1st Week in Nursing School

[Frazzled_One]

Hi everyone I am new to the board and not even sure that I am posting in the right place, but if Im not Im sure site admin will let me know. Anyway, I am about to wrap up my first week of nursing school. Was it overwhelming for me? Yes! . But I plan to come up with a color-coded system for myself to help me get better organized. However, I have been thinking about some things. I transferred to this university (choosing to remain anonymous, some of them may be on this site) from another school where I finished all my pre-nursing courses so I really don't know anyone. I am although very receptive in getting to know people, I have no problem going up to strangers and introducing myself and getting acquainted with them. But I am noticing at this university the people I am with in this BSN program already have established cliques and aren't interested in getting to know new people. How do I know that? Because I tried! I tried introducing myself to some of the people whose names I recognized from the distance ed class and I got several cold shoulders. People have been told to form study groups and everyone mainly migrates to the people they know. I asserted myself and asked to join one of the study groups and the girl said yes. Later I found them meeting up and studying and not informing me....yes we have been studying this first week. It is a bit preposterous to me that people are still like this. We are supposed to be nursing students so wouldn't you try thinking like a nurse? As a nurse would you give a new patient the cold shoulder just because you are used to the older ones? I don't think so.

Another thing that is making me feel discouraged about this program are the nursing instructors. Things they do seem to be a bit unorthodox, such as telling us things at the last minute because they "forgot" or not giving us important papers they knew we would need and that we had no access to. I know this is a busy week but they knew way ahead of time this week was coming so why are they behind?

This university I am in is not even ranked in the top nursing schools in my state so I already feel so cheated. I did apply to them (the top schools in my state) however because I know any nursing school that has Zoology as a prerequisite looks at nursing as more than just having basic skills to work in a hospital and with people alone. I did apply there however they only took so many. I do consider myself to be a model student but not as if Im above everyone in this program but I take nursing as something very serious and something that is very much needed. I feel I could have gone into a better, more advanced program but this is the one that got back to me so I guess it is where I am supposed to be. I am having doubts though. I am thinking about re-applying to the other schools because I feel dumb for just going with the first school that called me. Im not sure what to do yet. But I do not like dealing with unorganized instructors and I am hoping the way the people are in this program does not become a trend. I just need help and encouragement for anyone willing to talk to me. Thanks!

[bewitched]

I went to a big state university for my pre-reqs, and I noticed a huge problem with cliquishness in general. Living off campus (and an hour away, no less) meant that by the time I got to my first class, people who lived in dorms had already made their best buddies (or knew them from high school) and had absolutely no time to spare to talk to someone they didn't know. In my entire two years there I literally had someone approach me for a conversation three times, not kidding.

Recently I've just started at the local (former Community) college, taking two classes before I start nsg school in the spring, and the first day a girl and I started talking and now we chat all the time in class, we're friends on facebook, we do the class activities together... etc. I think it has something to do with big universities, I really do.

Oh, and by the way...

:hrns&wlcm:

:stdnrsrck:

[Ang_RN]

I went to a small Community College.. student wise it was the most wonderful experience! We had good instructors too.. nothing more than the usual instructor complaints.

I am so sorry that you are experiencing these things. I truly think that you will find a good friend or group of friends if you keep going with your friendly personality.

The other thing I want to say is.. Don't give up your dream because of other people. I would really hate to see you let them get you down.

[Flying ICU RN]

Your study group should be both your most enduring and endearing nursing school memory.

[VJK81]

Sorry to hear about your first weeks experience. I have experienced a bit of cliques during my time too and I thought the same thing like shouldn't we past that, this isn't middle school anymore. Oh well, we have to look ahead and do the best we can. It was weird because they would say "hey" to me individually but when it came to studying I heard from none of them. There was one attempt to meet up but when I showed up they decided to split 5 minutes later. As students we should help one another out instead of trying to be the brown-noser or better than everyone else and they can struggle kind of mentality. I'm sure everyone at your campus is not like that and hopefully you can stick it out. It does suck that this campus is also not the best and it's feeling like that for you. Either way, do what you can, get with those that are not the mean ones, and or transfer. There's always options and if there isn't go to the dean. Hopefully he/she is understanding.

[carolinachick]

this is my second semester of nursing school and i still dont have a study group because of the same issues you raised.....you can do it on your own,just study really hard but if you have a problem just walk up to someone and ask them,i'm sure there one or two people in the class just like you.

i dont worry about it anymore,i study hard and i do great.email you instructor about any questions you might have.

when you start clinicals,you might make a feww friends from your group

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Wow, talk about a bad first week. That really sucks, but I hope you'll give it a little more time. Something I've observed in school and work is that the friends you make in the first few weeks are seldom the friends you'll have 6 months down the road. Give it some time. You're just starting nursing school, so don't expect everyone to have already achieved professional conduct. This is just another problem. Think of how you've handled problems in the past and see if that gives you some ideas to solve this one. No matter how you work this out, good luck.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

instructors are not little gods. They are imperfect. Cut them and the school some slack. Most of all, cut yourself slack. It is not high school and it makes no difference if the rest of the class act like it is. You are there for YOU. I have a feeling you will do well and I wish you lots of luck.

[ky_grl82]

Have you looked for any other students who are "loners" and choose to sit by them? Sitting close to the clique types are probably not going to get you into their group... so form your own of the loners! I, too, am in the first weeks of class and am blessed to have a few familiar faces from former classes. But the lesson is, high school never ends!

Once you go into clinicals, I am sure you will make friends out of the group.

[Coulter630]

It will get better!! First week of class for anyone is hard and there are maybe two or three students that know eachother and it is only natural for them to get together as they are uncomfortable as well! Form your own group and forget about the others. It will get much easier when (like the one above me said) when you go to clinicals and things like that. If you are considering dropping, don't do it. I know you feel discouraged right now and that is another natural feeling in nursing school, esp. the first week, but you are extremely lucky to be one to be accepted into the program. Take and run with it. Don't give up--you can do it.

[4evernurse]

So sorry that your first week has been frustrating for you!!!! However, don't give up. If you feel that you are in the right direction for your career path then don't let anyone stop you!!! I went to a small 2 yr college for my LVN certificate. I knew one person going into the program & that's who I hung out with most of the time & did my studying. As time went by & clinical groups were formed, I became involved with some of the other students. At the time of nursing school, I was NOT a social butterfly (working on that now though)!! It's nice if you can form study groups in school but sometimes study groups aren't the answer. All the study groups I ever attended ended up being more gossip & talking than studying. I'm not the type person to study in a large group. 1 or 2 students & I was good (alot of times, I studied by myself). It will take you a while to figure out what works for you & when you do, stick with it. As far as the teachers being unorganized, have you tried talking to the director of the nursing program? Alot of times, if you take your complaints to them, they will help you out in getting your problems fixed but you have to make the first step & let them know that there is stuff going on that may end up hindering your education & success while in nursing school. Don't let it slide or you & your grades may end up suffering!!!! I hope I was able to give you some good advice. Give it time & good luck!!! I've been a nurse for a little over a year & it has been one of the greatest years of my life. Nursing school was great as well & I made some AWESOME friends & one of them is my best friend!!!! Again, GOOD LUCK & hope this helps :-)

[Miller86]

Congrats for starting nursing!! whoohoo on that!

I am sorry for a bad start to a wonderful journey ahead (you will come to notice that in the end of it all).

It will get easier, just hang in there for at least a semester and re-assess the school situation. I recently graduated from a school that I initially felt was inadequate compared to others but it improved over time and every professor is different!! (Keep that in mind: some are awesome, some real mean and others just "i'm just here to teach") Give yourself time to adjust to a new environment. Once clinical's, projects, papers and so forth are thrown at you, you WILL find a friend or two!

Maybe other's in the class are feeling the same way you are...don't stop approaching people because a few gave you the cold shoulder. I'm sure it will happen being a nurse as well, where a nurse or two just won't let you fit in. Don't let it bother you, focus on your career and stay true to your passion for nursing.

Good luck! Update us or me at some point