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.
I went through those ATI exams, taking them and then moving on. If you can actually retain knowledge from those exams, it'll benefit you for after you graduate and take the NCLEX-RN examination.
Buy Saunders Comprehensive. Professors LOVE to pull questions from that book. It has wonderful pictures and information that help reiterate what you're learning in classes.
If I knew this, I would've done it. Do questions from Saunders Q&A or Exam Cram by the middle or end of your junior year. Doing questions early really helps increase your chances of passing your NCLEX examination by graduation.
Buy textbooks from half.com. Don't waste money on textbooks from your school bookstore. It's not worth it!
AHH! I have orientation on Tuesday and I start classes September 8th! I am sooooo excited. I feel like I have been counting down forever, but at the same time it's all happening so fast! Can't wait!
Well, I had my first day yesterday.... and I hate to be debbie downer, but I feel like I got all excited for nothing!! It was bascially a review of the orientation from a month ago. We had some lady from ATI talk to us for an hour about how amazing ATI is. A couple second year students came in and gave us some candy (yay!) and told us about the family bbq at the park in a few weeks, they passed around a sign up sheet for food and stuff. i think it will be fun! then the instructors told us the same stuff they did at orientation... whatever!
We got our finalized calender/syllabus. Holy CRAP!!! I have 95 pages in my Calculating Drug Dosages book due by Wendesday and my first Exam on Thursday over the first 5 chapters in the fundamentals book.:uhoh21: On a good note, most of the people in my class are around my age (early 20's) which is suprising because i am in the night program. There are about 5 or 6 "non-traditional" students that are married and have children. We went around the room and introduced ourselves. Everyone seemed nice. We also signed up for our preferred clinical site. Of course there are no promises, but I'm hoping for the one 3 miles from my house, not the one thats 22 miles from my house!!
I guess i didnt know what to expect. After 2 years of pre reqs I am ready to cut open a patient and do some "real nursing" stuff, if that makes sense. I know it was only the first day, and i have to do it one step at a time, but I am bored with textbooks and want to start labs and clinicals...but we arent in labs for another week and dont have clinicals till mid october...oh well. I guess I will have to learn some patience!!
Anyway, even though my first day wasn't as AMAZING as I thought it would be, I feel like the instructors do it like that on purpose. first they put your toe in the water, then your foot, then your leg....i feel like they are trying to ease us into it before they put the firehose in our faces sometime next week. hahaha
Hope everyone else enjoys their first day!!! let me know how it goes!!:redbeathe
Oh, and I got into the online portion of my fundamentals class last night. That was cool. I downloaded all the lecture outlines and stuff for the first week. Woo Hoo!
I can't wait til my first day.. September 1st! It seems so far away right now.
But I did get my Fundamentals syllabus, and I have read Ch 1 and about 1/2 of Ch 2. I will probably do some work in my Med Dosage book, and review a bit before then. I can't wait to get started!!
whatever! 
waterpaint
82 Posts
Advice that you can either take or ignore:
I went through those ATI exams, taking them and then moving on. If you can actually retain knowledge from those exams, it'll benefit you for after you graduate and take the NCLEX-RN examination.
Buy Saunders Comprehensive. Professors LOVE to pull questions from that book. It has wonderful pictures and information that help reiterate what you're learning in classes.
If I knew this, I would've done it. Do questions from Saunders Q&A or Exam Cram by the middle or end of your junior year. Doing questions early really helps increase your chances of passing your NCLEX examination by graduation.
Buy textbooks from half.com. Don't waste money on textbooks from your school bookstore. It's not worth it!
Hope this helps. You'll love ittttt!!!