What to expect when.. Your a new nursing student

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Just received acceptance letter the 12th. It was unexpected because I didn't complete micro so it was a long shot that I made it! Now I am cramming for Dr appts, books, CPR/ BLS, and etc.

So what should I expect in clinicals? Do we actually get to be hands on or is it more of observatory learning? How many hours do you typically spend a day in clinical's? Why do they say nursing school is so hard? Is it the studying part..? Or is it the skills check out? What's it like?!

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

Clinicals: Hands on and an unforgettable experience. You should be able to do everything you check off on. Once you learn to insert IV's and the chance comes up to go to endoscopy, you take it! You'll do more IV's there in two hours than you'll be able to do on your floor the whole semester.

Nursing school is hard because of the amount of material you have, have quickly you learn it, and how the test questions are written. Don't stress it though, and take it one day at a time. Congrats on your acceptance!

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Thank you!

I do enjoy learning. I especially love learning when I am actually applying it. I did very well in A&P and I have remembered (I think) most of my terminology, which will probably help me. I've heard about the tests. That they throw in a very small detour which will really make you think. I just wondered how clinical's went. How many days a week, how many hours, what your "allowed" to do.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

It honestly depends on the program. Hopefully you have an orientation, and if so, that would be a great time to ask those types of questions.

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It's in July

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In my experience, I had two clinical days a week, i.e. medsurg and psych. It was 8hr shifts. I thought I was very well prepared but when I got into my true nursing classes it was like hitting a brick wall at 100mph. Get a study schedule down pat in the beginning bc you will be lost and be overwhelmed quick. Clinicals are definitely the best part, be the first to volunteer for everything idc if its a suppository, it will show your instructors you mean business and they will reward you later on. Good luck, it will be worth it in the end!

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at my school clinicals are 9 hrs once a week.

in the first semester half the clinicals are at the school in the lab with dummies and the other half is with real patients.

the rest of the semesters are all at your location.

what school are you attending? every school is different, so find a student that goes to your college and ask them

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I don't think we do any iv cath or blood draws here. They make you learn all that stuff on the job:/

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I hate to be "that guy," but you need to learn the difference between "your" and "you're." You are about to start an intense program wherein you'll be required to write many papers. Grammar and spelling are important! "Your" implies possession: "That is your car," or "I hope your wedding will be lovely." "You're" is used in place of "you are:" "You're a first-year nursing student," or "You're going to do well in your nursing program." I know that I'm splitting hairs, but I can guarantee that your nursing instructors will be sticklers, as well! Good luck!

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I know that I'm splitting hairs
You're not splitting hairs, you're helping a student to communicate more effectively.

Your doesn't equal you're anymore than does 5 = 7

I can guarantee that your nursing instructors will be sticklers, as well!
Not to mention that potential employers who will be reading his/her cover letters, resumes, e-mails, and charting.

And don't think for a second that an attorney wouldn't tie a witness up in knots over charting rendered ambiguous by improper word choice or grammar.

Words matter and grammar counts.

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Thank you for your advice. You're kind to lecture me on my grammar skills.

Did I do okay?

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