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

[craziechiq]

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.

[bluemushroom]

I have to get a better stethoscope now because the one that I had that came with the toy anatomy man from Toys R' Us just ain't cutting it! LOL For practice vital signs tomorrow I'm using my mom's free one given to her by Kelsey-Seybold clinic. Believe it or not, it works very good, but I need my own. I'm not ready for the price and lust of a Littman. Isn't a Prestige good enough? They've had some good reviews. What has evryone else got?

I've got a Prestige. I was able to hear well with it when I listened to my own heart, but I guess I'll really know how good it is next week when we do vital signs. When I was buying supplies, the lady working at the shop told me that a Prestige would be fine and that I didn't need to buy a Littman. A nurse who was there shopping also told me a Prestige would be fine and that I should let someone else buy me a nice, expensive Littman as a graduation gift, not for basics. If it doesn't work for me, I'll just have to buy a better one.

I just finished my second week of classes. There was a lot of information in the first week, and we were there more hours than we'd usually be, but it settled down into a regular schedule this past week. My first test is Monday, then I have a check off on sterile dressing changes on Tuesday.

[PackersFan]

My first day was Wednesday...we had lecture for the majority of the day & had to take a critical thinking ATI test.

Thursday was spent from (0630 to 1635) in the Skills Lab - we learned how to transport patients/move patients/log roll/restraints with quick release knots, etc....

After the extremely long day, I was very frustrated with everything (and exhausted) I came home and cried!

Today was so much better! We were again in the Skills Lab from 0630 to 1635 - we learned how to do vital signs, make beds, give baths, etc...

Overall, I am learning a ton & I can't believe that we will be in the hospital in 3 weeks....eeeks!

We can ALL do this - we just need to take it one day at a time!! (and I'm sure that yesterday isn't going to be the last day that I cry....) :)

[citylights89, BSN, RN]

I've got a Prestige. I was able to hear well with it when I listened to my own heart, but I guess I'll really know how good it is next week when we do vital signs. When I was buying supplies, the lady working at the shop told me that a Prestige would be fine and that I didn't need to buy a Littman. A nurse who was there shopping also told me a Prestige would be fine and that I should let someone else buy me a nice, expensive Littman as a graduation gift, not for basics. If it doesn't work for me, I'll just have to buy a better one.

I just finished my second week of classes. There was a lot of information in the first week, and we were there more hours than we'd usually be, but it settled down into a regular schedule this past week. My first test is Monday, then I have a check off on sterile dressing changes on Tuesday.

I went into my school bookstore today to buy a new shirt and I saw that they restocked the stethoscopes from yesterday. I saw the $21 ones that a girl in my class told me not to get b/c she got one and had to return b/c she didn't hear anything. They had 2 Littmans, the Classic II Master and Classic II Lightweight (or is it S.E.?), but they were at least $69. I did some research last night and saw good reviews on the Prestige Clinical I, and lo and behold, there was one there! So I got a Frosted Lilac Prestige Clinical I for $43 w/ tax. I tried it out today after I finally understood how to take my BP and let me say that thing is loud and clear! Everything is so crisp there is no mistake what you are hearing. I can also hear my lungs when I tried to auscultate them too with the bell. I love my new stethy!!! :redbeathe Thanks for the input evryone. I also got my own sphygmomanometer from Prestige too with little pink Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons over a black background.

[GabbsRN]

Whew! What a week! Its been so overwhelming with all the reading ahead I had to do (I'm still a little behind) and I have to read over 200 pages just for Monday's lecture. Good news is after this week, I will have significantly less reading to do for the last 2 exams. Our classes run 1 lecture and 1 clinical per half semester, so I have a total of 2 lecture and 2 clinicals each semester. Only 7 more weeks to go until this class is OVER!

We did a lot of orientation stuff this week even though we had classes everyday. We will finally start our campus clinicals on Tuesday. We will get to the hospitals in about 5 weeks. I'm so excited to finally get into the swing of things, but I am scared to death!!

My first exam is in 2 weeks. Good luck everyone!

[nurse12b]

Well the first is over and it was a doozy for me as well I think they killed a forest with as much paper they gave us. I had to go to the school today to do hw at the school cause it was videos that I could not take hm. I am still overwelmed from all week and have alot of studying.

[newbebop, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Thanks for all the updates. Orientation down, but first day is not until Sep 9th! I can't wait!! I am trying not to stress too much over the preparation. I have been checking in here. Looking through the skills book and trying to get in some relaxing family time before the big day. ;-)

[blueowl222]

Thanks for creating this thread! I love reading all of the experiences posted so far...

I'm superstitious so I waited to post until now... I start tomm. night and I def. have the night before first day of school jitters all over again (you'd think having been through it so many times that I'd get over those.. lol). I just can't believe it's finally here... I have a feeling tomm. night will be a lot of our overview for the entire 1st yr. of the prog., but still wow! I have all my books piled high in my bedroom (Did anyone else go through total book panic -- at the sheer volume -- 12 books in all for me -- and content of the NS books??! I def. had a mini freak out, lol)... The stethoscope the uniforms, the white sneakers...

Hopefully, I'll be able to post on here to give updates on how NS is going for me (and share any new experiences I can).. I'm working full time during the day (keeping my 8-4:30 job) and then doing a night/weekend prog. at my local CC...

I just can't get over it finally being time. I wish every one of the 2009'ers good luck and a great/challenging year ahead !!

[choc0late]

I'm drinking my :hotchocolate:now and am leaving in under an hour for my first official BSN student day! Nervous.excited and scared! Hoooy boooy! Wish me luck guys!

:clpty:

[Almost 40]

My orientation is next week. I am very excited. I have wanted to do this for a very long time. I am very nervous about the school work invovled though. It is very intimidating. There is so much reading and papers, and I have been out of school for 19 years! I just hope I can keep up with the pace. 4 years for s BscN is quite the commitment!

I not only have to worry about school, but a house, husband, two teens (13 and 17)and a dog who also rely on me for everything. I wonder if there will be enough hours in the day? I keep telling my kids that their life as they know it at home is going to change. Mom won't be there for every little thing and that they are going to have to start doing things for me. I have guilt already and I haven't even started yet. My husband is away alot for work, so that is why I say they rely on ME. My husband says that I gave up alot for them, staying home to raise them etc, and now it is their turn to give something back to me. I just don't want them to have to lose out on something because I was too busy to take them somewhere or do something with them.

So yeah, I have mixed emotions. I am SOOO excited to start school, scared of what lies ahead, and guilty at the thought of not always being there for my kids.

[busybee0613]

First of all let me say I LOVE this site! I have a feeling it's going to be a lifesaver over the next 4 yrs!! I am officially in countdown mode. I have orientation on Wednesday and start on the 8th! It's been a long time coming and I can't believe it's finally here!!!!!

[Cilantrophobe]

My first week way extremely uneventful but here it is anyhow...

Before I let loose, here is a quick intro to how my nursing program works. There are 168 of us and all of us have class in separate classrooms on Monday at the school. However, when we go to class on Mondays, it is just a discussion/question/answer time. We listen to our prerecorded lectures online before we attend class each week. The online lectures are about 4 hours on average. In addition to that we have our individual lab and clinical assignments for each week.

About 3 weeks ago we were given our first 2 weeks worth of reading assignments and I got about 90% finished in addition to listening to our first lecture before the first day of class. So, my first day of class was last Monday and we literally did nothing. We went over the syllabus (something we could have done at home individually-I don't need an instructor to read me a syllabus) and people asked stupid questions like "What is the attrition risk rate for the first semester?" Anyways, my school was very unorganized in getting everything together and posted to our Blackboard site for us. Since I had lab the very next morning and wasn't sure if they actually expected us to have our assignments finished before class, I went ahead and at least did the reading. All of our textbooks are part of Evolve/Elsevier and we had to purchase some access codes in order to complete certain assignments for mostly lab, and case studies for class. For our lab we are supposed to complete our assignments and print our our grades in order to avoid a "U" for the day. As expected they didn't expect anything of us, and I was the only one who had done anything. Apparently the lab syllabus was posted online and then taken back down so it was pure luck that I got my hands on it. We were given a lesson on how to wash our hands, give bed baths, change occupied and unoccupied beds, and do vital signs. It was all really laid back and nice, not what I expected at all. I also got very familiar with my clinical instructor because she was the sub for the absent lab instructors. I have heard that the lab instructors are pretty hard core and I am still a little nervous about meeting them.

After lab I had a scheduled appointment to take a HESI test. It was some sort of diagnostic critical thinking test. There was no way to study for it and I am still not sure if it counts toward our grade. We have been told conflicting information. Anyways I got a 900/1000! That was really exciting for me. I got my worst score in prioritizing (775) no surprise there. The funny part is that I have even studied up on how to prioritize. I have a feeling that will be an area I will struggle with. I wish I could remember a few examples but on one of the questions it seemed like all 4 patients had completely equal time-sensitive complications.

That concluded my in-class portion for the week. I had Wed-Fri at home all day last week to do homework, and homework I did. It seemed like every time I logged into Bb, there were a ton of new assignments. I have been doing homework day and night and I am not yet caught up. However, I should say that I have a feeling that I am going above and beyond. It is kind of confusing and I am not really sure exactly what to do and when. I am just doing everything that I think we are supposed to do (according to all of my syllabuses).

Today is my second and first real day of class. It will be interesting to see what we actually do. I have a feeling that we are going to get a demonstration and/or discuss head-to-toe assessment. We were assigned a breathing pattern case study that I completed and submitted and I am really interested to see who actually did it already. I know that it is due today and that technically everyone should have done it but it seems like SOOO many people are really confused by where to go to find all of these assignments. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if half the class didn't have it finished.

Tomorrow is my second lab and the one where we have to submit our homework, again I won't be surprised if everyone doesn't have it done. I am just curious to know if they will hand out any U's, and how long they will be lenient. They never gave us one singe tutorial or explanation on where to go and what to do for all of these assignments. We are just expected to figure it out for ourselves. I am supportive of the expectation of us to be proactive and self-sufficient however, I don't think it is appropriate or fair for them to expect us to figure all of this out on our own (despite the fact that I did). My reason for this is because we did NOT sign up for an online class. So, to include that many online 'things' without a single tutorial seems a bit unfair.

Wednesday is my first day of clinical and the entire day will consist of orientation, on at each of the 2 sites. I have no idea what to expect. I am going to ask our instructor today in discussion what we will be doing at clinicals before we are signed off on our skills. I have been under the impression that we were not allowed to do anything to a patient until we had first proven ourselves in clinical. However, how can they expect us to learn and pass a test without having practice. It's not like we can harm a patient by taking their blood pressure and anything else involved in an assessment. My guess is that we won't be able to perform and of the more advance skills (injections, catheters, etc) without passing our tests on SimMan first.

Sorry this post is so ridiculously long. Things were VERY confusing for us during our first week. My advice to those of you who have not started yet, or those of you who just started is to be patient, and understanding. As unorganized as my program might seem, I refuse to be the student with a combative attitude with my teachers and administrators. I don't necessarily like the way things are being done but after a week of doing homework and assignments I have learned so much. And I really look forward to the semester ahead!

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

We have the Evolve/Elsevier videos too. The access codes came in a package with 2 of our books. On its own, it would have cost 125, but our packages in total cost 168$. However, some people chose to buy their books online, so they didn't have the access code, forcing them to buy one. There was a bit of confusion there. Also, we have more than one course on Evolve and that's where we'll be doing our HESI stuff, but we only have one code for a different class.

Our first week was also spent primarily discussing syllabi...and asking stupid questions..