Who Has Completed the First Semester Already?

ashse · Aug 18, 2002

I start classes next week so I can't give any words of wisdom but I can give you moral support. Just remember there are plenty of others (me included) going through the same thing as you- newbie nursing students.

SusanRN2004, RN · Aug 18, 2002

Originally posted by amblessing
Please tell me about your best & worst experience with the first semester of nursing school! I start tomorrow and I am SO nervous I feel like there are bats flying around in my stomach I have ALL of my reading done finally for the first week and have completed all the computer work for the first week The procedure checklists seem fairly simple vital signs, etc., but I am still freaking out!

Ann, Did they assign anything that needed a procedure checklist, or are you looking ahead? Sorry I can't help you with what to expect, but I am in the same boat you are. I start next week. It is hard for me to deep everyone straight...are you in a ADN or ASN program?

We have 7 chapers to read before the first class...

I hope you get several replies to this post, I am curious, and I love reading the student posts!!

Take care and be sure to give us an update if you have the time, Susan:eek:

amblessing · Aug 18, 2002

Originally posted by SusanRN2004

Ann, Did they assign anything that needed a procedure checklist, or are you looking ahead? Sorry I can't help you with what to expect, but I am in the same boat you are. I start next week. It is hard for me to deep everyone straight...are you in a ADN or ASN program?

We have 7 chapers to read before the first class...

I hope you get several replies to this post, I am curious, and I love reading the student posts!!

Take care and be sure to give us an update if you have the time, Susan:eek:

Hi Susan, I'm starting an ADN program and I was reading the procedure checklist for what we are doing in clinical lab this week, which is just vital signs. Seems very simple and straightforward. The reading is unbelievable, huh?

SusanRN2004, RN · Aug 18, 2002

Originally posted by amblessing

Hi Susan, I'm starting an ADN program and I was reading the procedure checklist for what we are doing in clinical lab this week, which is just vital signs. Seems very simple and straightforward. The reading is unbelievable, huh?

I am sure it will get worse. I have not even looked at the clinical stuff yet! :eek:

I was already to read the "nursing stuff" and was a little disappointed when the first 4 chapters included the history of nursing and legal stuff...after I convinced myself the legal stuff would not be too bad, I kind of enjoyed it...did not think it would interest me at all.

Do you think you will be able to sleep tonight?

tex · Aug 18, 2002

As someone stated, it is nerve racking. Those of us that did make it, still remember how nervous we were. I finnally decided that I wanted my degree more than air. And it worked for me. It was tuff and exhausting at times. But those of you that are wanting to make it, will. I went to nursing school in upstate NY. I am from Texas. I felt like I had a strike immediately against me from the beginning, just because of that. We started w/around 300 students. When it was all said and done, 38 of us graduated. Now, don't let the numbers freak you out. The ones that didn't make it, either enjoyed the night life, which the only nite life I enjoyed was at the end of each semester and very few times during the semester. For each nursing lecture which was 2 hrs, I tape recorded during class, went home wrote out the notes per the tape's, and listened to my tapes along with the written words. I am a visual learner. When my semester exam came along, I brought out all my written notes and tapes and started over again, so many hours. I also had one friend that we would review after we studied independently over the phone---for hours. My text books, which I kept, have high lighted areas all through them. When I took an exam, I would get with some friends and recall as many ?'s on the exam, and write them down. With clinical labs, learning techiques, I practiced and practiced with my friend. And it payed off. Being on the floor, I did it by the book, and did not take breaks, b.s. w/ others, but d/t not having the experience I did make mistakes. My med passes always made me so nervous. Believe me do your 5 rights/checks with medications. Just basic washing hands is a big deal, changing a diaper, making a bed, putting the side rails up, call light within reach.........SAFETY is a BIG ONE, will be important. Having the nursing instructor check my skills for obtaining VS, was scary, but in nursing, all of us that have made it learned to crumble on the inside, not in front of your instructor. They are watching you to see how you handle stress. ALWAYS listened to my instructor, whether it was good or bad. Took the info and tried to show the instructor the next time I learned from them. I felt like instructors always picked on some people. But low and behold, my last semester before I graduated, an instructor that knew me will, assigned me two of the most difficult patients, vents, IV's, decub's etc. Even my peers knew that. Anyway, I just about lost it that day. My instructor was all over me, watching me. My two patients were on opposite sides of the halls, on a cardiac unit. But I made it. I told my instructor after in a private area, that I did my best, and started crying (never cry), she gave me a hug and said, the reason she gave me these patients is because she knew I would go the extra mile for them. And told me that if ever she was a patient, she would have me take care of her.....Any way I have rambled enough, I just want you students to know that you can do it but only if you dedicate yourself to this. RN degrees are not handed out, they are earned. Good luck to all of you . TEX

Love-A-Nurse · Aug 18, 2002

during the first three weeks of school, which starts aug. 26, we have several skills to be checked off on. i will be reading this thread to hear from those who have finished their first semester of clinical.

amblessing · Aug 19, 2002

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas TEX! I too will be taping my lectures and rewriting my notes from the tapes. I know some students that will take notes from their assigned reading as well! I may do that, but only for the unit objectives. :)

tex · Aug 19, 2002

I am very interested in hearing about your new start in school. I am excited for all of you. Please keep me updated. Good Luck to all. You will see alot of my threads in the geratic/hospice sections. Tex.

Rena RN 2003, RN · Aug 19, 2002

Please tell me about your best & worst experience with the first semester of nursing school!

with my experience, there truly wasn't a "worst" day/time. i've loved clinical since day one. now, there were days that i just thought would never end. and example, OB. i didn't "hate" OB.....i just wasn't interested. and i couldn't wait for the day to end. another example, psych rotation. i didn't hate psych either...just wasn't my cup of tea. it actually got quite boring trying to establish a trusting relationship with a client in a few hours to try and get them to open up about their problem/disorder/life.

my absolute BEST experience was ironically during OB. it was in this rotation that we observed surgery (general plus OB related) and i was simply in awe!

Rena RN 2003, RN · Aug 19, 2002

I finnally decided that I wanted my degree more than air.

i whole heartedly agree with this. this too became my motto. some of the people that we've lost from our program had the attitude of "oh well, if i don't pass it this time, i'll just come back next year." to me, i didn't want it "next year." i want it now! doing less than my best is just not acceptable for me.

best of luck to all of you starting with your first semester. just remember to breath.....prioritize. nursing is more about "critical thinking" than it is doing. knowing how to do something isn't gonna help you at all if you don't know when to do it.