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
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.
:yeah:Ive made it through the first 8 weeks and will go to next class in a few days.It has been very challenging and so very interesting.I know I am where I wanted to be since I was in high school,so perserverence does pay. good luck to all this fall, and best wishes.We can do this....Yippee......:typing
Today was my second day,, and we've pretty much hit they ground running, as "they" say!
I have like 8 chapters to read (in just one text book)for tomorrow! I don't know how you all are handling it, but I am freaking out! I managed to read the assigned chapter in another text, and also look at the websites recommended in our course packet (all 300+ pages of it!). Any suggestions? I am feeling overwhelmed at this point.
I have managed to sleep sort of well, and eat ok, so far!
Overwhelmed is too weak a description of how I feel right now!
Today will be my third day. I haven't really been able to complete any of the reading assignments. It seems like it takes me longer to read them than I thought it would, and I'm a good reader. Really everything has been very basic so far but there is a lot of reading and so MUCH to keep track of. The "packets" our assignments and course outlines are in are very confusingly arranged IMO and I just have NO idea how I'm going to stay organized.
Also, I'm a very, very shy person and it feels like everyone in the class either already knew each other or have already teamed up into groups. I am going to feel very awkward when we have to team up to take each other's vital signs. No one will want me and it will be just like elementary school all over again. There I will be standing by myself again!
kar38, RELAX....nursing school is a long ways off from elementary school....just try to talk, be friendly and people will respond....i am kind of outgoing, and my good nursing school buddy isnt...shes a lovely girl, but not very talkative...i had to draw her out...and im glad i did - she is great like i said...im sure your great too!!! let everyone know it! stand tall and proud~!
Today was my second day,, and we've pretty much hit they ground running, as "they" say!
I have like 8 chapters to read (in just one text book)for tomorrow! I don't know how you all are handling it, but I am freaking out! I managed to read the assigned chapter in another text, and also look at the websites recommended in our course packet (all 300+ pages of it!). Any suggestions? I am feeling overwhelmed at this point.
I have managed to sleep sort of well, and eat ok, so far!
Ok today is my second day and I have 4 classes down and one more today and clinical orientation tomorrow and Pharm Friday. I am too overwelmed I don't know where to start. We leared how to take temps yesterday hehe. I have video hw today at the school were they time you to make sure you watch them and timed reading also. (and that is for my skills class) I thought that was supposed to be the easy one, guess not. I would have wrote a post yeaterday but I had class till 5p and I went to bed at 7. One awsome thing I have to tell you all is that my husband made dinner and it was awsome he had it ready for me when I got hm. I love that I have so much support at hm. Today I have class till 3:30 and I have to leave my 2yr old daughter with a baby sitter for the first time and it was really hard for me the onle thing I could say to myself to help me stop crying "Its all to help her have a better future" and she is what keeps me going.
I am kind of shy also, but I just force myself to jump in and participate. First day I was kind of lonley, second day the girl that sat beside me would not shut up, could not concentrate on the instructor. I may have to move next week to get away from her.
kar38, RELAX....nursing school is a long ways off from elementary school....just try to talk, be friendly and people will respond....i am kind of outgoing, and my good nursing school buddy isnt...shes a lovely girl, but not very talkative...i had to draw her out...and im glad i did - she is great like i said...im sure your great too!!! let everyone know it! stand tall and proud~!
Some of the people in this class ARE acting a little elementary schoolish! Unfortunately, this is a very small classroom with 52 students in it. The back row nearest the door seems to be considered the Table To Avoid, because anyone sitting at that table must wait until everyone else leaves before even being able to have a chance to get up and leave themselves. Anyone at that table who stood up and tried to leave would block the exit for everyone else. I have just sat there and tried to accept that I will be cramped, smooshed, and bumped into whenever anyone enters or exits for the entire semester. Other people, however, are playing Musical Chairs trying to avoid this table! I can't believe I'm talking about something so petty, but - people who sat at my table the first day moved elsewhere the second day. So the people who were displaced felt annoyed and - I actually heard them planning to do this - came earlier today so they wouldn't have to sit there. !!!!!!! So today others were displaced and had to sit at my table. The whole thing just irks me!
Kar,
I am kind of shy also, but I just force myself to jump in and participate. First day I was kind of lonley, second day the girl that sat beside me would not shut up, could not concentrate on the instructor. I may have to move next week to get away from her.
I don't even know the first thing to do to force myself to jump in. It's just confusing to me! I've been in therapy about it in the past and realize that it's a self-centered, self conscious thing on my part, but it's been a habit to me for so many years that I don't seem to know how to do anything else!
Now I see that one of our assignments will be to take the vital signs of 10 other students. How the #@!% am I going to force myself to ask 10 students to let me take their vitals! Awg! I know, it's nursing school, what else are we going to do, sit around weaving baskets...but I guess I thought we'd practice more on patients, which is still nerve wracking but somehow less intimidating to me than asking other students.
Kar, the table thing sounds sort of funny to me, something that you will remember and laugh about long after nursing school is over. I have found that first or second row is better for me, as I have less distractions and stay more in tune to the lecture. I am a little concerned about the vital sign thing also, being a guy would make it awkard to do heart sounds on a female classmate. I am not sure how we will cross that little hurdle but we will make it work somehow. Another male student starting sitting beside me because he was concerned about the same thing, we both want to be respectfull of our female classmates, but not sacrafice our education. Who sits around you can make a big difference IMO. On the second day of school, I ran into someone who was in a pre req class with me over the sumer. She was with a couple of pals, and my one friend quickly became three as we all ate lunch together. I am going to make a personal goal of trying to learn one person's name each day during roll call. I will give that person a smile and greet them by name later that day with a simple sentence/greeting. Perhaps I can pick up a few friends that way. Tomorrow and Friday, both classes will meet and I think they will be a bit of a competition between the two groups with games such as jepordy with nursing questions. This will be a good icebreaker for the group.
So tomorrow marks the end of my second week of NS!! I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to get on here before now. I LOVE it so far! I'm overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and stressed, but loving it! I'm up to my eyeballs in reading assignments and I'm dreaming about assessments! LOL! Even though its the basics- all fundamental stuff, its still interesting to me and I'm retaining a lot.
I also started a new job the same week NS started (had to quit my FT job and go back to serving PT) so that has added more stress and other complications... I have an infected toenail from my work shoes that aren't broken it yet and I caught a cold from my trainer! :-P
But I also have to brag about my husband... He's been so supportive! He has cooked, done laundry and dishes and packed his own lunch (this is a lot more than he was doing before NS)!
So all in all it's been a good start and I just pray it continues to be managable (I won't dare say easy)!
So today others were displaced and had to sit at my table. The whole thing just irks me!
Pinkhibiscus
3 Posts
:yeah:Ive made it through the first 8 weeks and will go to next class in a few days.It has been very challenging and so very interesting.I know I am where I wanted to be since I was in high school,so perserverence does pay. good luck to all this fall, and best wishes.We can do this....Yippee......:typing