TheSmilingToast

I vent through poetry. Its pretty whack. BUT. I'm so tired of everyone telling me that I wont make it in nursing school because I just graduated from high school! EVERYONE tells me that! It is highly frustrating! SO, this is for my fellow classmates, teachers, nursing advisor, and everyone else who has told me I wont make it. You say that I can't do this, That I'm one crack short of breaking I'll never make it, not a chance; Just a failure in the making. Success, a prospect? You think it not! Its pointless work, beside! Better that I give up now Than fall because I tried. "Silly girl, what a foolish notion, The idea is most bizarre! To think, that you, being you Could succeed the way you are." I could heed your helpful counsel And just follow right along, But I'd much rather be around On the day you're proven wrong. *sigh* I feel better :) I CAN do this! I WILL. Everyone who is a nurse was not a nurse before they were. You start somewhere.

Hiya! I can relate to you big time! I just graduated high school (just turned 18) and am in my first nursing school semester...uhm can you say INTENSE!? There is only one other girl in my class (120 people...) who is around the same age as me. I am taking Fund. of Nursing, Pharmacology, and Health Assessment, so we're probably somewhere around the same place. As for the tests, like you, we have to get at least a 76% average in the classes to pass. After talking to several people in my class after our first test, I think the average score was somewhere around 75-80, just from those I talked to. I know for me, personally, I had to adjust to the tests, because they aren't like any I took in highschool. As for the teenaged distractions (I'm not harshing on you here, no worries!)...lol...oh man I have those badddd! (Right now, for instance, instead of browsing forums, I should be studying for my Pharm test on Monday) I can't focus worth anything, really. It got to the point where I have to deactivate my Facebook for the week prior to any of my tests (it annoys my friends lol). But you know, just that helps alot...and its not permanent. I like what someone said about studying away from home...its a really good idea. I can't very well study at home. Go to the park! I LOVE studying outside! You don't even have to be in the library. ALSO. If your teacher posts note outlines, USE THEM! For all that is glorious in the world! Take notes in class, and then you can go through, and rewrite your notes again, condensing them. Imma right here with you! I've had so many people tell me that I can't do this, but lets prove them wrong, mm?

I just realized how whiny that my original post came across as! I really wasn't trying to whine or act hard done by, because I know that this is school, and no one is here to spoonfeed me, nor do I expect them to. I think my main source of frustration comes from when I talked to my nursing advisors, before I even applied for the program, they said I needed no prior experience, liscensure or anything else; that I would be taught everything I needed to know. I have realized it is a LOT of me time, practicing by myself, and it is necessary to do things without being held by the hand. Was I prepared for nursing school? Maybe. Maybe not. But I am here now, and I have wanted this for a very long time. There are some ladies in my class who have all kinds of experience, but they are always talking about how much they hate the field, hate the classes, hate the process. Experience is exceedingly valuable, but I do think an actual love of the whole concept of nursing is never a bad thing.

Okay, so I just started nursing school in August (love it so far!) and there are only two just-out-of-high school students in the class. One of them is me. Everyone else in my class (around 120 students) is either already an LPN, CNA, or has their degree in another area. Anyway, my teachers all seem to teach like everyone already knows the basics (stuff we haven't covered, usually). For example, we had to demonstrate checking blood pressure...which was all fine and wonderful for 99% of the class. I had never even picked up a blood pressure cuff or really even used a stethoscope before. When I asked when they were going to demonstrate how to do that, my teacher looked at me like I had asked a stupid question and said 'You don't know that already?' Also, several questions on my tests so far have involved abbreviations which we haven't learned. I do realize this is college, I am a big girl, and this does require a degree of 'go get-ed ness' for finding stuff out. I am just starting to get frustrated because the farther we go along, the more they act like we already know this stuff. I guess I just viewed nursing school as nursing SCHOOL...not refresher classes for already licensed nurses. Is this normal, and am I just overreacting?

I am currently in the same situation as you, only reversed roles. I am in nursing school and my boyfriend is in college, and I am a bit worried as far as keeping a healthy relationship goes, especially seeing as we are both at different colleges. We talked about it up front, and both got our feelings on the matter out in the open. We set aside certain short time frames to call each other, and I have written him at least once every week since we have been in school. Its not easy, but I think it will so be worth it in the end ^.^