gpatry

Fistula also gets to me, crepitation (I can just hear bones grinding together when I hear the word)... I'm sure there's more. I'm going to reflect upon this and come back. I like this topic.

I'll let you know, I start this week :)

Yup :)

As long as I get to bed at a decent time, I don't have that much trouble on most days. I do have 3 alarms set at 15 minute intervals, the last one being a really obnoxious sound that I've gotten my brain to realize means "get the heck up now or you're scr*wed!!!". If I go to bed anytime past midnight, you can pretty much be guaranteed that I will turn all three of them off in my sleep and wake up whenever I wake up (happened before work one morning too... oof...). On clinical days, I have to get up at 5:30 and I have a personal waker-upper set up for those days. One of the girls in my clinical group sleeps over the night before and she usually has to get up at that time so she's used to it and has no problem (she lives an hour and a half further from the school and hospital than I do, that's why she sleeps over), so she usually just jumps on me until I roll out of bed... works like a charm :)

When I attempt to put myself in that situation, as being one of the people in the room watching you, I think I would just find it a funny freak occurence, rather than think less of you as an aspiring nurse. Don't sweat it, stuff like that happens to the best of us :)

How to retain it? Apply it.

Like everyone said, it's really practice. I hated doing BP at first. I was never sure of what I was hearing. I had no problem with diastolic, but systolic killed me for a long time. Just remember it's the first really clear, loud beat you hear, after all the muffled ones. There shouldn't be any muffled sounds after it, just beats until it stops. The way I got it was to not pay attention to the numbers for the first few times and just really listen to the sounds. Once you figure out what you're listening for, the rest is a breeze. Good luck!

We had a similar question and the answer for us was to alert the physician

I have it 7:30am-3:30pm every Wednesday. It's always the same time for us, either Tuesday or Wednesday and we find out a month or two before classes which day it will be.

I just finished my first semester and found it way easier than expected as well. I think one of the reasons is because my expectations were so high. I started NS thinking it would be EXTREMELY difficult. I'm sure if I had gone in in a different mindset, I would have found it more challenging.

I live in a big city and take public transport. If I'm traveling during rush hour, the metros come more frequently so it takes me 20 mins to get to school. Non-rush hour, 35 mins tops. I lucked out.

I'm interested too :monkeydance:

I'm in nursing school now and have a large dog. I've had his since he was a puppy, and he's now three. I go to school 5 days a week and work 15-20 hours also. I don't find it so bad, you just have to find the time for it. I come home on Tuesdays and Thursdays between classes to walk him and the other days I'm home within 8 hours of leaving so it's okay. But when I am home, I make sure he gets LONG walks and I usually take him to the dog park once a day so he can burn off all his energy and get the exercise and socialization he needs. Tuesdays and Thursdays are really the only bad days for him since I'm gone from 7:30am to 9:30pm, other than that period where I come home between classes. I always leave the radio on for him because apparently the voices make him feel less lonely. But it's not so bad really... I mean as long as you can make the time to walk him often enough to do his business, give him the exercise he needs, and keep him company when you ARE there, I think it's fine. He hasn't shown any changes at all since I started school and when I'm home all day like on Sundays, all he does is sleep anyway, other than when I take him out so I'm sure that's all he does when I'm gone too. You'll be fine, really. Especially if you get an older dog. Either way, good luck!

I actually feel the same way about my school so far. But I'm in my first semester. I just find it sooo basic right now and that they're not trying to weed anyone out at all. But I don't know, I'm only 6 weeks in... so I guess I can't really judge that much yet. But I have a full schedule and I work and still have an active social life and I feel like I still have ample time to spare... and I've had 3 tests so far and gotten 98, 99 and 99% on them... the average for all of the nursing students right now is 89% and the lowest average is 60%... I dunno, I guess I'll see how it progresses... maybe it'll get harder. I've just heard so many times that your first semester is the worst.

haha, he's my study buddy

I'm actually looking forward to all the work... I don't know how long that'll last though, haha. I think it's because I've been out of school fora couple of years now, so maybe I forget how hard it is.

Oh sorry, I thought you had started. Anyway, this is true, but perhaps it needs even more emphasis in Nursing. I've been to college in a different program and you're right, they all give you advice on studying, time mangement, organzation, etc. but reflecting back on this, I rarely used any of this advice and still passed with flying colors. Maybe for Nursing it will be different, and it will actually be crucial to use them, hence those being the main tips from almost everyone who has replied so far.

What would your most important tip befor Nursing School, ImThatGuy? Out of curiosity...

Hi guys, So basically, I start NS on August 25th (about a week and a half from today! ) and I'm feeling so many emotions right now! I guess it didn't hit me until recently because I just got my schedule and on Tuesday we have orientation and I'll be getting all my books, my scrubs, my nametag, etc.. It's crazy to think back on how far I've come. A year ago I was struggling to get my prereqs done, in April I got my acceptance letter, and already I'm starting in less than 2 weeks. Does time ever fly! And that's just the start... imagine looking back on 2 years from now! Anyway, I feel nervous, anxious, scared, happy, but above all I'm insanely excited and absolutely feel ready. So, how about you guys? I know there are a lot of people who start tomorrow, so I'm curious to know the emotions running through those people right now. I also expect to be reading a few stories on the "first day of nursing school unleashed" thread.

I start on August 25th Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's just a month away now! But the previous week, we have to go in to buy a bunch of our stuff, gets fitted for our uniforms, get our nametags, etc., etc.. I'm really excited. I can't wait to buy all my school supplies, I get soo giddy shopping for notebooks and pens, it's crazy.

I have: Human Body I (Anatomy and Physiology - 3 hours of lecture/week, 2 hours of lab/week) Nursing I (Theory and Application - 4 hours of lecture/week, 8 hours of lab (clinical)/week) Then I have an english class, and a humanities class, which are each 4 hours/week. My first day is August 25th and it's most likely going to be my clinical day, so we're going to get into learning all the basic skills right off the bat. Soooooo excited

- My first job was when I was 15. I lived in the Netherlands (dad's a diplomat), and worked at the canadian embassador's residence (22 acres) as a groundskeeper. Best job ever... basically planted some flowers, took 2 hour lunches, followed by 2 hour naps, then had a competition with my boss/co-workers for who could bounce the most tennis balls into the box. Oh yeah, for $13/hour. - Next was at a golf club as the kid who picked up the balls on the driving range and washed them and the clubs. That didn't last long... 3-4 months... I hated it. - Then I worked at a cafe as a server... amazing people there, I had a great time. Only last 6 months about because I moved. - Then my current job as a medical secretary at a doctor's office. Love love love love it. Great people and it's the best job I can get in the medical field with what little experience/knowledge I have right now. I'll be continuing to work there part-time when I start school in August :)

You realize you're on a Nursing forum right? Of course you're going to see people complaining here! This is where they can come to vent about their crappy days. To people who can RELATE. People who understand what it's like. Does that mean that everyone who vents hates their job? No, of course not. I'm sure the majority believe that the good outweighs the bad and it's worth it to have those bad days. But you'd go crazy if you couldn't release your feelings when they do happen. And personally, I like reading vents because I find it mentally prepares me for all the different things I might experience once I'm a nurse. Anyway, if you're on here expecting all the posts to be rainbows and butterflies, I think you're in the wrong spot. Especially since yours just added to the negative pile.

Watching it now. So far I like it, even though it is most definitely Dr. focused so far. I'm interested to find out how realistic people who actually have experience in a hospital think it is.