UNF Fall 2011 RPL Applicants

StudySarah · Jul 8, 2011

I also got in!!! I am active on our FB page...I just wanted to post to encourage future allnurses.com folks!!! This page was really helpful and I can't wait to start the program!!!

biomimetical · Jul 12, 2011

Aw, you guys are a semester after me! (I started in May, and am in the APL program.) I wonder if you guys have to buy the same stuff that we did? Because I definitely didn't use most of it this semester and wasted quite a bit of money...just sayin'. Oh! And I'm totally selling a textbook or two as well...

Wanttobeanurs · Jul 31, 2011

Congratulations to those of who have been accepted! I am finishing my first semester in the RPL at UNF and am looking forward to finishing my 5 finals this week and having a 2 week break!

First off, for unfortunate circumstances, one of our classmates has to leave the program and would love to sell his very gently used books. First come first served. Please e:mail him at [email protected].

Next, be prepared for lots of studying and lots of time away from family and friends. You will have at least 1-2 tests each week, sometimes 4 on top of clinicals, screenings and other learning opportunities. Remember, it is do-able. Many have come before you and many will come after you. You can do it, but you have to want it and not feel the guilt of setting aside invitations, parties and activities. Many classes assign a grade, but some are pass/fail.

Now that I have said that, I love the program! I have learned so much and appreciate all the knowledge the UNF professors have. Embrace it, follow the syllabus (every part) and study until your eyes burn and you'll do well.

One more thing, no one (no matter how much they love you :)) will understand the rigors of nursing school. I stopped trying to explain the workload, stress and pressure about a month ago. Nursing school is nothing like my other Bachelor degree. My graduate work work load was less than Nursing school. Just be ready.

Best of luck! I'm confident you'll do great! You made it this far!

scarlettrose · Jul 31, 2011

Wanttobeanurs:

Thank you so much for the advice, I'd been wanting to talk to someone who was just finishing their first semester. Everything you said was exactly how I thought the program would be. It can be very scary and somewhat discouraging knowing how much stress there will be, and how much effort I will have to put in to get the degree and become a successful RN.

With all of that being said, I want to be a nurse more than anything else, and I can't wait! lol I'm really glad to hear that although you're going through so much stress and what not you can still say that you love nursing school! I yearn to be just like that during my nursing school experience.

Is there anything special (broad topic range... I know lol) to the first semester that you may want to share with us??? (only answer if you want to)

I really appreciate you helping out the new nursing students!!! :)

AND best of luck to you!

Wanttobeanurs · Jul 31, 2011

Scarlett rose - be organized and keep up with the work. There is so much!! Many professors create their own power-points. Studying the combination of power-points and course objectives with text readings will ensure success. Health Assessments will be your toughest class because of the volume of work. Anything taught in pre-req classess in testable material!! So, if you aced your pre-reqs because you are good at memorizing and regurgitating, you will struggle in Nursing school! The tests are designed to ask you questions built on an already learned foundation. You will use A & P almost everyday. You will use Maslow's hierarch, Piaget's cognitive levels as well as the 8 stages of Erikson's psychosocial model. You will need to recall some of nutrition and chemistry. Remembering diseases of microbiology will be helpful, but not as important as the others. Be aware of pop quizzes in the first few weeks. If info is on the syllabus, it is testable. Even if the word is mentioned once.

I do not go more than 24 hours without doing something for school. There is always a test coming up, a paper, a project, a screening, clinical hours, etc... Get your support network in place. Get organized (a quiet place to study, folders, notebooks, 3x5 cards, laptop, etc...). Arrange carpools (if necessary). Schedule family time and personal time. Schedule doctor and dental visits when the semester ends. You simply cannot miss some classes without going through hoops to make up. (ie clinicals).

Be prepared to inject your lab partner; choose your lab partner wisely. Shots are performed in 1st semester. Be sure you can tolerate bodily fluids, needles, really bad smells and sick people. It may sound basic, but some students forget this component of nursing and are surprised when encountering pereneal cleaning.

Your classmates will become another family to you. They truly are the only ones that know exactly what you are going through. The competition is over now that you're in the program, so embrace your fellow classmates and help each other along.

Best wishes!

scarlettrose · Aug 1, 2011

Thank you again for taking the time to help the new nursing students out!

I know it's going to be tough, but I cannot wait for nursing school to begin!!! :)

Scarlett rose - be organized and keep up with the work. There is so much!! Many professors create their own power-points. Studying the combination of power-points and course objectives with text readings will ensure success. Health Assessments will be your toughest class because of the volume of work. Anything taught in pre-req classess in testable material!! So, if you aced your pre-reqs because you are good at memorizing and regurgitating, you will struggle in Nursing school! The tests are designed to ask you questions built on an already learned foundation. You will use A & P almost everyday. You will use Maslow's hierarch, Piaget's cognitive levels as well as the 8 stages of Erikson's psychosocial model. You will need to recall some of nutrition and chemistry. Remembering diseases of microbiology will be helpful, but not as important as the others. Be aware of pop quizzes in the first few weeks. If info is on the syllabus, it is testable. Even if the word is mentioned once.
I do not go more than 24 hours without doing something for school. There is always a test coming up, a paper, a project, a screening, clinical hours, etc... Get your support network in place. Get organized (a quiet place to study, folders, notebooks, 3x5 cards, laptop, etc...). Arrange carpools (if necessary). Schedule family time and personal time. Schedule doctor and dental visits when the semester ends. You simply cannot miss some classes without going through hoops to make up. (ie clinicals).
Be prepared to inject your lab partner; choose your lab partner wisely. Shots are performed in 1st semester. Be sure you can tolerate bodily fluids, needles, really bad smells and sick people. It may sound basic, but some students forget this component of nursing and are surprised when encountering pereneal cleaning.
Your classmates will become another family to you. They truly are the only ones that know exactly what you are going through. The competition is over now that you're in the program, so embrace your fellow classmates and help each other along.
Best wishes!