even my nursing instructor said just don't mesh well with nursing school.

- I plan to work a year or so as an LPN and then get in a bridge LPN to RN program.

Cons- Things I think will slow me down on being a nurse.

-Math and I have never gotten alone. I can do reading, english, history, and even science with little to no problem. Math, however, is pretty much like a virus with no cure for me though, and that fault has me worried since I know a fair bit of math is included in most health related fields. On the ATI placement test it was my lowest score, and I do mean low. :(

-I'm introverted. The introvert personality type is already rare, but my type (INTJ) is the rarest. It especially is for a female. I'm just not an emotional person. Never have been. I'm calm, quiet, logical, and collected. However, as with most introverts I have been called aloof, distant, not outgoing enough or at all, snobbish, etc. However, I see my calm personality as an asset because when an emergency takes place the health care providers don't need to be going nuts alone with the patients and family. That's where my calmness comes in. I just don't get hysterical about things. It's just not in me to do so.

I'm a very good listener though. Which I think is very important quality in a nurse. I just want to know would this eventually become a problem professionally since there's a certain way most of society thinks nurses are supposed to be, and I just don't think I fit the ideal of one. I'm a nice person. I'm just not a very emotional one. Any other nurses, or soon to be, on here that can weigh in on your experiences being a nurse with this personality type?

Now for some general questions- Why the haste in nursing? I just don't understand that because it would seem to me that in an occupation dealing with life and death that the training should be as slow as possible so the student can really get what is being taught so they don't mess up and accidently kill someone. Yet nursing school, from Lpn on up, is so quick. Why?

What's with the ati books? I thought I was never going to see a book or a test involving those letters ever again lol. However, lo and behold the prof passed out an ati fundamental of nursing book as well as an ati nutrition book and told us at the end of the semester we would be tested on it. I almost fainted lol. So now I have two books, that weren't on the syllabus, to study plus the three that were. *sigh* I have a feeling they are to prepare us for the boards, but then why couldn't the actual books we are going to be lectured on and doing clinicals from do that?

Lastly,with all of the above( both the pros and cons) do you think I have a shot at passing this class and becoming a nurse or do you think things like not being so hot in math and my quiet personality might hinder me to much?

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i was never good at math. actually. noone in my class was lol. but u learn specific formulas that pertain to JUST nursing so thats a plus. youll do fine. i think its fast paced because it can be. no reason to drag it out if it doesnt need to be. throughout school ull learn to catch onto things pretty darn fast. as for being quiet. thats OK! nothing wrong with that. most students (including myself) have low confidence (when it comes to pt care) and thats something that builds over time! you can do it!! negative thinking will only bring you down. its not easy, but its deffinitly not impossible. congrats on your future career as a nurse :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Moving to the LPN/LVN student forum.

Calm in chaos is good.

You WILL need basic math skills not only for nursing school but also for your career. It is quite often that I have to double check dosing calculations whether written out by another nurse (and possibly transcribed wrong) and to be able to question of a dose seems to be too high/low/inaccurage. Learn your converstions pounds to kilograms, teaspoons to milliliters, etc. There are quite a few threads in the Nursing Student Assistance Forum here on allnurses.com that have many tips for surviving medication math/dosing math in nursing school and beyond. You can also find out NOW if your school offers any sort of tutoring or extra help for math skills. Most do.

ATI is a testing company that creates NCLEX-style practice tests. It is pretty standard to be required to complete computer based ATI exams for subjects such as fundamentals, med-surg, geriatrics, obstetrics, pediatrics, mental health, etc., some schools also utilize the NLN (National League of Nursing) exams in the same subjects. My school used ATI and NLN. Once you get used to the type of question and how to decipher what is being asked you will have a much easier time figuring out the answer.

Good luck.

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Now for some general questions- Why the haste in nursing? I just don't understand that because it would seem to me that in an occupation dealing with life and death that the training should be as slow as possible so the student can really get what is being taught so they don't mess up and accidently kill someone. Yet nursing school, from Lpn on up, is so quick. Why?

An Lpn program varies from 10-18 months but I think its because if it took any longer, then why would someone want to do it? I know if LPN school took 2-3 years I would just get my R.N. instead or if your R.N. took 6 years I would just rather become a physician's assistant. Don't know if I explained it clear enough.

Also a lot of people say you apply your skills on your job and that's when you really start to learn. Most things you will know in theory but you really apply it and make sense of it on the job.

And finally, I want to say that I think you will be a great nurse even as an introvert and don't overthink the math. You will do fine.

Good luck in your program :up:

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