Tips/Advice for starting LPN school?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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Good morning everyone!

I will be starting my LPN program on February 1st! I'm so excited to finally start, but I'm so nervous for the challenges that nursing school and working full time in school will bring. Is anyone else starting their program soon? Also, for everyone currently enrolled in a LPN program or has completed a LPN program do you have any tips or advice that you found helpful, would have found helpful, or have learned along the way?

I appreciate everyone's responses in advance!

How deep into everyone's programs did you start clinicals?

Hm, maybe two months into the semester? It was all a blur and I don't have my old schedule with me at the moment. We definitely had a lot to learn before they let us loose (I say "loose" but we were supervised, obviously).

Before you begin clinicals, they will have to ensure that you understand: how to be safe, what your purpose as a nurse is, what is within your scope of practice, how to conduct an assessment, and how to properly document. Before we began clinicals, we had experience with care plans and had been checked off on most of the nursing procedures.

This semester we start within a few weeks, because we actually have some sort of idea what we're doing! :roflmao:

P.S. When the time comes, I'd buy two pairs of scrubs if I were you. Imagine waking up at 5 am, getting dressed and fed for the clinical day, accidentally exploding a bottle of oil all over your uniform, and not having another one to change into. (True story)

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This semester we start within a few weeks, because we actually have some sort of idea what we're doing! :roflmao:

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Well good luck! How much longer of your program do you have?

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I am starting my second semester Jan. 14 which will be clinical lab & med math. I am excited & ready to get this semester over with. I am in the part-time lpn program but it's far from being part-time when it comes to the work load. It's tough but I love it. This is my passion something I have been doing for 8 yrs without a license. Congrats!

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Specializes in LPN.

Clinical started about three months into the program for me. First you will have orientation and they will show you around the unit, then the following day you will be assigned a patient. But by this time you will learn about assessments and what to expect. It's a little overwhelming at first, especially if you don't have experience with patients (like myself), but you'll start to get used to it. I'm still getting used to it.

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Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know what to expect. I am ready to get it over with, but I know I need to have patience. Next semester I believe we start maternal child nursing and they say its very hard. It would be nice if you could keep me updated on your progress.

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Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know what to expect. I am ready to get it over with, but I know I need to have patience. Next semester I believe we start maternal child nursing and they say its very hard. It would be nice if you could keep me updated on your progress.

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I just finished my first semester in LPN school and honestly it wasn't that bad. I did not study every single day but I did make sure to read each chapter that we covered and to review my power points and add notes to them. Passed with all Bs.

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I just finished my first semester in LPN school and honestly it wasn't that bad. I did not study every single day but I did make sure to read each chapter that we covered and to review my power points and add notes to them. Passed with all Bs.

Congrats! It does get harder or should I say more in depth the further you move alone in the program.

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Tip 3: There will be drama. Stay away from it.

Everything was on point - but this one right here...yes! It's so easy to get dragged into the drama. Just remember to stay focused!

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I am waiting for my acceptance Letter for Eastern arts and technology school in Willow Grove,PA. April 2016 class.

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I am waiting for my acceptance Letter for Eastern arts and technology school in Willow Grove,PA. April 2016 class.

Congrats I am waiting for acceptance letters from Pennsylvania institute of tech in media pa for June 2016 class. I heard eastern program is excellent

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Congrats on beginning your journey! I'm a senior PN student with a little under 4 months to go- and I must second everything that NotAllThoseWhoWander mentioned- it's great advice.

There is drama. Tons of it. Especially if your cohort is mostly women. Stay as far away from it as you can- no one needs extra stress.

Please start doing NCLEX questions now. At this point, it isn't about knowing the material- it's understanding the question style. If you can determine what the question is asking, you can chose the correct answer and you will have mastered the art of nursing school exams. This is the reason I have passed every Kaplan with ease, and some in my cohort who refuse to believe me (and every instructor we've had) have not done so well.

Use your life experience to help you, but be careful when it comes to testing. Remember, tests are always from the book- real life is a completely different story.

Utilize every opportunity for experience. When you get to clinical, hopefully you'll be at a site that allows you to exercise your newly learned skills. Don't shy away from anything! Everyone has had to have a 'first time' so no matter if it's something as 'simple' as emptying a colostomy bag or getting wrist deep in wound cleaning- do it! Your experience is priceless.

Along with the bit about avoiding drama, hopefully you'll have some sort of support from within your cohort. Lean on this people. They'll become your family.

Lastly, I'll hop off my soap box. Enjoy yourself. It's a long journey, but it's definitely worth it.

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