kayskate

Yes, NS is very hard. I study a lot. I have made a lot of sacrifices in my personal and (present) professional life. I am 43 yrs old. I love RN and this is the career I want for the rest of my working life. Whatever the sacrifices are, the biggest sacrifice would be to NOT become a RN. The other sacrifices pale in comparison. Kay

Can you identify what this prof does that makes you anxious? If you have not had this issue w other profs maybe it is just personality. You will have to work w all types of ppl in your career and will need to find some way to work w those whom you do not like outside of nursing. Are you having trouble w the material in this particular clinical? If so, the prob may be that you feel unprepared. Try to learn from the exp you are getting w this instructor. S/he may be trying to help you by asking Qs, etc. Try to look at it from a positive pt of view. I know this is hard, but if all else fails, you can get through 8 wks. Don't quit b/c you are having trouble w one person. Don't even think about it. You have come too far to get discouraged. Kay

First: Everyone needs to earn a living. However, it helps if you like what you do. I earned a good living in jobs I hated and a lousy living in jobs I loved. If someone likes RN and thinks they can earn a living as a RN, that kills 2 birds w one stone. If someone is vacillating between 2 choices and one will earn him a better salary, that may be the deciding factor. Nothing wrong w wanting to earn a decent buck for the hrs you work. Should a tutor tell someone they should reconsider? My first response is "no". That applies to unsolicited advice. gentle suggestions about the difficulty/content/commitment of NS, okay. Ultimately, the person will either not be accepted b/c his grades are not appropriate or he will get into NS and decide if he can handle it or wants to handle it. I know ppl who got into NS then decided to do something else. Others, like the students the OP mentions, who are retaking pre-reqs may be very committed. It takes a lot of motivation to retake classes and keep your eye on the goal when others may have bowed out b/c they lacked the drive or commitment. Personally, I cannot imagine why someone would retake classes if they were not serious. Who wants to retake a class? The fact that the students are seeking tutoring may indicate they are serious about improving study habits for future success in NS. Kay

I think you will get by this problem. Do expose yourself to the situation more often. Even look at videos of things that make you uncomfortable. When another SN or RN is giving an injection, drawing blood, etc.; go and watch. I think you need to be desensitized. Another person suggested focusing on the site as a site, not as part of a person. That is good advice. Also practice on the mannequins in the lab. The more confident you feel w your technique, the more comfortable you will be. I was nervous the first time I gave a shot. However, I practiced a lot in the lab and passed the skills test. When it came time to give insulin to a real person, it was a technical activity. I talked and joked w the pt and gave the shot. The prof was in the room. Everyone was comfortable. You are doing something your pt needs. Sometimes just thinking about your pt's needs is enough. Keep practicing, observing, and thinking about your pt. You can do this! Kay

There are a few comments I want to add to this thread. First about wiping butts, etc. I just finished my 2nd semester. IMO, some of these tasks are very important assessment oppys. Does your pt have PUs? Is your pt thirsty? How much output does your pt have? What color is it? Etc. I really like being able to help my pt in anyway I can. Pts have told me I am the only one in the hospital who asks if they need something and then make sure it is w/in reach. Now this is sad. Getting a pt a glass of water and placing it w/in reach may be the highlight of that pt's day b/c he feels someone really cares for his needs. You can also talk to your pt when you are performing these tasks and obtain important info. You can also provide psych/emotional support for your pt. Yes, RN is very technical, but these small elements of care are very important. They provide a foundation of trust in your relationship w your pt and his family. I can't say enough about how important acts of caring are for pt's overall well-being. Second about difficulty of RN programs. I have taken all of the "science major courses" b/c I have a doctorate in polymer science, which is a field of applied chem. I was a plastics and textile chemist. It was very difficult. I am not a genius and had to work hard for that degree and to pass those classes. I did not get straight As. Anyway, I did not take the RN-specific courses that have been discussed in this thread. I cannot compare them. My RN program is very rigorous. Thought the first semester was not too bad. However, there was plenty of work. The second semester was much more difficult. I studied like crazy for a mediocre grade. I don't think I worked that hard at any point in my previous ed exp. That kind of study in any of the classes I took in the past would have resulted in an A. Not RN102. My sister is an MD. based on what we have discussed, RN school is comparable in terms of intensity of study to MD school. Sis graduated w a BS in bio w 3.8 GPA. She had a tough time getting into med school and took the only option she was offered. She grad w $100K+ debt. I can tell you, having a PhD has not been an advantage for me in RN school. Maybe I know how to study. Maybe I had the pre-reqs. I got right in. That was probably my advantage. They saw the PhD and decided I could succeed as an RN. Still, I work very hard and study at least 20-30 hrs for tests. I am lucky to get a B. Our passing total is 75%. I earned 82% in 2nd sem. Just my Kay

This is what I do. 1. Flash cards ( I make my own) 2. Incredibly Easy series 3. NCLEX Qs (I like the CD Roms) 4. Make study a habit. Set aside time every day to study. 5. Outline topics to make your own notes independent of class notes. 6. Look up all terminology I don't understand and write it down. 7. Memory Notebook of Nursing ( I like to color the cartoons. They stick in my mind) 8. Study group 9. Mosby's Notecards. ( These are colorful and funny.) 10. Study guides given in class 11. Study guide that accompanies the text 12. Read the text before class. Review it later. I like to make notes in lots of different colors. I have huge sets of pens, highlighters, and crayons (for the memory notebook). This appeals to my creative side. I like to see lots of color in my notes. It draws my attention to different topics and important points. Kay

You may find that you like giving pt care. I love giving pt care. You won't know until you try. I agree w the person who suggested shadowing. That's a great idea. You may even want to volunteer in a hospital to get a taste of it. In your 1st semester of RN school, you will give bed baths. You will do this throughout school. However, from what I have seen in clinicals, the CNAs and Pt care techs do the bed baths. However, giving a bath is a great oppy to assess your pt and communicate w him/her. Have you taken the prerequisite classes? You need basic chem (1 semester), A&P, general psych, etc. The general ed you will already have from your previous education. Kay

Passing is 75%. Not sure about NCLEX. Kay

Just had to reply to this. My heart breaks for you, but I also want to add to the replies you got saying don't give up. Check out RCC. Do you already have a BS/BA in something else? if so, try the accelerated programs. WPU in NJ has one. Several ppl in my RN class have failed by 1 pt. They do not get the pt even if they beg. Personally, I would advise you not to do this. IMO, RNs have to accept responsibility. Others have recommended you discuss why you had to WD the first time and want to repeat the course. This should be acceptable. Just don't give up. If you are not allowed to repeat at this school, call all the schools you can think of to find one that transfers 101. You said you are willing to move. You should be able to find a school to transfer. Most schools will accept prerequisites classes that are less than 5,7, 10 yrs old depending. You should not have to repeat those courses. If you really cannot do that, get your LPN. Maybe a counselor can explain how to get your LPN w credits you already have. If you need a break, go for your surg tech license. Those programs are 1 yr. You can earn a decent living, get exp then go back to RN in a few yrs. Make sure you don't let your prereqs expire though. Kay

I am 43 and just finished my 2nd semester of nursing school. I went to school for chemistry when I was in my 20s. Earned a PhD in polymer science. I had a corp job in 1995. From the day I started there, the place was downsizing. I worked there about 3 yrs. Corp was not for me. I knew my days anywhere were numbered due to the trend toward downsizing. I got a teaching credential in my 30s. Nobody wants to pay a teacher w a PhD. I worked for 4 yrs and did not get tenure at the 2 schools where I worked. The discipline and behavior problems were not my cup of tea. I am presently an ice skating coach which is a great job, but essentially part-time and really hard to earn a living in a down econo. I have thought about RN since my husband had a triple bypass in 2003. So I finally took the plunge and am becoming a nurse in my 40s. I love nursing. When I was younger, I may not have been able to handle the rigors of RN school. IMO, it is more rigorous than getting a PhD. I will also have better job opportunities and can live anywhere. I will also earn about what I earned as a corp scientist w a doctorate. There are many ppl my age and older in my class. We are good students. We work hard and appreciate what we are doing and the oppy to do it. I'm not saying younger RN students don't. However, many younger students are not passing and have lower grades than the older ppl. Last spring, I had to take the semester off to care for my dad who had terminal cancer. I was able to care for him competently. This exp reinforced how much I am committed to RN. My goal is to become a visiting and/or hospice nurse. I feel that my life exp brings a lot to my potential as a RN. It is never too late to do what you want to do w yourlife regardless of what you have done in the past. My resume reads like the script for a variety show, but I have chosen to look at that as a good thing. I can hardly wait to start my career as a RN at the age of 44. I may even decide to teach nursing in the future since I have teaching exp. If RN school takes 2-4 yrs, you are going to be 2-4 yrs older anyway if you do not follow your dream. I'd rather be 44 and nursing than 44 and not nursing. Kay

I listened to "Never Change" by Elizabeth Berg on tape. I like the tapes for then I drive to school. Don't have as much time to read fun stuff in NS. It's about a visiting nurse and her relationships w her patients. Author is a former RN. Kay

Started RN at 41 this fall. It is my mid-life crisis. I am a career changer and already have BS and grad degree in another field, that are basically obsolete now. Kay

my 10 cats venting on the phone to my dad walking, jogging, aerobics reading good books not r/t RN Project Runway my other job: ice skating instructor ice cream w peanut butter and frosting (if I am particularly stressed) Kay

This is my first post here. There are plenty of big and skinny ppl in my class. I am a large. When doing each other's BP in lab, one skinny small girl said to me: "smaller ppl tend to have lower BP". I know Htn can exist in anyone regardless of sz. I am on BP meds to make mine normal, but it really hit me where I live. Kay

Before I tested bed bath, I practiced a lot. We had an hour to complete bed bath and making occupied bed. I went to the lab 4x and probably invested 10-15 hrs in practice both watching others and w others watching me. I talked to my "patient" the whole time. I was nervous on test day, but the instructor was very calm, asked me Qs which I knew and I soon relaxed. Now I am not nervous on test offs, but I sure was on that first one. It will get better. Kay