okilokiRN

Does my stethoscope seem heavier to you?

If you end up working on a floor where poop is common, you may get used to it after a while. When I started clinicals I had the same aversion to mucus as you have to poop... but then I landed a job in ICU as a CNA and got over it pretty fast. The fir...

YES!! Maybe not your school, but I know at mine it is possible to do one class abroad (for 5 weeks or something), and it is also possible to do an exchange program for a semester. A friend of mine is actually doing this in the fall - even clinical! A...

COFFEE. Even if you hate coffee, you will learn to love it. Many replies have said to get up the same time every day; I know this is not always possible (example, I work overnights on the weekends and have to get up at 0600 during the week, plus havi...

A&P is a monster, but you need it for EVERYTHING in nursing school. I found Pharmacology and Pathophysiology to be the most time-consuming, not including clinical courses (they're a whole different animal). However, pay attention in A&P and d...

Also use the Ackley text. I know some students who don't like it, but I haven't had a problem with it so far. Good luck! :)

New balance walking shoes. My feet and back don't hurt AT ALL after clinical. Worth the money.

I am assuming that you haven't taken Pharmacology yet. I am also assuming that Adult is your first hospital-based clinical (that's what it's called in my school). In Adult you will probably also need to know the drug classifications (i.e., pharmacol...

I haven't used any NCLEX review books yet, but RNotes, Davis' Drug Guide and Nursing Diagnosis Handbook have been LIFESAVERS in clinical and when writing care plans.

I'm only in nursing school, but when I go to clinical I keep my shoes in a bag in my car. I know all the icky things that are on that hospital floor; don't want that transferred onto my car pedals or into my home.

Thank you for this wonderful story. I'm glad to hear that everything worked out for you so well, despite the hardships. I'm sure this is a fear on many of our minds - mine included. What would I do if I became pregnant (I am currently in clinicals)? ...

I think after a while you will grow used to it, if you have to deal with it. Mucous TOTALLY grosses me out, and as I am starting clinicals, I've been trying to get over it. Over time I'm sure that you, as well as I, will become so desensitized and wo...

I would suggest taking A&P 1 AND 2 before taking Patho. I'm just finishing Patho and it is a HARD class. Lots and lots of foundations from A&P. I would also suggest taking a good professor, if you know anyone that has already taken Patho. My...

When you hear someone talking about a medical condition, and you start tallying off all the facts of said condition in your head. (Last week someone was talking about congestive heart failure and I started going through all the facts in my head and c...

I started out going to Community College, then ended up transferring to University. Most of the pre-reqs are the same (I transferred mine into university, except my Chemistry because of a difference in the course, which happens). General pre-reqs are...

Sleep whenever you can. If you have a break between classes, take a nap. Pace yourself studying. If you get too tired, go to bed and try to get up early. If you don't get enough sleep, you're just going to burn out. If napping and getting enough slee...

I would think the Accelerated BSN would be your best bet. This is what my school states for the accelerated program: "...offers a 14-month, 64-credit Accelerated Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. This program is designed to help students with a non-nursi...

I would say start the ADN program, and then if you get accepted to the BSN you can go that route, or you can stay with the ADN. Being in one is better than being in none! Another possibility is to take all your pre-reqs first. Not sure what kind of t...