10 Things You Should Know About the First Semester of Nursing School
A tongue-in-cheek synopsis of the trials and tribulations of a first semester nursing student. This article covers just a few of the many changes I've been through in four months. My transformation at graduation should be nothing short of amazing!
Even if your family says they understand, they really don't. You may as well tell them, and your friends too, that you are being deployed for 2-4 years, depending on your program. Because you will be MIA every. single. weekend. And most nights too.
2) Buy Stock In Paper
Buy stock in Georgia Pacific. Because as much copy paper as you will use, you may as well own part of the company.
3) Buy Stock In A Printer
While you are at it, buy stock in Canon or whatever inkjet or laser printer you use. You now own Canon and Georgia Pacific.
4) Don't Forget About Your Pets!
Come to terms now with the guilt you will inevitably feel from neglecting cuddle time with your pets. They have an even harder time understanding your absence than your family. Make them homemade treats. It will temporarily assuage your guilt.
5) Say Goodbye To Your Beautiful Nails
If you have nice artificial (or even natural) nails, mourn them now. They aren't allowed in clinical. Only short, stubby, unpolished nails are allowed in clinical. It's an infection control thing that you will soon understand. Besides, even with PPE, you will be glad for less nooks and crannies that you have to scrub out after being in the hospital all day, especially if you have a patient who..... oh, never mind...... You'll see.
6) No More Haircuts - STUDY!
On that same note, figure out how to get by without a haircut for months at a time. You won't have the time for such inconsequential things as keeping up your appearance. And if you did have the time, you wouldn't have the energy. Because you would be sleeping. And if you aren't sleeping, you will be studying. And if you aren't studying, you will be feeling guilty about not studying..... so you may as well study and save yourself the guilt.
7) Failing is BAD!
If you are an A student, get over it. Your As may well become Bs, and that's ok. I haven't cried even one time over a B. And I'm a previous A student. It's not that you are trying less, or that the material is harder (it is), it's that a 90 isn't an A anymore and a 79 isn't even a C. It's now failing. Failing is bad. Bs are not bad.
? You Are Now Boring. Be Proud!
Tell your friends and family that on the rare occasions you see them that you will bore the crap out of them with all the things you've learned. And be proud of it.
9) Donuts And Coffee Your Best Friends
Accept that donuts and a coffee from 7/11 is a food group in and of itself.
10) Don't Miss Class! Make Plans.
The world doesn't stop turning now that you are in nursing. Unfortunately, things still happen to throw obstacles in your way. Make a plan now for what you will do when Junior barfs all over his teacher's shoes and he needs to be picked up from school. Because you can't miss class, or clinical. Especially not clinical.
So, now that first semester is wrapping up, I would also add that it has been a huge, life-changing learning experience. I have learned how to study, how not to study, how dirty my car can get and still run, how many ginormous textbooks I can fit into one scrap of zippered nylon, how to tell when the neurons have just totally stopped firing and it's time to stop studying because no more info is being retained anyway..... And now, after exams, a nice, long, well-deserved break is almost here. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, whatever you celebrate!!!
More information on "My First Semester in Nursing School..."...
UPDATE time!!!! You guys are funny, I loved reading over some of these comments! It's almost over, only one more hurdle (NCLEX) which I am doing early July. Starting a job in the LTC facility where I've worked for a year and a half. And continuing school in the Fall towards my BSN.
In retrospect, all of the things I said were true, at least for me, for two years. Especially that the world doesn't stop turning while you are trudging through nursing school. My mother's health began to fail, three of my dogs passed away, and to be perfectly honest, when I look back on the nursing school journey and factor in those outside events, I don't even know how I did it. But if I could do it at my extremely advanced age with neurons as dry as Ghandi's sandals, and all these emotional events, then I am quite sure all of you can do it too. Wish you the best successes in life.
Thank you so much, Lori! Good luck on your NCLEX - (have you taken it yet?!) I start my AAS/BSN program fall 2015 through Northern Arizona University and Phoenix college. I will graduate 12/2017. To say the LEAST, I am completely overwhelmed. Nervous. Scared. Anxious. Excited. You name it, I'm feelin' it!
I wasn't a straight A student in my classes before. I had mostly A's but some B's and even a few C's.
I have been trying to start a roll call for the program I've been accepted into and I haven't had any responses or luck connecting to fellow students! So, I have just been hoping and praying that my cohort has an amazing group of disciplined and motivated individuals that are friendly to make this journey with the next couple of years!
I hope everything goes well with your NCLEX and that your new job is awesome!!
Love the humor in this post! I'm currently wrapping up my first semester of upper division in my BSN program (first semester junior). I have two children and husband who only see the back of my head as I'm running out the door to class at 6:30am. I also suffer from Crohn's. This whole term has been the toughest thing I've ever done in my life. I found out the hard way about the whole "If you're an A student, get over it" thing I had a 4.0 in lower division. That is LONG gone. I am now in agreement with the fact that B's are good! Going into finals next week with two A's, one B and one C (sigh). I'm just lucky to be alive at this point LOL!
Wow I'd forgotten about alot of this, but reading through these comments I actually remember some of this! So where is everyone now, two years later? I am a hospice case manager and I absolutely love it, and never would have thought I'd end up in hospice. Hope everyone is well!
Lori, I just read through the entire thing. I am so glad to hear you are happy & doing well -- AND that you had forgotten about a lot of this! :) There is light at the end of the very long tunnel.
I love this post! I will be starting my first semester of nursing school in January! I'll be taking Human Physiology in January as well! I'm very excited and nervous! :)
So, now that first semester is wrapping up, I would also add that it has been a huge, life-changing learning experience. I have learned how to study, how not to study, how dirty my car can get and still run, how many ginormous textbooks I can fit into one scrap of zippered nylon, how to tell when the neurons have just totally stopped firing and it's time to stop studying because no more info is being retained anyway..... And now, after exams, a nice, long, well-deserved break is almost here. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, whatever you celebrate!!!
I had a 4.0 in lower division. That is LONG gone. I am now in agreement with the fact that B's are good! Going into finals next week with two A's, one B and one C (sigh). I'm just lucky to be alive at this point LOL!
LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN
1 Article; 1,265 Posts
UPDATE time!!!! You guys are funny, I loved reading over some of these comments! It's almost over, only one more hurdle (NCLEX) which I am doing early July. Starting a job in the LTC facility where I've worked for a year and a half. And continuing school in the Fall towards my BSN.
In retrospect, all of the things I said were true, at least for me, for two years. Especially that the world doesn't stop turning while you are trudging through nursing school. My mother's health began to fail, three of my dogs passed away, and to be perfectly honest, when I look back on the nursing school journey and factor in those outside events, I don't even know how I did it. But if I could do it at my extremely advanced age with neurons as dry as Ghandi's sandals, and all these emotional events, then I am quite sure all of you can do it too. Wish you the best successes in life.