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..."...
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.
I so appreciate this comment as I was beginning to wonder if its really that bad. I start my program next month and am eager to begin. Luckily, I won't have a job to contend with, but still a husband and kids who's own school work demands my time and attention. I'm just glad to see that not everyone is melting down. Thanks.
This is why I get semi-vocal when I read statements such as "Get over being an A student."
Step back and rationalize what you just said. You are feeding a culture of under achievement. Has anyone never heard of aiming above your designed target? If you aim for that straight A hell you might make it, but if you get over it before the fights only begun, your chances are slim to none because you fed into the culture of under achievement, and in essence, broke your own spirit.
Whooooooooo!!!!!! Do you know what a tongue n' cheek comment is? I see, you spend all your time getting those A's that you have difficulty relating on a social level. Give me a B and a personality any day. Woo-sah!
Yeah I think that the A students may have book smarts but are lacking in other areas. They seemed to take everything for face value and not with the grain of salt that was supposed to go with it. Lol![/quote']
Ahem. I have a 4.0 and I'm the most hilarious person I know!
I so appreciate this comment as I was beginning to wonder if its really that bad. I start my program next month and am eager to begin. Luckily, I won't have a job to contend with, but still a husband and kids who's own school work demands my time and attention. I'm just glad to see that not everyone is melting down. Thanks.
Its not that bad. Hard, yes. Unmanageable, no. The people who handle it poorly are too Type A to be healthy and didnt prepare beforehand. Go in relaxed with your head on straight. I have better grades now than I ever have, including the 4 years I spent getting my first degree. There is really nothing to CONSTANTLY cry and freak out about....and if there is, I dont even want to imagine you having your patients circling the drain.
This is excellent, because it's so true. After graduating in 1979 with an ADN, and working ever since in Nursing, this brought a huge smile to my face! I too, was a return-to-college mom (2 girls), balancing school & clincal with motherhood. Thanfully, my next-door neighbor was the best, letting my kids come over when they got off the bus from school with her kids. My GI husband was also very supportive when he was home. Keep up the good work, but strive for those A's: I graduated 2nd in my class, with a 4.0 GPA. I mean, if you think about it, do you want the nurse who aced the class taking care of your family, or one who only knows 80% of the material? Just sayin'......
Meh, I beg to differ. I had clinicals with a girl who always had a 3.8-4.0 GPA, but she was a ***** and openly admitted that she didn't have sympathy for her patients. I'd rather have the caring nurse with a 3.0 than the ***** with a 4.0. Just sayin...
Its not that bad. Hard yes. Unmanageable, no. The people who handle it poorly are too Type A to be healthy and didnt prepare beforehand. Go in relaxed with your head on straight. I have better grades now than I ever have, including the 4 years I spent getting my first degree. There is really nothing to CONSTANTLY cry and freak out about....and if there is, I dont even want to imagine you having your patients circling the drain.[/quote']
I'd say it's pretty unmanageable for all the many people who have failed our over the years. It's all relative.
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!!!
Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN
144 Posts
I so appreciate this comment as I was beginning to wonder if its really that bad. I start my program next month and am eager to begin. Luckily, I won't have a job to contend with, but still a husband and kids who's own school work demands my time and attention. I'm just glad to see that not everyone is melting down. Thanks.