Starting and not sure what to expect.

Nurse2b7337 · Aug 1, 2013

Hello there and congrats on taking the first step to a brighter future!!! Will you be taking your classes online? If so, this is the best in my opinion especially when you have kids at home. I took a majority if my classes online from the comfort of my home. What are the first classes you're taking?

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STLmomma27 · Aug 1, 2013

Hello there and congrats on taking the first step to a brighter future!!! Will you be taking your classes online? If so, this is the best in my opinion especially when you have kids at home. I took a majority if my classes online from the comfort of my home. What are the first classes you're taking?
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No, I will be taking classes on campus. I am taking Fundamentals and Nursing Lab Practicum. Also, I am taking A&P2.

ames86 · Aug 1, 2013

Well every college is different, but my first semester in my community college was not bad at all. The first day they scared the crap out of us by making us see how serious all the rules are. They explained all the ways you could be kicked out of the program or fail out. The first semester is just basics where you learn all your skills. Make sure you pay attention and truly learn all of them because you will need to know everything you learn for every semester from here out. I find as long as I take notes and do my reading things aren't as bad as some make them out to be. Don't stress if you don't make an A on every test or for every class. My classes first test in the first semester only 10 out of 54 students passed it. I was happy I passed it but there was a lot of freaked out students. You just have to learn how to take critical thinking test. Also I have kids and I try to do my studying when they are napping or go to bed at night. Sometimes I will find time while they are playing but I get interrupted a lot. Good luck on your journey!

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2013

I'm a little worried too, although I'm an old pro at the community college experience having been enrolled either full or part time for almost three years now. It's not the college experience that's scaring me but the nursing school experience! I'm taking fundamentals and pharmacology. Thank the good Lord I have all pre and co reqs done! No A & P or anything else, just the core NUR courses.

NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2013

1. Take a deep breath

2. Keep a detailed schedule book with assignments due. Check it 5 times a day.

3. There will be high school attitudes. Ignore them and carry on.

4. Find a place to study that works for you (mine was a 24 hour Denny's restaurant)

5. Show up early to clinicals to look over your notes or do last minute things.

6. If you think there's a problem, ask the teacher EARLY in the clinical/semester so you have time to fix it! (Doing a weekly check-in "what do you see that i can do to get better" is not bad either

7. Part of nursing school is intense pressure/head games. Find a way to beat it (I love getting a rockin' song stuck in my head and humming it when the chips were down). Take another deep breath.

Good luck!!!!

STLmomma27 · Aug 2, 2013

1. Take a deep breath
2. Keep a detailed schedule book with assignments due. Check it 5 times a day.
3. There will be high school attitudes. Ignore them and carry on.
4. Find a place to study that works for you (mine was a 24 hour Denny's restaurant)
5. Show up early to clinicals to look over your notes or do last minute things.
6. If you think there's a problem, ask the teacher EARLY in the clinical/semester so you have time to fix it! (Doing a weekly check-in "what do you see that i can do to get better" is not bad either
7. Part of nursing school is intense pressure/head games. Find a way to beat it (I love getting a rockin' song stuck in my head and humming it when the chips were down). Take another deep breath.
Good luck!!!!

Thank you! All of these are great! :)