What was the first thing you learned in Nursing School?

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Hello Everyone,

I just found out this week that I've been accepted into my school's nursing program!

I will be starting my nursing classes in the fall and I want to get a head start. I was wondering what was the first was that you learned in nursing school. I'm asking all current RNs and nursing students. Thanks for your input, I'm so excited.

Specializes in Fertility, OBGYN, GYN ONC.

Nursing history and drug calculation. Be prepared for math! Happened in the first week. Drug calculation exam was three weeks later.

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That I was at a terrible, for-profit school that was more business plan than learning institution. They touted their accelerated program but had no actual teaching methodology to back it up. They simply assigned several chapters each week and then tested you.

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I was fortunate enough to learn what I needed to know as a nurse from the military. In the military we only had a doctor RN or BSN and then the Corpsman. I was/am that Corpsman. We were the LVN, MA, CNA, and any other position that needed to be filled. Sometimes we only had an IDC which is like a PA and then me. I just had to show the state that I knew the material. I still went to school though. I would say it helped me learn what CNA's and MA's do, since an LVN is in charge of them. I'm happy I went to school instead of just challenge the board though.

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In no way am I saying that when I was in the military that I was equal to an LVN. My job was just a mash up of multiple positions. Which is why I didn't know what a CNA or MA did. If I ever saw an LVN in the military I would have still considered them more knowledgeable. I actually did an entire year of accelerated training, but it was different from the accelerated year of the LVN school.

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That I could be failed at any time even with a perfect 4.0!!!

Wait, why could you be failed?

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Vital signs/hygiene, infection control in theory...and vital signs, hand washing, and PPE in lab.

Along with a ton of the usual "most of you will wash out, if you can't pass a class you'll never be a nurse, etc, etc."

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.

The first thing I was taught in Nursing School (lecture to the group) was that as we all came from different nursing backgrounds, (L.P.N. prerequisite) that no one was to criticize or belittle anyone. Example: Giving Bed Baths - It's fine if you knew how to do that to an adult, but if you are coming in as a baby nurse only, the routine was different. We were taught to be cognizant on one anothers backgrounds.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

We learned how to take blood pressures -- the second day of class we went to a VA stand-down and took the blood pressures of veterans there. Then we learned IM injections and participated in the VA's drive-thru flu vaccinations the next week.

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

You will learn how quickly nurses eat their own (particularly the young).

If you do not have a thick skin (I mean really thick skin), I would seriously tell you to run, do not pass go, and don't look back.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Home Health.
How to wash our hands.

Ditto!

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Where to buy white stockings

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Specializes in Critical care.

The first thing we learn was how to measure blood pressure manually.

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