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..."...
I'm finishing my first semester of NS in a couple weeks and I haven't felt over whelmed until now. With 1 lecture, 2 finals, a health assessment video, and a fundamentals and pharmacology test within the next week and a half, I'm a bit stressed. School plus my 5 year old and my 1 year old and a husband who had just moved across country to go to work had given me nose bleeds, diarrhea, and headaches like you would not believe!! It's all worth it though. :)
1) 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 Georgia Pacific. Because as much copy paper as you will use, you may as well own part of the company. 3) 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) 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 home made treats. It will temporarily assuage your guilt. 5) 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) 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) 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. 8) 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) Accept that donuts and a coffee from 7/11 is a food group in and of itself. 10) The world doesn't stop turning now that you are in NS. 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!!![/quote']
Love this, it is so very true and a great description of the 1st semester in nursing school
Thank you so much for sharing this!! I will be starting nursing school in February. Although I know the work load will be huge and my schedule will be crazy, I am so excited to start this next chapter in my life!!
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.
That's amazing, you're handling it very well. I took one weekend off this semester, then the midterms started again....
I haven't read through all the comments but I will say my first semester of nursing school was really hard for me. Nursing school is a whole nother culture that other non-nursing school participants don't understand.
the amount of reading, papers, tests, and clinicals was overwhelming for me. I had a hard time trying to keep everything together in my life and in school. I put 100% into school. I was anxious, depressed, gained weight, wasn't sleeping and was miserable overall. I took a step back and realized that I didn't want to be this person for the next 2 years so reassessed who I wanted to be.
When I went on summer break, I made a menu that included a shopping list. I made 6 weeks worth of menus. e/o Sunday I would go grocery shopping and make a bunch of meals that I could freeze or eat that week so that I had healthy foods that I could eat and not eat out of the vending machine, fast food, etc.
I ensured I got at least 30 mins of exercise 5 times a week. I was lucky that at my 40 hour/week job I could go to the gym over my lunch break. Quite honestly, those 30+ mins a day probably saved my life/sanity. I lost 60 pounds and ran a marathon while in nursing school
I made time for friends/family. I let them know my schedule and sometimes it took a month or so to figure out a date/time to get together, but we did. Sometimes we'd have brunch so I could have the rest of the day to study. Sometimes it would be a late night out (very little alcohol) so I could decompress afterwards.
I just graduated and I truly feel that I ended up as a well rounded person. I learned that I need to have balance. Nursing school is HARD and STRESSFUL but it wasn't who I was. When I found balance, I was a happier person overall and I hope I can carry that into my professional life as well.
I wasn't an 'A' student, but then again I wasn't to start with either. I think my average will be around 3.42 upon graduation (grades haven't been released yet so don't know exactly)
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!!!
nonnocere1988
24 Posts
Yeah, you're right. I probably should have put more thought into that one.