The First Days of Nursing School by the Fall 2009ers!!!

Nursing Students General Students

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Alright well I have been wanting to post this for a very long time! Since I first logged on to allnurses I couldn't wait until it was my turn to say, I am a nursing student!!!

So, technically, yesterday was my first day but I was only there for a couple hours. We went right into lecture about the history of nursing and how it's ever changing. We also learned about the different educational paths a nurse can take, but I already did that research beforehand on allnurses :p

Today was mainly orientation and a welcome to our nursing class. We went more in depth about what to expect and also dissected our huge textbook-like syllabus. I am not joking about the size of that syllabus, it's insane. Since starting I have been reading nonstop. We have already been assigned about five chapters to read from our fundamentals book, which is not the most interesting of reads, but it's doable. I'm just overwhelmed really, probably because they talked a lot about what is to come. Over the next month, three papers are due and at the end of each semester we are taking the ATI tests. If we fail those, well then we have to take the course over.

Today was also one of our lab days. So for lab, we watched two videos about ensuring infection control by washing hands and applying ppe and then of course we had to do it. The basics for right now. Tomorrow is another lab day, bedmaking and body mechanics. So I guess I should get back to reading a couple more chapters and stop playing around on allnurses. I am just so happy to have finally made it. I'm still in a state of shock. Somebody pinch me.

Specializes in FNP-BC, RNC-OB.

i only have nursing classes left as well - whew! i couldnt imagine having to take nursing classes PLUS other pre reqs?! i almost had a nervous breakdown taking the required chem this past june LOL.

i also felt it was EXTREMELY necessary to buy a voice recorder and so i did. ever sit in class taking notes and think "wait what did she say??" and start asking ppl what was that? well ask no more with the voice recorder! (in my commercial voice, hehe) ... if i happen to miss something, i can just go back and listen to the lecture again or to the part i need. i have a feeling its gonna be a godsend =)

anyone gotta wake up at 6am for their classes and clinical? (my clinical starts at 7, but gotta wake up early to get ready)

Specializes in FNP-BC, RNC-OB.

my clinicals start @ 7am as well. and im quite sure with the lazy body i have, ill have to get up at 5:00 just to give myself time to grab a bite to eat and/or traffic .. (sigh)

My clinicals start at 6:30am ahhhh! And my labs start at 9am somedays and at 7am on others. I have been getting myself ready to wake up really early! Either way I am excited!:p

I also purchased a voice recorder because I agree that you can never get everything they say. Plus, some days I have an hour and a half commute so that will be time well spent listening to the lectures again. I bought a Saunder's student planner which I have been looking through and reading and I highly recommend getting one! It has much more than calendars and day planners. There are clinical tips, websites, etc. I got it on Amazon. I also purchased Test Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students and have been reading and taking notes from it as well. It was part of our recommended list and I decided to buy it after reading the reviews on Amazon. To the person who said they read ahead, that's exactly what this book suggests. That way, you have a grasp on what the instructor is saying and it's not all brand new. I have even read to make sure to schedule "me" time or "family" time along with your school stuff so you remember that taking care of you is just as important. That one is going to be a hard one for me cause I'm a perfectionist and tend to neglect "fun" time so I'm going to make it a point to relax once in awhile so I don't get burnt out.

Just think, pretty soon, we'll be on here celebrating passing the NCLEX and offering advice to new nursing students! :D

Just think of our little journey as our yellow brick road and the Oz in this case is a RN position at a great facility whichever one we chose!

Christina

hi, my fellow nursing students! i also have been waiting, god knows how long (6 years) to get into nursing school, it seems like it took me forever to gather my pre-req's, but finally...i made it!!! last semester i finally finished microbio. and next thing i knew i got my acceptance letter to nursing school at sccc full time....and i couldn't believe it!....i have been in awe ever since! i don't know about you guys, and i don't mean to be self centered....but i really feel proud of myself! i feel that at my age and stage in life (40, married, working n with kids...) i have truly acomplished something. this is my first step to my dream come true...being a rn. !!...i wanted this for soooo long, and can't imagine being anything else in life (other than a good mother and wife).....so i too am looking forward to staring nursing school on august 31st, i've already started reading those 5 or 6 chapters that we were told to read at the orientation. i wish you all the luck in the world guys, it's gonna be a rough two years, but all soooo worth it! good luck to all of us new nursing students!! xoxoxoxo nt

i am slightly younger than you and am changing careers. i have 2 classes left other than nursing classes, but i figure i can take them in the summer instead of with my nursing ones. i want to concentrate on those! like you, i have a family and am proud that i'm not letting age or anything get in the way of accomplishing my goals so i say way to go! it won't be easy, but we can do it! if your husband is anything like mine, you'll be okay! having a supportive family is half the battle and i definitely do so i hope you do as well!

good luck to you!

Congrats to all the newbies. As a recent graduate, I remember the excitement of those first days. Let me offer a few tips - you can get some textbooks at a considerable discount from Half.com if you are lucky and order as early as possible. I also got 10% off from Barnes and Noble online as well as occasional coupons for an additional 10% off. Their annual fee paid for itself in 1 quarter. School bookstores were always more expensive. Get some kind of planner for assignments - I used Student 4.0 on my Palm, which let me key in all assignments, projects, readings, and keep track of my grades in every class. Lots more, but enough for now. Good luck to all.

I cant wait until next Monday thats when I start nursing school at Daley. I already got my books and uniformsI am very excited. I even bought a watch I guess for the second hand when checkin the pulse n it had military time lol.

Specializes in Med Surg.

I start school tomorrow! I've got RN pre-reqs (micro and physiology) tomorrow and then Friday is my LPN school orientation. I'm so excited!

good luck to all of you, I graduate Saturday and am also in a state of shock that it is over and sweet relief too. Make the most of your clinical days and try to do everything you can get your hands on while you are there for it is over so fast!!

i just can't believe that i'm finally in the "general nursing student discussion" forum! :chuckle

i start in a couple of weeks and will enjoy every last little minute of this vacation, i know i'm going to need it!

oh my gosh, i feel the exact same way!! i used to hit up pre-nursing all the time, and now i spend nearly all my time on allnurses here "general nursing student" and i'm sooo excited!!

orientation is aug. 26, and i start aug. 31, so nothing to report yet!

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