One week down, two years to go...

[WVlpn2b]

I'm overwhelmed to the point of tears. I just began my ADN program last Monday and feel like I am drowning. I really am not trying to complain, but I could use encouragement from others going through the same thing or those who have been there and lived to tell about it.

First, I am a little flummoxed that I spent $800 on textbooks and yet I am probably going to be paying $20 a week to copy lecture notes in the library. I'm not sure why I needed the textbooks!

And second -- this may be the most pertinent at the moment -- is the fact that, while I am doing all the reading, I don't feel like I have retained a single thing. That is freaking me out. I don't know what to expect on tests when everything seems important. If I just go by highlighted and bulleted items in the chapters, there is still a mountain of information. I can't seem to rely on my old standby of "repetition, repetition, repetition" when there is barely enough time to go over it once, let alone multiple times.

Last, has anyone ever used MedsPublishing? That seems to be an important part of our outside assignments. I do the tutorials and they go well, but when I do the quizzes, I am asked a lot of nursing questions that, being a first-week (never mind first-year) student, I just don't have the answer for.

Thanks for letting me ramble. I don't have any friends in my classes at this point (I am the oldest woman in my program -- I feel a little like a dinosaur right now:cry:) and my family doesn't seem to be able to grasp how snowed-in I feel.

[mb1949]

First things first, relax, I am an older student also, some of my school mates are younger than my children, The amount of information you have to retain is overwhelming. but believe me you will remember it. Read you chapters, but concentrate on the lectures. Learn the nursing interventions they are very important. Try to understand not just read. I read the chapter, and they write a short synopsis for myself, kind of like explaining it to yourself. And please take a deep breath, you can do this, I am in my 3rd semester of clinicals ! more to go after this. I still have to look things up, labs values, positions etc. but you will get it.

Good luck and welcome to the club. Your family, friends, etc will never understand what you are going through. Right now its labor day and everyone in my family is going to a BBQ at my brother's house. I am staying home to finish my reading only 4 chapters left to go. Then I am going to review, suctioning and sterile gloving. You will have no life, so be selfish. You have one goal now get that RN after your name.

[CuriousMe]

No one will understand your journey, except those who journey with you. As you all go through this together, you'll develop friendships....but like most good things, real relationships take some time.

As far as the reading, I agree with the above poster....take notes as you read. This will help you to actively read and retain more information.

Best of luck!!!

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

Its been a while but I can remember my first week of LPN school as if it were yesterday. Started on Tuesday and by Thursday I was in tears, slobbering, snot running tears. :) Fortunately my Mom was a nurse, talked me in off the ledge and actually it was pretty smooth sailing from there on. You will get the hang of this entity we call nursing school. I made it my duty to come up with a strategy of the most efficient way to do things and it paid off. Not sure if these pointers will help you but here goes.

I always tried to buy my text books used online and re-sold most of them as soon as the semester was over. You have more important things to worry about than whether or not you were ripped off by spending so much money on books, lol. Check out this site:

http://www3.addall.com/

What I did with the readings due to the volume is make my note cards as I read the chapters. It shouldn't be difficult to get an idea of what material is important and might appear on a test. I couldn't retain anything by just reading it once so after making my note cards I used them to study from and also made note cards from the power points. Find out if your school uses test bank questions. If so definitely focus on your books and the practice questions in your text books/study guides because you may see one or two on an actual exam.

Oh and I also checked every single day off on my calendar for morale. Good luck! You can do this.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

When reading, look for words that are emphasized...italics, bold, underlined...and read the information around there. There are simply too many chapters and too little time to read everything. Also read all the boxes and sidebars.

Also, you're going to find that nursing school tests are more about your ability to reason than your ability to memorize facts. Learn the concepts behind the stuff, and you'll do OK, even if you don't know all the details.

Being a little older in school, I believe, gives you a leg up over the younger students. Use your life experience, patience, and ordered thought processes to help you to succeed.

Finally, the first semester of NS is always very stressful, as it's unlike any other schooling you've likely ever taken. However, once you get into the groove of how things work, you'll be fine.

I wish you the best! Before you know it, it'll be over. I sometimes can't believe I have only 7-8 months left.

[dani_girl]

HI WVLPN2B!

First congratz into getting in to your program, that in itself is an accomplishment! Now realize this is a stressful time, and try to find a study method that helps you. As a recent grad (May 2008) I can tell you this helps so much..

As for the books being expensive, I hear you.. My first semester books cost 300 MORE than the tuition! But after the first semester that reduces alot, you will reuse those books thru the program.

A few things that might help.. if possible read the chapters BEFORE the lecture ( I know you feel like you are barely keeping even at this point) but then when she is talking you will have Ahh moments:idea: or you can get clairification on stuff..

Next.. when you start going through dx or illness think the whole picture.. don't try to memorize by stuff (like ok what tests would I run for COPD, now what would I treat) think of it as a person.. what would this person look like, complain of, what would I the NURSE do to make them comfortable, safe, treat.. it does help.. (took my 2 semester to figure out) the first semester is hard, but it is a building block for later (and life) so when you have some random pt that you can't remeber what the illness is about you can think (well his s/s are like COPD and in first year I would have done this)

Keeping up with the reading is super important.. so many in my class quit because it wasn't a priority.. turning in their care plans were.. do not fall behind!

If possible get a study group.. who is in your clinical? Tell them Lets get together at a coffee house and spend 2 hours or so on.. ask each other questions from the lecture or reading. I could get way more done away from my house than in it.. and I don't have kids.. so it was worth the 3 bucks for the coffee to get some real study time there.

As for the age.. trust me that will be an gift! You have seen things, know people who have had the tests to diagnose things, and can recall times to bring you added info!

So continue on your journey.. and in a little over two years you will be me... talking to a new student about how to get thru it. You can do this. you will do this.

My instructors saying was "Shut up and row" (mainly when we complained)

mine is "Happily forge ahead." :icon_hug:

[whiteoleander5]

You sound like me. I just started my ADN program, and for the first three days of it, I came home and cried my eyes out. Right now, I am a little bit more relaxed (Ha. But even using that word is a stretch..), but still... sometimes i'll be studying and then return later to go over what I studied, and i cant remember a darn thing! And then i get so upset with myself... I dont have any friends in my program either (yet... i hope that changes..), I dont talk to them... not because I dont want to, just because its all so new & im not comfortable with it all yet. But it seems like everyone else is close already... It definately doesnt help my confidence.

As for you feeling like a dinosaur, I have the exact opposite problem. I am only 20 years old & 90% of the people in my classes are older... So i feel left out because of the age gap.

If you ever want to talk or vent about how school is going, please feel free to message me...

I can use a friend in nursing just as much as you can.

[MvbRn, ASN, BSN]

I have just finished up my first week of school with a test Thursday on the first five chapters and honestly I have no idea what is going to be on the test. I have read and read and read, but honestly I have no clue. I have tried focusing on the bold words and read all of the charts and side bars because an instructor told me it is very important to do that. I think the hardest part is going to be thinking differently.

I feel a little overwhelmed, my husband hasn't been as supportive as he should, I think he just doesn't realize how important this is. I have had a few talks with my seven year old trying to help her understand why I am so occupied. I think we all have to stick together and keep our eye on the prize.

We have all worked to hard to let the first week of school kick our butts!

[NaomieRN]

Just take a deep breath and relax. It's only been a first read.

One thing you have to remember is that nursing courses are not like other courses. You have to try to understand when you read.

When you read: ask yourself, what is the role of a nurse? What is consider negligence? How am I going to prevent negligence? Focus on the big picture rather than little details.

Remember you can do anything you put your mind into.

[zahryia, LPN]

I understand your pain. It's good that you're venting because it shows you care. Listen, I'm a newly minted nurse and I still reach for my fundamentals book at times.

You will be fine. What I would suggest is that you invest in a nursing student test taking book. When taking your exams and you are in doubt, remember your ABC's.

Keep studying and two years from now (trust me, it flies by), you'll be able to look back at your post and see how far you've come and how much you've accomplished!

[rockexrolloh]

Thanks for posting this!! I'm so glad that I'm not the only one. We have a test over 10 chapters on Wednesday and it was a hassle just getting through the reading. I went through the study guide over those chapters and couldn't remember anything! Like the person above me said, look at the whole picture. That is what our instructors told us to do. I'm still trying to figure out how to do it but hopefully it will become easier. Just remember, if you weren't capable then you wouldn't be in the program! We just have to hang in there.

[cherubhipster]

Ha! Are you like...in my school with me? That's what it sounds like!

The reading is ridiculous. I understand most schools concentrate onlecture notes than the textbook for the tests. So..prioritize.

Also, as another poster said, read the chapters BEFORE lecture. That is what I have been doing, and I find it really helpful. When I am in class I can understand better what's happening, and when I'm reading the book and feeling scared that I don't understand I say to myself "Don't worry...this will make sense when the prof explains it in class" and I keep going. I know it's a lot but I spent my first week of class reading constantly and I am actually 2 weeks ahead of my classes now and can take it easy! It is a good feeling, and I know what people are talking about much more.

I have to do meds pub too..planning on working with it for the first time tomorrow!