Going into Nursing School at Community College. What goes on the first semester?
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The first semester is a true learning and adjusting time. You’ll have tons of reading and memorizing to do and will be given clinical time to practice your skills under the guidance and direction of your clinical instructors in various health care settings. While at times it may seem overwhelming, it will all come together. I promise.
Nursing is a very hard program. I won’t deny that. It needs to be though. Your not being trained to type or repair electronics. You will have people’s lives in your hand. Their very breath or comfort will very often depend on your knowledge and skills. This is a profession that a mistake can cause tremendous repercussion or death. I’m not trying to scare you by any means. I just want you to be aware of the seriousness of your education.
The rewards of being a skilled and compassionate nurse are immeasurable. Learn all you can learn and not just for the sake of passing your boards. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Always treat your patients as you would want your own mother treated. Learn to respect a patients decisions even if they go against your judgements and beliefs. Listen to what your patients say. They are usually right! They know their own bodies better than anyone. Don’t be afraid to hold a hand or give a hug. It’s very often more effective than a pill.
Best of luck to you. It sounds like you have what it takes to be a great nurse. Stick it out. You’ll be graduating before you know it. You’ll be glad you did this.
By and large most hospital are understaffed. Nurses are hard to find as is money to pay them so you might get a night shift over Christmas and three other nurses call out sick and it might be just you and a couple of LVNs and maybe a few orderlys in a public wing at a big hospital all night long.
Only YOU can re-medicate. So you have to go from room to room with the key and dump more demoral into the dispenser part of the machine. Only you can record entries in the chart and keep track of fluids in and out.
Now get enough experience and you can work in a Doctor’s office which is a lot easier and might pay more money and certainly has better hours.
I think you will manage well if you work hard enough. I never personally feel this but through my observation of nursing students, I think it is save to say, it’s not hell… good luck.
