question for charity grads

Laketown3450 · Jun 20, 2008

You can do it! You wouldn't be there unless:

1. you were meant to be there

2. you were interviewed by faculty prior to your being accepted, and with their experience, they know who can make it and who can't. They thought you could, so prove them correct!

Keep on doing what you have done, it has gotten you this far.

night_owl_504 · Jun 21, 2008

to me it got easier... i almost failed basics and did way better in the rest of the semester. it will take a lot of self discipline, but you can do it!

good luck

Laketown3450 · Jun 21, 2008

What did you find difficult about basics?

mbg79 · Jun 21, 2008

I hadn't prepared myself for how time-consuming it was going to be....it was overwhelming. unfortunately i'm 1 of the people who has to work too. and i wouldn't call the tests easy.

Laketown3450 · Jun 22, 2008

I have to work really hard at nursing-type courses (math and science stuff). It doesn't come easily for me at all.

Laketown3450 · Jun 22, 2008

BTW, what was time consuming, the clinical time required or the amount of information you have to learn or just everything? I don't work but I have heavy-duty family responsibilities (that literally eat me alive!)

mbg79 · Jun 23, 2008

clinicals take time but the prep and post work you put into it (care map, etc) is what sucks. science and math doesn't come easy to me either. i'm just not used to having something consuming my life so much. i'm so nervous about being able to get through the next 3 semesters...i know it's just going to get more difficult.

mstoussaint-smart · Jun 23, 2008

What is the typical first semester of csn in basics & pharmacology? What is the first day of class like and the test u take for each course? Does anyone work and go school? how is that? i am just curious to know what is like the first semester and for people who have to work and go school?

mbg79 · Jun 24, 2008

basics and pharm isn't too bad. it's hard but manageable.. you'll get through it. i did work (like 10 hrs a week)...a couple things that will help you are: look over the notes every day (i know every1 says this but, i swear, you will much better off if you're not cramming right before a test) and study the questions in 'fundamentals to success' book--it has practice tests, etc. some test questions are right out of the book and it just helps you learn how the test ques. will be asked. i have heard that nac1 & the other courses are really hard because they increase the work load, more clinical hrs, etc.

CHATSDALE · Jun 24, 2008

nursing school can be so time consuming, i hope that you have good family support

it is doable, all the nurses that you see in hospitals etc have gone through the same thing

some subjects are easier for some than for others but if you take it one day at a time, don't let your self fall behind you will emerge on the otherside with a degree and a future

southlandrn · Jun 29, 2008

For NAC 1, your prep work will be much more time consuming. You have to do more care maps, and you are responsible for knowing everything about the pathophysiology of the patient's disease(s). The tests are extremely difficult, but remember to focus on nursing interventions and remember to prioritize these interventions. Remember, there will be more than one right answer, but one will be "more" correct. :confused:

For the third semester, things slack off a bit. Mental Health is pretty easy, other than having to know all those psych medications, and you don't have to do care maps, just a journal. Tests are the same format. For parent child nursing, it gets difficult again. Care maps, med sheets, etc.

And then it's on to the final semester, NAC II, which I have no insight into just yet as that's where I am heading! Then graduation! :yeah:

I have worked part-time throughout nursing school, I am married with two children, and I have had to continuously work on my Katrina-flooded home. It is possible, but not easy. Family support is a must! I also find that early morning study hours (4am) reinforce the information much more effectively than late night study hours. Good luck!