The schedule is a bit hectic, but definitely manageable. I kept expecting to barely have time to breathe, let alone hang out with friends, but my social life hasn't died. Yet.
Finals are creeping up, however, which is stressful. Finals in nursing school come a few weeks before everyone else's, which is kind of awful. March has only just begun and already I have my finals in two weeks (!!!!). I am trying not to freak out. I have a head-to-toe assessment to pass off. I have what are called OSCEs (essentially skills pass-offs). I have two HESIs, which are national exams. I need to make a minimum of 850, or else...
I am such a quiet person in my nursing classes. I am so shy. I don't know what it is; it's like everyone was already friends before the program began, and no one is eager for a new friend. I think maybe it's also because everyone is so smart and put together and I sometimes feel less-than. (Even though I know I shouldn't feel that way! We all made it to nursing school, we all earned our places here in the program.) My goal is to try to be more outgoing.
But I really do love being a nursing student. It's so much fun. I really am living the dream. Being here, doing what I'm doing, it just feels right. This is what I've always wanted. I really like my clinical group and feel like I've made some great friends.
So, if you are thinking about going to nursing school, take a look at the list I've made for you.
-Be polite to your instructors. Come prepared if you want to stay on their good side!
-Be professional. Be punctual. Be ready!
-Your face will itch when your hands are gloved and covered in someone else's bodily fluids. It just happens.
-I always heard about it, but now I know it to be true: when you're on your feet in a hospital setting, your bladder just ... turns off. Even if you have to use the restroom, you completely forget about it if you don't have time to relieve yourself.
-You will learn to breathe through your mouth when in a patient's room, so foul smells won't even phase you eventually.
-Get a good amount of sleep and always eat something before lab or clinical.
-If you aren't good on your feet, maybe nursing isn't for you!
-Use your legs, not your back.
-It's okay to say no! You're going to have to decline requests to hang out every now and then, but it's okay! Eyes on the prize!
-Apply to multiple programs. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You're likely going to get a couple of no's, like I did!
-Be ready to do a LOT of reading.
-The good news is nursing school is a lot of review. What you learned in A&P, microbiology, etc., it will all come into play.
-Be prepared to spend a great deal of money! Nursing school is NOT cheap. My textbooks for this one semester were $1300. And I didn't even buy all the books!
-Keep going! I know it seems like you've been taking your basics forever, like nursing school is so far away, but believe me, you're so close. Keep going.
-It's never too late to go back to school.
-You CAN do this. You've already come this far! Believe in yourself.
I also asked some of my fellow nursing students if they had any advice for future nursing students.
-"Use your time wisely. Go to open lab. Get used to naked old people." -Student Nurse Ben.
-"Plan out your weeks, be organized!" -Student Nurse Jake.
-"Don't procrastinate and stay a step ahead." -Student Nurse Hadley.
-"Take all the prerequisites so you only have to take the nursing classes." -Student Nurse Michael.
-"Change your major! Just kidding." -Student Nurse Ashley.
Nurses make the world go 'round. Keep chugging and one day you'll make a fantastic nurse!!
I am such a quiet person in my nursing classes. I am so shy. I don't know what it is; it's like everyone was already friends before the program began, and no one is eager for a new friend. I think maybe it's also because everyone is so smart and put together and I sometimes feel less-than. (Even though I know I shouldn't feel that way! We all made it to nursing school, we all earned our places here in the program.) My goal is to try to be more outgoing.
But I really do love being a nursing student. It's so much fun. I really am living the dream. Being here, doing what I'm doing, it just feels right. This is what I've always wanted. I really like my clinical group and feel like I've made some great friends.
So, if you are thinking about going to nursing school, take a look at the list I've made for you.
What a future nursing student should know:
-If you are squeamish around blood, urine, feces, or any bodily fluid, nursing just isn't for you.
-If you still giggle when someone says "vagina" or "penis," you need to get over that, and quickly. There's no room for that in a clinical setting.
-Get ready to lose all awkwardness about the human body! You're going to see the human body in all of its many forms. You're going to assist people while they shower, use the bathroom, etc.
-Get ready to lose all awkwardness about the human body! You're going to see the human body in all of its many forms. You're going to assist people while they shower, use the bathroom, etc.
-Nursing school is going to be hard. This won't be easy. Start mentally preparing now!
-Getting in to any nursing program is going to take lots of hard work. It's going to be half the battle! You need to strive for only A's.
-Get ahead of the game and become an expert at dosage calculations (also known as "med math").
-Get hospital experience!!! This is crucial! Sign up to be a CNA, a paramedic, a volunteer - something. It goes such a long way.
-Get ahead of the game and get CPR certified. (BLS if you want to attend BYU-Idaho's nursing program.)
-When you take pharmacology and a test question asks what you can't take a medication with, just answer grapefruit juice!! It's always grapefruit juice.-Be polite to your instructors. Come prepared if you want to stay on their good side!
-Be professional. Be punctual. Be ready!
-Your face will itch when your hands are gloved and covered in someone else's bodily fluids. It just happens.
-I always heard about it, but now I know it to be true: when you're on your feet in a hospital setting, your bladder just ... turns off. Even if you have to use the restroom, you completely forget about it if you don't have time to relieve yourself.
-You will learn to breathe through your mouth when in a patient's room, so foul smells won't even phase you eventually.
-Get a good amount of sleep and always eat something before lab or clinical.
-If you aren't good on your feet, maybe nursing isn't for you!
-Use your legs, not your back.
-It's okay to say no! You're going to have to decline requests to hang out every now and then, but it's okay! Eyes on the prize!
-Apply to multiple programs. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You're likely going to get a couple of no's, like I did!
-Be ready to do a LOT of reading.
-The good news is nursing school is a lot of review. What you learned in A&P, microbiology, etc., it will all come into play.
-Be prepared to spend a great deal of money! Nursing school is NOT cheap. My textbooks for this one semester were $1300. And I didn't even buy all the books!
-Keep going! I know it seems like you've been taking your basics forever, like nursing school is so far away, but believe me, you're so close. Keep going.
-It's never too late to go back to school.
-You CAN do this. You've already come this far! Believe in yourself.
I also asked some of my fellow nursing students if they had any advice for future nursing students.
-"Use your time wisely. Go to open lab. Get used to naked old people." -Student Nurse Ben.
-"Plan out your weeks, be organized!" -Student Nurse Jake.
-"Don't procrastinate and stay a step ahead." -Student Nurse Hadley.
-"Take all the prerequisites so you only have to take the nursing classes." -Student Nurse Michael.
-"Change your major! Just kidding." -Student Nurse Ashley.
Nurses make the world go 'round. Keep chugging and one day you'll make a fantastic nurse!!
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