3/4 of the way done with First Semester

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Wow. Okay! So, I'm basically 3/4 of the way through my first semester of nursing school. It's crazy to look back just about 11 weeks ago at the beginning. I really have learned so much...but, I also realized how much I need to know and master. So far, my classes are going well. I have a Fundamentals class with it's correlating clinical, a Nursing "writing" class, which is about ethics and diversity, a Nursing Lab class (with checkoffs :p haha) and then Pharmacology. At first the amount of homework/reading/projects/standards/charting/etc. scared me so much...but honestly, the only thing that's given me the most trouble is the check offs. I think it's because they're so nerve wracking in general! But, I've passed each one so far. Anyway, this was just an update and a way to organize in my mind what has happened in the past few months. Please let me know how your semester is going!

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Specializes in ICU.

I am also about 3/4 of the way through. Doing Med/Surg I and clinical now. We are done with fundamentals. We just registered for next semester in which I have pharm, med/surg II, and psych nursing. Heavy load next semester. 3 days of classes with 2 days of clinical.

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Thanks for the update, Heather! What type of program are you in?

We had some issues with next semester scheduling. I'm apparently taking psychiatric nursing in the summer since there wasn't enough slots to go around :/..but I'm living with that. I have Med/Surg I next semester, Trans-cultural nursing and Pathophysiology. I'm also taking a open elective which is a criminal justice class. I hope this will help me later on because I'm interested in forensic nursing. :D Anyway, keep the updates coming!

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

For those of you starting psych nursing soon, my advice: know your therapeutic communication. Arguably the most important part. Brush up on it and really know what it encompasses and what it actually looks like. This is your bread and butter in psych.

Also know your meds for psych. Psych drugs are known to be potent and have serious adverse effects. Make note cards, because you will see that some drugs for psych are used over and over again in different conditions. Antidepressants are not just used for depression, they can be used for anxiety disorders. Know the classifications, maois, tricyclic, ssri, etc. and the pertinent information like this requires liver studies. This can cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome, eps.

I know y'all didn't ask for the information but I like to share :)

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