MegoEgo

I go to Towson Main Campus. As far as I know, if you get rejected, you can then accept a spot at Hagarstown. I dont know how it goes as far as just applying there. Its easier to get accepted, because most people want to be on the main campus. I say go to the main campus if you can because its so much better. Ive heard horror stories about the Hagerstown campus. Plus, you get a much larger variety of professors, clinical sites, clinical instructors, etc. Hagerstown has only one or two professors and I think only a few clinical sites. But ya, thats what I know. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me and I will try to help out!!!

Hello everyone, I am in my second semester of nursing school and we have MedSurg and OB together along with another side class. In my program, we learn "critical skills" the first semester and have to be tested out after we do them on the dummies in the skills lab. We were not allowed to try them on patients last semester. In MedSurg, now we have to do these skills on the spot. I am absolutely petrified. I was scared when I was observed during the testing, and am even more scared now. I will have to put in a Foley, do wound dressing changes, etc. How do you prepare for doing these skills for the first time on a real patient? I just feel very overwhelmed because we had like 3523423 steps to memorize that had to be done when we tested out. I could not possible remember them all at this point. I will definitely brush up, but I have heard that my instructor is pretty strict and doesn't give you a heads up (obviously) on when skills will need to be performed during clinical. I am so nervous I can't even think. I am scared I will fail because I forget a step or cannot remember how to do a certain skill. Help me!!!

We had to write it out, sorry.

I would have put 42 and left it at that. I have the same problem you do... thinking too much into the question. My professors catch me doing it all the time and have to stop me before I get carried away!

I passed my first semester too! All six classes! I didn't fail anything, but I did get the lowest passing grade once. That was on my first exam, which was scary! Anyway, goooo us!

I think it is a needle thing. Because I hate shots etc. I am not really specifically sure, but maybe blood is part of it, too. I have very little exposure to this, so maybe that would help?

Hi everyone! I have an interesting question/problem. I just completed my first semester of nursing school (with a 3.68 :redbeathe haha, don't know how I did it) and still seem to have issues with blood/needles. I am not sure why I have this issue, but am scared I may not be able to overcome it. I had an issue in clinical where I get dizzy and had to sit down. I saw blood being drawn from a client of mine, and that was enough to trigger it. I have no idea why, because I have had my own drawn and have been fine. My instructor pulled me aside and suggested I pick another major. Of course I was upset, especially because I work so hard, and get some of the better grades out of my bunch of gals (and 2 guys hehe). I just don't know if I can continue if I don't get over it. She later apologized for being so hard on me, but I still don't know what to do. I don't have a lot of experience with blood and needles, so maybe that is the problem. How did all of you guys get over it? Do you think I can get over it and continue on? Help me!!!! I don't want to give up on my dream of being a nurse, especially after five semesters of difficult college coursework. Megan

I will share a few of the things I like to do: 1. Flash Cards - I find that even writing stupid little things that you may not find important helps. To me, it is hard to look at a countless sheets or powerpoints and memorize, I need it broken down, and that way works for me. Plus, it is travel friendly! Pop a stack in your purse/bag and you are on your way! 2. Organization/ Calendar - Writing down what needs to be done each week or day ( depending on how specific you want to get) is really helpful. I highlight things off my list once they are completed. Its a helpful visual aid, plus it feels damn good to get to cross something off. :) 3. Study Sheet - Something beside from flashcards, I like taking the info that I am having a hard time learning or remembering and putting on one or two sheets (as few as possible) so that I can look at it quickly before an exam. I usually study a lot before I make this sheet to determine what I need to put on it. 4. If you know it - don't study it. In nursing school, time is limited. You must chose what information to study before an exam. If there is a concept or topic or whatever that you know well already, move on to the stuff you aren't as good at. It will save time and you will cover more information! I know this is hard to do, because most of us are used to knowing everything perfectly, but sometimes its better to know a bit about everything than everything perfectly. In nursing school, it is hard so just do your best! 5. Practice questions - I used online websites, CD's, and questions provided in textbooks. I have noticed that a lot of my instructors grab questions from these sources, so its great to take a look. My school also requires the use of a few online sources, so those are good to look at as well. And of course NCLEX study book! Practicing and reading rationales make you better able to tackle NCLEX and test questions!! Good luck and I hope this helps!

D isn't true because STD's aren't always transferred through open sores. You don't have to have an open sore to get one. I feel like all of them are wrong in some way. That is hard. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Is there a resource, or your notes you can reference? Otherwise I would ask the instructor.

Hi everyone. I just finished my second week of nursing school. At this point I feel pretty discouraged. I got a 55% on a graded homework (online test on a chapter we read) and a 70% on a quiz in Pharm so far. They are throwing all the "critical thinking" questions at us, and we haven't even been told or taught how to do these questions or think through them. I am really scared this is going to be a problem for me. I am really good at memorizing and then spitting it back out or recognizing an answer. Did anyone else have this same problem? Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. I really don't know what to do. I am freaking out right now. I don't want to fail out. Thanks!!! Megan PS: They also haven't told us how to study, etc. So we all really have no idea what to do.

I just had my first day of nursing school. It really wasn't that bad. In my program, we take six classes the first semester. We had two today. The first 8AM lecture involved all the students in our program (about 70). It was the fundamentals lecture. Then I had a break in which I had to run around doing errands and stuff on campus, and grab a quick lunch. Next I had a five hour lecture/lab class for health assessment across the lifespan. My teacher was really funny in that class, and said she makes it possible for everyone to do well. She seemed really encouraging, which is nice because she is also my Pharm professsor, which I have Wednesday afternoon. Then I came home and tried to study, but didn't really have much direction to do so. I am hoping I will figure out what to do. I also started working on a project for my health assessment class, and will probably do some reading for another class in a bit after my shower. Anyway, I hope everyone's first day went well! If I have time later this week, I will keep updating!! It is very stressful and they bombard you with information, but I have found that making lists and writing all the dates down on a calendar is really helping! :)

Kind of random, but when my grandmother passed away, she was in hospice care. After she passed, several nurses came in and were crying because they heard the news and were saying how sweet and lovely she was. We had to comfort one nurse. She was so touched by my grandmother in the short time she knew her. It just kind of reiterated what I already knew - that she was a special lady. Anyway, I can just imagine it will be hard when I experience the first death of a patient of mine.

Hi everyone, I am starting nursing school on Monday. I have been looking over my books and have a question. Do nursing schools typically let the students use calculators on the dosage tests? Or is it all by hand? I was looking at my book and they use some pretty odd/large numbers, so that is why I ask. Thank you!!!

I have my orientation on August 27th, and then classes start August 31st. I am so nervous because I have spent all summer with no information. Thank god for allnurses! It has provided me with so much information. I have already ordered most of my books, and have some of them. I need to get a few that I have to buy from my school store. I am just so ready to start. I am nervous, but I feel like if I can do all those pre-req's, then I can do anything!!! Congrats to all my other fellow new nursing students!!!

I took Med Micro with four other classes, plus working part time. I had free time too. I mean yeah, it was the hardest class I have had hands down, but it is definitely do-able. We had tests and quizzes like every other class period so it involved a lot of study time. I made lots of flash cards with different assays on them and for different bacteria, etc. It was definitely harder than A&P 1 and 2, but definitely doable. Getting that A makes all the work worth it! You can do it, trust me. You just have to have a battle plan going into it. Keep on top of the material every night and you should be just fine. :)