flyhawkfly

Honestly, the best advice is to just to take a few deep breaths, realize that there are many overweight patients that nurses have to deal with on a daily basis, and let your partner get some practice in. I'm fairly large too, and I've had the same problems with uniforms, and feeling uncomfortable in class (like during the obesity lectures). I also have a fear of being examined (I don't like going to the doctor for anything), but I did what I had to do my first semester. I had two partners, and they were both thin, ex-military girls, but they were very professional, and after a couple of labs with them, we became really comfortable with everything. On the other hand, there was another girl in my clinical group that was also very large that had severe body issues. When it came time to practice physical assessments with her partner, she actually left a couple of times because she was so stressed out and worried about it. This was extremely frustrating for the rest of us, because someone else had to go work with her partner instead, and even our instructor was upset about what to do. Eventually, she got through it, but only because if she missed another lab and didn't participate, she would fail the semester. I know it's hard, but just remember that they are letting you practice on them, and just because they are thin, doesn't mean that they don't have to overcome the same mental issues to let you examine everything on them. It helps to really discuss this with your partner-once you have an understanding, they may be more sensitive, and it makes things more comfortable. Good luck!

I've been having the same problem in my clinicals. I always feel like everybody else is more prepared then me, knows more, can manage their time more, etc. Until I really talked to them and learned that everybody feels pretty much the same way-unprepared to take on patients on their own. Several of the nurses at my clinicals told me that nursing school is terrible, and makes everyone feel incompetent. They said once you're out on your own, it gets a lot easier. Also, that while a preceptorship really helps you feel more comfortable before graduation, it takes about a year of working as an RN before you truly feel comfortable with whatever you're doing. I don't know if that makes your more nervous, or helps to alleviate some of your fears, but just know that you're definitely not the only person that's feeling like this, and eventually it will get better.

My school uses ATI, but we don't have a required grade to pass. We are simply required to buy the books, and take the test-miss the test and you fail. Other then that, it doesn't matter. If you get a level 3, you get 3 extra points added to your final grade for that class, and level 2 you get one point. Also, out of the 4 I've taken, only one of them has actually been at the end of the semester. The others were scheduled in the middle, so there were many questions that we were going to cover, but hadn't yet. The instructors even tell us not to worry if we don't do that well. Because of that, very few people actually take these tests seriously, which is a shame, because I've heard they really help prepare you for the NCLEX.

First month's rent on an apartment! I had to move back home with my parents when I started the nursing program, and I seriously cannot wait to move back into my own place!

From what I understand, you have to pay the matriculation fee early (whenever they tell you), but then they apply that fee to your total bill.

Vanmad, did you get yours? I finally got it this afternoon, luckily I didn't have to call anyone about it. I'm figuring it was just because I'm at the bottom half of the alphabet.

No email yet. Hopefully the rest of us will get it this morning?

I got in! Congrats to everyone else who made it =) If you didn't...don't lose heart, don't stop trying your hardest.