nursing first semester

paacollins · Nov 28, 2007

Is your pharm class only dosage calculations? Will you have more pharm later on or perhaps they are incorporating it into other classes? I agree that isn't much time for an entire pharm class. Mine was an entire semester and then you always get more pharm practice with other classes as well. All our tests have at least 2 math questions.

My first semester was Mon -Thur and a test on every Friday. I had asessment, pharm, and fundamentals of nursing. It was my hardest semester by far but I still enjoyed it. Our school has theory classes the first half of the semester and then clinicals the second half.

I'm one of the few people who seems to have truly enjoyed nursing school and didn't find it all that difficult. Daily life, however, has been extremely difficult for me while in school again. If life would go on hold til I graduate it would have been a breeze. lol I graduate in May though so it is almost over. I can't wait to earn a paycheck again.

PS Congrats on becoming an official nursing student. Enjoy the ride!

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

Is your pharm class only dosage calculations? Will you have more pharm later on or perhaps they are incorporating it into other classes? I agree that isn't much time for an entire pharm class. Mine was an entire semester and then you always get more pharm practice with other classes as well. All our tests have at least 2 math questions.
It is a combination Dosage calculation/pharmacology class. I have actually taken a Dosage calc class already for a different program so I feel confident about that part. I am sure they will have to incorporate pharm in other areas of class, but no other official pharm class that I can see on the schedule.
My first semester was Mon -Thur and a test on every Friday. I had asessment, pharm, and fundamentals of nursing. It was my hardest semester by far but I still enjoyed it. Our school has theory classes the first half of the semester and then clinicals the second half.
I'm one of the few people who seems to have truly enjoyed nursing school and didn't find it all that difficult. Daily life, however, has been extremely difficult for me while in school again. If life would go on hold til I graduate it would have been a breeze. lol I graduate in May though so it is almost over. I can't wait to earn a paycheck again.
That's great to hear! We are very close in age, I am hoping I will enjoy it as much as I have so far. I am really looking forward to diving into this full time. I am worried about my family and outside school life as well. I have a great family though husband and kids are really pulling for me and hopefully will help me out a lot.
PS Congrats on becoming an official nursing student. Enjoy the ride!

THank you so much!! Congrats on nearly being through, I keep thinking two years from now I'll be ready to graduate, how exciting! Good luck on your new path!!

jla623 · Nov 28, 2007

I registered for the spring semester yesterday, so I am officially a nursing student, wha hoo!
Anyway I was wondering what everyones classes will be, I am kind of surprised a couple of mine.
monday off
Tuesday 7am-8pm clinical
Wednesday and Thursday: 8am-11:20am. Pharmacology dosage calc class. it is short term from 1/22-3/13.
After that class at 12:00 for the short term we take a foundations in nursing, and then starting 3/17. Med surg nursing I. No more pharmacology or foundations, the lecture will only be from 8:00 am till 10:50am.
I was surprised that our pharm class is only short term, I see other schools have a whole semester of this some even as a pre req! It is one of the harder classes from what I hear.
What does everyone elses schedule look like and what will be your first classes.

I have already taken Pharm, Patho, Dosage Calc., etc...but here are my classes for the first semester.

Nursing Skills Lab I, Foundations of Nursing Practice, and Clinical.

That's it! And we don't start our clinical right away.

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

I have already taken Pharm, Patho, Dosage Calc., etc...but here are my classes for the first semester.
Nursing Skills Lab I, Foundations of Nursing Practice, and Clinical.
That's it! And we don't start our clinical right away.

Thats the other thing we don't have a Patho course at all at our school, not during NS either. I hear my program is very well respected, but not having either patho or pharm has me a little nervous.

jla623 · Nov 28, 2007

Thats the other thing we don't have a Patho course at all at our school, not during NS either. I hear my program is very well respected, but not having either patho or pharm has me a little nervous.

One of the nursing programs in our community college district actually doesn't have patho or pharm classes either. When I asked, they said that they incorporate them into the nursing classes. If I hadn't already taken the classes, I would probably be fine with it because I wouldn't know what to expect, but now I feel that they are VERY important classes. There is so much material in both classes, that I would see it to be very difficult to learn it in a short period of time while taking other nursing classes. I am sure it is possible though because I took Patho as a 2 month summer class. It's just a lot of information. I REALLY enjoyed both classes.

Does your school offer them as regular courses? Or are they just for nursing students?

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

One of the nursing programs in our community college district actually doesn't have patho or pharm classes either. When I asked, they said that they incorporate them into the nursing classes. If I hadn't already taken the classes, I would probably be fine with it because I wouldn't know what to expect, but now I feel that they are VERY important classes. There is so much material in both classes, that I would see it to be very difficult to learn it in a short period of time while taking other nursing classes. I am sure it is possible though because I took Patho as a 2 month summer class. It's just a lot of information. I REALLY enjoyed both classes.
Does your school offer them as regular courses? Or are they just for nursing students?

There is no patho course at all offered to nursing or non nursing, and the only pharm course is brand new last semester, its the short term combined with dosage calc that I will take for 6 weeks. If it was offered before I would have taken it for sure! I have been sitting around since May twiddling my thumbs waiting to get in, they really should offer it, would be good to take while waiting! At our school they make you wait a whole semester before you are allowed to apply, you also have to have all your pre reqs done, so by the time you apply you have nothing left to do.

goingformydream · Nov 28, 2007

Clinicals on Mondays, Tuesdays (I believe in the 6:00ish am range to 3:00ish range) and 2 hour lecture Wednesday and 2 hour lecture on Thursday + any skills lab time. I am taking Pharm and Nursing Foundations right now... we have orientation on Friday.. I can't wait!

jla623 · Nov 28, 2007

There is no patho course at all offered to nursing or non nursing, and the only pharm course is brand new last semester, its the short term combined with dosage calc that I will take for 6 weeks. If it was offered before I would have taken it for sure! I have been sitting around since May twiddling my thumbs waiting to get in, they really should offer it, would be good to take while waiting! At our school they make you wait a whole semester before you are allowed to apply, you also have to have all your pre reqs done, so by the time you apply you have nothing left to do.

Haha yeah I can understand that. I'm not sure how hardcore you are into reading, but if you wanted, I could give you the name of my book and I bet you could find it online somewhere for pretty cheap so you would have something to read before you start! It's a great book!

I'm relaxing and taking a nice vacation to Las Vegas before I start school! I am not sure if I'm going to be doing any reading for school. :icon_cool:

jackson145 · Nov 28, 2007

I get to register this Friday but I already know what the schedule will be. First 6 wks, no clinicals, then last 10 wks of semester 1 day of clinicals from 7a-4:45p. Pharmacology on Fridays 8-11 all semester. First 6 wks Fundamentals M-Th 8-10 and 2 of those days Fundamentals lab from 10-12. Last 10 wks is Med/Surg 1-lecture M & T 8-10:30 and lab W & Th 8-10:30 and the one day of clinicals.

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

Haha yeah I can understand that. I'm not sure how hardcore you are into reading, but if you wanted, I could give you the name of my book and I bet you could find it online somewhere for pretty cheap so you would have something to read before you start! It's a great book!
oh yes please do I am a huge reader and have already spent a fortune on books to help me get through the first semester hehehe.
I'm relaxing and taking a nice vacation to Las Vegas before I start school! I am not sure if I'm going to be doing any reading for school. :icon_cool:

oh great have fun!! funny too as I am not far from vegas, however I see your from Dallas, I am going to Dallas this weekend for a little R&R. My husband is there on business, we used to live there many moons ago when we first started dating and I haven't been back since!

Have a great time in Vegas!

jla623 · Nov 28, 2007

oh great have fun!! funny too as I am not far from vegas, however I see your from Dallas, I am going to Dallas this weekend for a little R&R. My husband is there on business, we used to live there many moons ago when we first started dating and I haven't been back since!
Have a great time in Vegas!

Thanks! I will have tons of fun! For some reason I always end up going there because it is such a cheap vacation compared to most places. I'm not going on until January 1st, but I hope you have fun in the Big D! I still love it here.