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! Nursing Students General Students Article

1) Family Understands; Not!

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.

:sleep: 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..."...

10-things-you-should-know-about-the-first-semester-of-nursing-school.pdf

Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

While posts like these are supposed to be fun....not everyone handles school like this. I worked through my ABSN program, saw friends (albeit much less), family, and still had a designated date night every week. Things get hectic and you'll be stressed....but I really, really, really feel like so much of this "mental breakdown" and "up all night crying" stuff is 99% psychosomatic because it's drilled into their heads from the time of acceptance that that's how it's supposed to be. I haven't cried once in nursing school, have a 3.8 GPA, cuddle my cats, and make time for the people I love and my favorite TV shows. I'm not trying to act high and mighty as I realize everyone is different....but my point is that it reallyyyyyy DOESN'T have to be that bad. Use your time wisely. Spending hours highlighting a textbook is completely useless. Go to happy hour with your friends and decompress instead. You'll be better off in the long run.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
If I'm an A student I might as well get over it? What the hell is wrong with this site and its fetish for mediocracy? I plan on grad school afterwards no I wont get over being an A student I'll just study harder. Man, statements like that made daily on this site are un-freckin-believable.

While I admire your attitude and drive to be your best, I think you missed the author's point altogether. I have to wonder, have you actually started nursing school or are you like the majority that come in with a 4.0 and think it's going to be like every other college class you've taken? I really hope you have finished at least one semester of nursing school and still have that attitude but if not, you may be in for a wake up call once you do. It's not about being satisfied with "mediocracy" as you called it. It's about not beating yourself up because you made a B or even a C for that matter. You give 100% all the time and sleep well at night knowing that you did.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
I'm sorry is there something bothering you today? :) My original statement was, "Just so you guys realize... a 4.0 student doesn't always make the best nurse. " That implies that it can go either way, meaning, a 4.0 student can be the best nurse, but having a 4.0 doesn't automatically make you the best nurse. What you're correcting now is my rebuttal to your repeating what I had already stated originally, lol. No one's challenging you. Can we relax now?[/quote']

Everyone loves a good argument over semantics!

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Specializes in Hospice.

Smalltownhero you need to chill and go hijack another post. This is a peaceful post, why you gettin' all bent outta shape over a goofy, tongue in cheek post? Seriously. Lighten up.

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I love your post! I will be done with my first quarter in a couple of days and I told my husband the first thing I am doing is getting my haircut since I have not had any time to do it since August :)

Good luck to everyone who still has finals coming up!

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I love your post, too :)

Yes, people have varying experiences, but you have every right to share your perspective.

Ain't #10 the truth. When my friends and I started nursing school, I think we all went into it with some vague illusion that life would stop for this super important thing we had to do.

People got sick. They got pregnant. They lost their jobs. They got jobs. Relationships ended. People died. We've missed our kids soccer games, we said no to gatherings with friends - heck, I won TWO free trips from two separate contests and had to forfeit both of them.

Life doesn't stop!

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This is perfect; I'm graduating in 5 days and couldn't have said this better myself. You guys will love it, hate it, and get through it. Find a good group of people that you can eat, study, and cry with. Good luck!

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I know a lot of people can agree with this, but I cannot. I don't print all the powerpoints; why should I? I can access them on the computer anytime. I quit spending hours on end reading and reading because I wasn't retaining any of that reading. Maybe I learn differently, but I remember things best when I am applying them in the clinical setting.
I like to print my PowerPoints because intake my notes right on them during lecture. I also print 9 slides per page front and back so it saves in paper. I do agree with you about the reading. It's difficult to comprehend 100's of pages a week. I focus on what's in the PowerPoints because they outline the chapters pretty well and only read what I'm not grasping.
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While posts like these are supposed to be fun....not everyone handles school like this. I worked through my ABSN program saw friends (albeit much less), family, and still had a designated date night every week. Things get hectic and you'll be stressed....but I really, really, really feel like so much of this "mental breakdown" and "up all night crying" stuff is 99% psychosomatic because it's drilled into their heads from the time of acceptance that that's how it's supposed to be. I haven't cried once in nursing school, have a 3.8 GPA, cuddle my cats, and make time for the people I love and my favorite TV shows. I'm not trying to act high and mighty as I realize everyone is different....but my point is that it reallyyyyyy DOESN'T have to be that bad. Use your time wisely. Spending hours highlighting a textbook is completely useless. Go to happy hour with your friends and decompress instead. You'll be better off in the long run.[/quote']

FINALLY. Someone normal.

Thank you.

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I don't go to lecture. I spend 3-4 nights studying before exams. Other then that I'm working, running a business, training for CrossFit, married and have a 3 year old son. Still have a good grades. But still go out, have family time, etc.

I guess I just don't get it? But yes - they drill the "your life is over" thing in your head from the start. I remember specifically at orientation "kiss your family... Goodbye."

Haha - oh well.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Not going to lecture is a whole different story. For one I know my program and many other nursing programs don't tolerate it. And for 2, even though lecture can be dry there are many many lessons to be learned from it. I found out a long time ago that going to lecture is a great way to learn.

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