New RN Nursing Student

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

Hi all!

I'll be starting in an RN day program beginning at the end of January! I'm super excited, nervous, excited & nervous... I pretty much bounce between those two feelings any time I think about it. I can't believe I got in... it was my first time applying and was almost certain I'd be denied for whatever reason.

I have a prior BFA in Fine Arts, and though I received pretty good grades throughout my nursing prerequisites, I figure I don't have much experience in the Nursing field specifically so this is all very new to me. Upon graduating from art school, I started working with a young child with disabilities. It began more as an art therapy kind of position, but slowly transformed into a full time job, as the child's mother wanted me to participate in the extensive therapies and medical visits he had to endure. From that position, I moved on to working with adults with special needs through a non-profit organization that promotes individualized care and personalized goal-oriented assistance. Long story short, I became more and more interested in assistive medical care, intrigued by all of the things I didn't understand and wanted to know more, which lead me to the nursing pre-reqs and now I'm enrolled in Nursing school. It's crazy!

Anyway, any words of wisdom from those who are in a program, or who've graduated and are working, would be greatly appreciated. I've yet to attend my orientation, which isn't until December, so I'm trying to do some research on what I should be prepared for. Other's entering an RN program soon... how are you preparing yourself? Any tips/tricks/stories/etc...???

:) Thanks so much for reading my story! I'm excited to be a part of the Nursing world!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Congratulations!!!

I moved your thread to general nursing students! Here you will meet and discuss issues with fellow students. If you ever need homework help visit the nursing student assistance forum....many of us old timers hang out there and give guidance

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Specializes in Hospice.

Good for you! Congrats! It's nothing I could have prepared for, honestly. I tried, like everyone else does. You do need a study place, a planner, some big binders, a rolling backpack (at least for me because I like to keep everything together, some people just pull out the texts they need that day). You need highlighters, sticky note page markers, lots of them. A good steth. I would suggest a laser printer because you will print more skills check offs and Unit objectives than you ever thought possible. Learn dimensional analysis really well. Review A & P. Other than that, there's not much that can prepare you for the insanity that is nursing school.:eek:

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Great! Now can you convince my sister to not waste her time with a BFA.....

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Hang on just a minute Dranger! One of my offspring has an BS, MFA & a wonderful career. There's always a place for people with both creativity and skill.

OP, have you considered Art Therapy as a profession? American Art Therapy Association It may be a better match for you than nursing, especially since the nursing job market is so uncertain these days.

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Specializes in None.

I also got accepted my first time applying and I start in January too. We will be in the same boat :-) Good luck!

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Havehope I'm in the same boat. I hope everyone much success in their individual programs...

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Congrats on getting accepted!

I read your post and it sounds as if you have a great foundation to start a nursing career.

What should you prepare on?? NOTHING!!! Relax, enjoy yourself, and spend as much time now with family and friends as possible because these next couple years are going to be your life. You can do it!

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Its exciting and terrifying at the same time. I went back to school at 50. It can be done! Best advice I can give you is to do the work. all of it. those that struggled in my class were always working, tending kids, traveling, etc. instead of doing the work. Guess I'm old fashioned, but its worked for me. If you put the effort into it, you will do just fine. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

Thanks so much for the responses! I'm sure no amount of prep can truly prepare me for the experience of rursing school and eventually clinicals. I did consider art therapy at first, but it seems art therapy isn't completely respected in all states and cities, and right now I want to start broad then fine tune as I go. Perhaps I'll eventually move back into the art realm and incorporate what I learned into a therapeutic practice. For now I'm focusing on the fundamentals so I can build a strong foundation under myself without being too specific from the start.

Anyway, I'm excited! Thanks again everyone :)

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Your story is awesome :)

As for preparing for nursing school - get your supplies, and make sure you have an excellent study space where you can spread allllllllllll your books, papers, and highlighters out so you can work. Get a few NCLEX-style books to study from. And just relax and enjoy your freedom while you have it. ;)

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Its exciting and terrifying at the same time. I went back to school at 50. It can be done! Best advice I can give you is to do the work. all of it. those that struggled in my class were always working, tending kids, traveling, etc. instead of doing the work. Guess I'm old fashioned, but its worked for me. If you put the effort into it, you will do just fine. Best of luck to you!

I love your avatar!

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