What to expect in traditional BSN nursing school ?

melissadavon · Apr 2, 2012

Sorry, no advice for you....I just wanted to comment that we're in a similar boat. I'm 31 and got accepted into the BSN program for fall 2012. I've heard the first semester is grueling & I'd also like to hear some first hand accounts :)

pixiestudent2 · Apr 4, 2012

Just wanted to make sure i get notifications for this thread.

Coriander, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2012

I'll answer this! :) I graduate next month, so hopefully can give you some pointers.

I was also a returning student at 31 (32?), and worked my way up from a 1.26 GPA ("earned" at age 18 lol). I busted my buns at my community college to earn my grades and my own induction into Phi Theta Kappa.

Nursing school was a shift for me. Instead of flat-out memorization, I have to apply critical thinking to everything. I learned who I could and could not study with. Study groups were a waste of time for me, as I found my mind getting muddled and confused by everything being said.

Most of the research papers are arduous and there are a LOT of group projects. However, I found with my "advanced age" ;-) That I was able to handle the flow of everything a bit better. My procrastination stopped because I found that I had to really schedule time for everything, and I mean everything, into my planner. On the other side of things, I don't have the energy to pull all-nighters anymore, so I found myself cramming for things that I ran out of time with.

It's really a learning curve. The first semester is the toughest only in that you might have to change the way you go about doing things. You will get some professors that give you marvelous powerpoint slides, and others that you have to write everything they say in order to understand it. I also found that I had to sit in the front row or else I would get distracted by everything else going on around me.

I know this is very vague. If you have any other questions, I am happy to answer them. All the best!

CordaeP · Apr 5, 2012

I am like that also. I have no problem memorizing information. I am nervous about applying all the information that I have to memorize. I too am a procrastinator. I am trying to break this habit before I start nursing school.

MRN717 · Apr 13, 2012

I have worked myself into the type of time management needed for nursing school I believe as I have been in school while working, whereas once nursing school starts I will be PT at most. My first choice right now of the schools I gained acceptance to actually has clinicals spread over 5 semesters with both winter and summers off from school, so it is not as hurried of a pace and I'll have more time outside of school with the many less hours of work. There are 980 hours of clinicals spread over 70 weeks, with nine NURS classes having clincals and five without.(like Pharmacology)

My 1st semester(this fall) includes Fund of Nursing(no clinical), Microbiology and HEalth & Physical Assesment(NURS class-no clinical)

My 2nd semester would include Pharmacology, Medicine and Morality as well as Therapeutic Nursing Intervention(1st NURS class with a clinical)

I have been reading about how it is the application of what you read, see and learn as opposed to spewing out memorized answers. I feel I could do well in this arena as part of my past 11 years of working included one year as a car salesman. I am pretty confident doing things on the move and thinking on my feet. At least I am hopeful.

Coriander....did you go FT, PT, BSN, ADN? Did you work? How many hours?

TIA! I appreciate your time!

Coriander, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2012

MRN717, I am going FT for my BSN, and also working PT. I work full time during breaks. I'm also on the Board of Directors for my chapter nursing student association as well as the state association, so that keeps me busy, too. :)

My work history has included quite a bit of variety, too. It will come in handy. You will find that almost everything you have done relates to nursing somehow.