How To Prepare For Your First Semester Of Nursing School
From online courses, to onsite skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations, your first semester of nursing school will be filled with new experiences. Every part of the curriculum, especially in an accelerated nursing program like Misericordia ABSN, is crucial in the first semester. Your first semester knowledge will form a foundation for you to continue to learn and succeed, so being prepared will be a top priority in earning your degree and becoming a practicing nurse. After going through the admissions process and earning your acceptance into a nursing program, its time to prepare yourselves with the habits and resources youll need in order to complete your first round of nursing courses.
Think In Terms Of Action Not Facts
Its important for nurses to understand why certain conditions occur and what is happening physiologically in a patient. However, the patient is not interested in hearing those facts he or she just wants to feel better. When you are studying for the nursing exam, ask yourself, How will I help my patients with this information? Youll be a better nurse as well as a better student.
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How Are Classes Structured
Depending on the school, you may attend large lecture classes with 60 plus students. Some classes may be much smaller in size. Virtual lectures are also a possibility.
Lectures are typically taught by a professor. There will come a time toward midsemester when students have group projects. You will either present alone or with a group in front of the class.
Skills or simulation labs are usually smaller. This is intentional. Here, students practice on mannequins the skills they need to care for real patients. Simulation labs are meant to encourage you to:
- Have hands-on experience
- Apply what you’re learning in lecture
Along with a stethoscope and a notepad, you should bring a positive attitude and a general curiosity to the simulation lab. It’s the best place to catch mistakes. Mistakes will happen, and that’s okay. Lastly, remember you will not know everything. Even seasoned nurses learn something new every day.
Never Be Afraid To Ask Questions
As a new nurse, you will feel like you’re asking a lot of questions. Pamela Glenn, CNM, APRN, wants you to know this is normal.
“Never think you know it all,” she says. “A wise nurse mentor once told me that as soon as you think you know it all, you will be humbled very quickly.”
Glenn also says to ask for clarification if something doesn’t seem right. As a new nurse, it can feel intimidating to question a physician’s orders. However, speaking up is an important skill that allows you to advocate for yourself as a new nurse and your patients.
Jacob Weill, an intensive care unit nurse who graduated in 2019, agrees you should never be afraid to ask questions. “There is always another nurse or doctor that is willing to help you,” he says.
If the halls are empty and you can’t find someone to answer your question, use your resources. Call the charge nurse or page the appropriate provider to help you troubleshoot your problem.
Always remember that it’s better to ask too many questions than to make an uninformed decision that affects patient care.
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What Shocked Me Most About The 1st Semester Of Nursing School
One of the most shocking things for me about the 1st semester of nursing school was that I didnt have any clinical time. My program didnt start exposing students to clinical time until the second semester of nursing school.
Unfortunately, I figured that during the 1st semester of nursing school, you would get to visit the community or learn some nursing skills, but it was mostly book work and lecture classes. I was very much looking forward to buying scrubs, getting a stethoscope etc., but it had to wait until the next semester.
Another shock for me was the difficulty of the exam questions when compared to the non-nursing courses I had recently taken. The exam questions in nursing school required a higher level of thinking and were more complicated because you must know the material inside and outside. In my non-nursing courses, memorizing the material was sufficient enough and the exam questions were fact based . So, I had to teach myself how to study more efficiently.
Curricula In Nursing For The Traditional Undergraduate
I. University General Education Requirements
The University has adopted General Education requirements, which must be satisfied as part of every bachelorâs degree program. These requirements are listed in the General Education Requirements section of this Catalog.
II. School Requirements
Nursing students must complete the following courses . Students should note that some of these courses may also fulfill University General Education requirements: BIOL 1107 CHEM 1122 MATH 1020Q, 1030Q, 1040Q or 1060Q MCB 2400 or 2410 PNB 2264 and 2265 PSYC 1100 STAT 1000Q or 1100Q HDFS 1070 plus any other Content Area 1 or 2 course in fulfillment of the general education requirements of the university.
Writing in the Major
All students in the School of Nursing are required to pass NURS 4250W
Information Literacy
All students in the School of Nursing fulfill this area of competency by the successful completion of NURS 3130, 3205, 4250, and 4282.
Quantitative Competency
Students in the School of Nursing fulfill this area of competency with the following courses: MATH 1020Q or higher and STAT 1000Q or 1100Q. Quantitative competency is also met by successful completion of math competency exams in each clinical course.
III. Baccalaureate Student
Nursing students must complete the following nursing courses : NURS 1130, 1131, 3100, 3110, 3120, 3205, 3220, 3225, 3234, 3334, 3444, 3554, 3664, 4230W, 4250, and 4282.
IV. Additional Requirements
V. Program Requirements
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Tips For Surviving Your First Semester
Now that you have an idea of what to expect during your first semester of nursing school, here are some tips that will help you along the way.
There are also many other resources with great advice from former nursing students who know exactly how you feel and have great advice so you can get through you first semester successfully.
What You Will Learn
In USask’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you will learn all aspects of health and well-being across a persons life span as you study nursing, health and the health-care system through the creation and integration of knowledge from research, education and practice. The nurse of the twenty-first century uses advanced technology to provide nursing care to individuals, families, groups and communities.
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How To Choose A Nursing School
Choosing a nursing school is the first step in becoming a nurse. There are many things to consider, including how long a program lasts, the school’s accreditation, and the type of degree that’s offered. You must also decide whether to attend a technical school or college and the type of nursing role you want to pursue after graduating. After graduating, you need to pass the NCLEX and become licensed.
Knowing whether you want to begin your nursing journey with an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing is a major decision.
Since it usually takes two years to complete, an ADN is the fastest path to becoming a professional nurse. Tuition at community colleges can be more affordable than 4-year universities. If you have an ADN, then you can then enroll in an RN-to-BSN bridge program while working as a nurse and building your career. There are online and in-person programs, and each option has its benefits and challenges.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers strong reasons for pursuing a BSN, including the fact that many studies and organizations âincluding the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing report ârecommend that more nurses be prepared with a BSN.
For those with a bachelor’s degree in another field, an accelerated bachelor’s in nursing usually allows you to transfer many credits towards the program. ABSN programs take anywhere from 11-18 months to complete.
What Classes Do You Take During Nursing School
The first semester of nursing school usually has three to four major courses, typically:
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Health Assessments
In addition to the didactic courses, you will be in Skills Lab for a certain amount of hours once or twice a week. Here, you will learn how to perform the various skills required of the profession: inserting peripheral IV’s, NG tubes, and other important tasks.
You will need to wear your scrubs, and bring all your tools as if you’re going into a day at work in the hospital.
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Take Care Of Your Self
You are going to be very busy. Grabbing a meal on the go will become common. You may find yourself wanting to consume more caffeine than you normally would. Caffeine can give you a burst of energy. But, too much caffeine can have side effects such as headaches, abnormal heart rate, and anxiety.
You may acquire a habit of snacking whether for nerves or just to stay awake while studying. Try to find wholesome snacks. Taking a break to stretch or relax while studying will be beneficial.
When planning your schedule, dont forget to pencil in some exercise time. You dont have to go to the gym. Take a walk around the block. You will find that when you get back to studying, you will have a different perspective.
Nursing school is demanding but you cant let it consume your entire life. Taking care of yourself is very important. Remember to get lots of rest.
Watching a movie or spending time with your family is not out of the question. Just remember you may miss some events with family and friends, but not everything. Remember to prioritize the things that are most important to you.
Make Patients The Top Priority
As a nurse, you’re responsible for delivering care, communicating among teams, and documenting every last thing you did. When you have so many tasks to complete, it can be easy to lose sight of the first priority.
Weill shares that as a new grad, he wishes he realized that patient care always comes before charting.
“Documentation is imperative, but the patient is the reason why you are providing the care and the number one priority,” he says. “You have to make sure that the patient is comfortable, first and foremost you can’t forget the main reason why you became a nurse to begin with.”
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Focus On The Material Covered In Class
Your instructors are going to assign many chapters to read each week, plus outside resources to review. Instead of carefully reading and outlining every single word, take a cue from your class time. What topics does the instructor spend time reviewing? What are the key points covered in class? Focus your attention on these areas.
Use Downtime As Study Time
Nursing studies require a certain level of memorization. Create flashcards or notes that will help you review those facts when you are doing other things. For example, tape cards listing vital sign ranges to your bathroom mirror, so youll see them when youre brushing your teeth. Eventually, without even really trying, those numbers will be second nature.
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Dont Place So Much Focus On Grades
As mentioned in #1 nursing school is cumulative. It is important to not only memorize but to comprehend and assimilate the information you receive.
Everyone wants to do the very best, but dont get bogged down in the grade game. You will be taught a different way of thinking and a different way of taking tests. You may see a dip in your grades and this may be hard if you have been a straight-A student.
If your grades drop, dont let it stress you out. Try not to obsess over grades and focus on learning the material and building a foundation.
Probably the hardest thing you will have to face in nursing school is that learning and test-taking will not be the same as when you were in high school or any other program. Face this sooner than later and you will begin to see a shift in your grades.
My Advice For You During Your 1st Semester Of Nursing School:
- Stay organized! Invest in an app that is a planner or get a physical planner. I would get the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and write in all the days when exams were administered, projects due, clinical times etc. This helped me stay ahead of the game and I found I utilized my time more efficiently.
- Purchase study guides for any hard classes you may have. If you start having trouble in a course, buy a study guide. Study guides narrow down the material and show you what to study for an exam.
- Keep away from negative people who stress all the time. I found that when I was away from people who stressed out all the time I was less stressed myself and was able to handle the stress of nursing school.
- Have fun and dont be too hard on yourself if you get a B or even a C. Remember those RN initials dont have an A or B or even C at the end of them. They are just RN!
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What Is The 1st Semester Of Nursing School Like
What is the 1st semester of nursing school like and what can you expect? If you are reading this article chances are you are thinking about going to nursing school or youre going to be starting your first semester soon. If that is the case, I know you are so excited about starting nursing school. Youve worked very hard to get there.
In this article, I am going to share with you my experience during 1st semester of nursing school. I am going to talk about the following topics:
First, I want to give you a little bit of background information about the type of nursing program I attended. I completed a BSN and it took me four years to complete from start to finish. During the first 1 ½ years I completed non-nursing courses like English, Math, History, electives etc. My first semester of nursing school started during the second semester of my sophomore year which was in the spring.
Here are the nursing classes I took during my first semester of nursing school with the grades I received:
- Pathophysiology
- Intro to the Nursing Profession
- Communication for Health Professionals
Tips For Study Group Success
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What To Expect In Your First Year Of Nursing School
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Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
It’s perfectly normal to have the first day of nursing school jitters. Hey, it may even last a full year! Nursing school is a full-time commitment. You’ll have to manage your nursing courses, attend lectures, participate in small group projects, attend clinicals, and pass exams.
There will come a time when you’ll decline a few social outings, pull all-nighters, or feel stressed out. At the end of the day, you’ve made the right decision to become a nurse. You will join a community voted most trusted profession, year after year.
This guide will prepare you for your first year of nursing school. It discusses what to expect in the first semester, what you will learn, and what you will need. It also discusses how classes are structured, the level of difficulty, and when your clinical rotations will begin.