AmyinNC05

Thank you for sharing this. What a wonderful thing for him to say, and I agree...it's things like these that make every second worthwhile & knowing you have made a difference in his life.

I agree 100%. Scaring the crap out of students isn't going to help. We're already stressed and overwhelmed. Like you, we had a very motivating speech which included all the instructors introducing themselves and letting us know they all have an open door policy and to come to them at anytime. Encouragement is necessary, and we already know we have to work our butts off to avoid failing. We don't need to be told such. It really makes me thankful for the instructors I have.

I love your idea of the 2 different colored highlighters. We aren't allowed to record lectures. I read my material ahead of time and highlight important points. I use my power points and print 3 slides per page to take notes on the lines to the side during lecture. Then, after lecture I go back and take notes of the material I've read plus I review my notes from lecture within the first few hours after class. I also make some index cards with important points using keywords to help me retain the info. For me, it sinks it really well when I write certain concepts over a few times.

What a great journey to share with us, and I thank you for doing just that. I love how you went from not being sure about your instructor and classmates to now really liking them! I wish you the best!

I will have pharmacology in my second semester, and it is separate.

Orientation is Wednesday, classes start Thursday. I'm super excited and super nervous! I just got my books today and plan to look over them the next few days.

Valgraves~I actually did this earlier this year, but after I read your post I tried again. Boom, books listed for fall semester! Thanks for the reminder! We can't pick them up until August 7th, but at least I know I don't have to wait until orientation. Wonderful!

Congrats on a job well done!!!!!

I completely agree!!! That's a wonderful idea!

I start August 16th at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, NC. So excited yet so very nervous!

Congratulations!!! Job well done!! Enjoy your freedom!!!

I would actually love to read a head of time, and have my books now. However, we don't have our orientation until the day before class starts, and I guess they will give us our book list then. I don't know how common that is, but I was pretty disappointed I wasn't getting my book list earlier. I surely hope they don't expect us to have all our books the first day of class and have to buy them through the campus bookstore. I wanted to shop online.

Jaycee-We are in the same boat. Like you, I can't gain weight easily either. If I get sick, I lose weight, and it takes a while to get it back. I'm holding steady with what I've weighed for a long while now. Hopefully this program will help us a little..ha!

Aspiring-thanks for telling us about your first week! I am prepared for a full load, but I have to be honest. 9 exams scares me to pieces! Leenie-I also appreciate you sharing your program as well. I highly commend you and really love the attitude you have! Jaycee-funny you should mention eating. During our registration and uniform fitting the instructor told all of us not to get a size too small thinking we would lose wait. She said she has yet to see a class graduate at the same weight they were before entering the program b/c the students eat due to the stress. I am in the minority and need to gain weight so I'm hoping that will be the case for me.

Love that you already have a bumper sticker! I am right there with you on packing my bag. I can't wait to get my books (maybe I'll be taking those words back later).

Awesome! I know how excited you are. I am myself. You sound very determined so I have no doubts you will do great. So sweet of your boyfriend to make a study room for you. I'm sure you'll be making good use of that for a long while.

I completely agree with the PP. I too debated between LPN and RN. I've decided on LPN for now then bridge to the RN later. I do think it comes down to what is best for you. I've been a CNA, and I know a few of those skills will help in LPN school, and I know some of what I learn in LPN school will help towards my RN. It's not a waste of time. It's a stepping stone to where you want to be in the future. Don't let anyone bring you down. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders, and you know what you need to do for YOU! I wish you the best!

I would recommend as someone else did that you get to the underlying reason for your anxiety. Having struggled with anxiety myself, I do understand where you are coming from. Just because you decide to go to vet school doesn't mean that anxiety still won't be there later on, and you don't want that happening no matter what job you have. I would address that first with a doctor, continue nursing for a while and see what happens if the dr. advises meds.

I've been through the same thing, and I get tired of having to sound like a broken record. I start LPN school this fall, and I'm happy I'm going (something I wanted to do years ago now). I do plan to get my RN degree later, but this is where I'm at now. It's your life, your choice, and you do what makes YOU happy. Forget the negativity. You know what you want and you're willing to fight for it.

I worry about the book list. I want to have time to shop for them online instead of having to purchase them from the college bookstore which would be much more expensive.

Great question Lynne. I am looking forward to finding that out. I think mostly it will be our book list and supplies for clinicals though there might be some school supplies they might suggest. I'm interested in what others say about this as well. I found some pens and highlighters on clearance today so I immediately snagged those to add to my stash. I'm just itching for the back to school sales to start though I'm not itching to spend the money!

JustBeachy-Sorry about that! I like both of those companies so I guess just one was stuck in my head!

JustBeachy-I have checked out Lands End bags, but they are a bit too pricey for this girl. I love them though. Thank you for the suggestion. Butterflie7-I wish you the best as well! PinkHoyt-HA! Don't stress over a bag. Just google nurse clinical bag, and you will see the type of bag someone else mentioned. Newb-I'm glad to see some older students here besides myself. YES! This stuff definitely drains the account quickly. I think I had read before about checking out Goodwill. Thank you for the reminder. I'm going to do just that very soon. AH!!! I am so jealous you found the flashcards for $1.00! Major win for you! That is awesome!

Newb-YES! I would love to have the digital recorder as well. Like yourself I'm auditory and visual as well. Like someone mentions below, I do plan on asking because not all professors allow this. I'm trying to decide on the rolling bag as well. I sure want something that will last through school and not have to be replaced because it can hold the load of our heavy books. leenie-That is a great list of supplies as well as helpful information on studying! Thank you so much. I'm not a spring chicken myself. I'm 35, and I'm obsessed about organization so I think it will worry me to pieces if I don't have my ducks lined up in a row for clinical preparation. I have excellent study habits, but I know the LPN program is going to challenge me as far as study habits in ways I have never imagined. I like staying on top of things, and I can't stand to fall behind. Thanks for your encouragement. It really helps! Good luck to you as and your 2 patients instead of one now. CatheterCathy-Yes, I do have a 3 hole punch that was a must have in my previous classes & definitely a rolling bookbag is on my list. Thank you! JustBeachyNurse-Wow! So much helpful information! Thank you! I didn't think about the alcohol swabs. It's going on my list. Thank you for the heads up about the sales next week! I am going to be watching those like a hawk since my supply has run low from prerequisites. I didn't even consider a pulse oximeter. Very good to know there are very strict guidelines which makes perfect sense. I am with you on donating to fellow classmates. I've had some that abuse the privilege and never seem to come to class prepared. So very annoying.

SNmurse- Wow! How wonderful that would be to have the supplies covered. A girl can wish, right? I'll keep my fingers crossed. You had some wonderful ideas! Thank you! I added several to my list that I had forgotten about since I started my list. I see so many pros and cons for the rolling bookbag on this site, but I do believe I am going to invest in one. My back is not perfect now, and I sure don't want to mess it up hauling books around all day. I love the flash cards idea. I will definitely check into that one as well. A support system is a MUST. I am really looking forward to meeting new people who share the same passion I do. Thank you again for your wonderful advice!Wow! How wonderful that would be to have the supplies covered. A girl can wish, right? I'll keep my fingers crossed. You had some wonderful ideas! Thank you! I added several to my list that I had forgotten about since I started my list. I see so many pros and cons for the rolling bookbag on this site, but I do believe I am going to invest in one. My back is not perfect now, and I sure don't want to mess it up hauling books around all day. I love the flash cards idea. I will definitely check into that one as well. A support system is a MUST. I am really looking forward to meeting new people who share the same passion I do. Thank you again for your wonderful advice!