So, you've gotten into a nursing program and you're wondering how you can prepare for the hell that is about to ensure? I got you covered... When I was first starting my program, I wish I had a better sense of how to prepare. I think it would have made things a lot easier and could have reduced a lot of stress. GET THE SYLLABUS ASAP Some professors will post the syllabus over the summer so that you can get a head start on the insane amount of reading they're going to assign. I highly suggest you make at least a little bit of a dent in it. It's kind of hard, since I feel like I barely remembered anything I read over the summer... but honestly, most of it was just fluff stuff about nursing theory and ethics and blah. But I'm really glad I got it out of the way early so that I didn't have to worry about it when the semester really got started. REVIEW ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NOTES If you felt weak in any areas, now is the time to brush up! Review your systems. For me, I wish I had gone over the heart and kidneys! UGH. Also, parts of the blood and their function. I can't emphasize this enough... REVIEW YOUR SYSTEMS! You don't need to know every bone in the body, but it will be seriously helpful if you understand the flow of blood throughout the body, the structure and function of the heart, kidneys, liver, etc. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! LEARN SOME MEDICAL TERMS I was previously a journalism major and had never worked in healthcare before, so when I started school, I didn't even know what emesis (vomiting) meant. I was googling things CONSTANTLY... which, of course, will happen. But it can REALLY help to learn some of the most common nursing terms that come up again and again. It will save you a lot of time in the future. This is a pretty decent list from Quizlet. ALSO.... just relax. You will never... and I mean NEVER feel like you're ahead in nursing school. It is pretty much a game of being really far behind and seeing how quickly and efficiently you can catch up. These are just a few ways you can become *almost* on top of shit.
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I can't believe I did it! I successfully finished my first semester of an accelerated nursing program. There were definitely moments when I didn't know if it was possible, but I am so proud of myself for making it through. This was easily the most difficult thing I've ever done, and it was WAY harder than I thought it would be. I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but this was definitely NOT it. If I had to sum up this past semester in one word, it'd be STRESS.
I think part of the struggle was that these accelerated programs inherently move so god damn quickly. I feel like I could barely get a handle on something before we moved right on to the next thing. You ALWAYS have to be on your shit. Here are some tips I came up with for surviving your first semester: |
AuthorMy name is Jeanie and I'm in an accelerated nursing program in Manhattan. My first degree was in strategic communications from the School of Journalism at UW-Madison, so it's been a big change, but I LOVE IT! Read my blog and check out my youtube page to peek into my journey in becoming a nurse. Archives
January 2018
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