First Semester of Nursing School: What to Expect

Introduction

• Speaker: Sarah from Register Nurse RN.
• Audience: Students entering the first semester of nursing school.
• Purpose: To provide an overview of what to expect in the first semester of nursing school.

Pre-Nursing Preparations

• Jumped through various hoops like interviews, prerequisite courses, entrance exams.
• Attended a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
• Nursing courses started in the second semester of sophomore year.

Courses in the First Semester

• Class Schedule: Monday to Friday.
• Courses: Overview
  • Pathophysiology: Hardest class, similar to anatomy and physiology but more complex.
  • Health Assessment: Learning to perform physical assessments from head to toe.
  • Intro to the Nursing Profession: Basics and foundations of nursing, including nursing theories and history.
  • Communications for Healthcare Professionals: Effective communication skills with healthcare teams and patients.

Detailed Course Experiences

Pathophysiology

• Challenges: Complex diseases, critical thinking, microbiology elements. Difficult due to complexity and professor.
• Grade: A- (with the help of extra credit).

Health Assessment

• Content: Assessing various body parts, performing exams, understanding nursing roles.
• Grade: B+.

Intro to the Nursing Profession

• Content: Foundations of nursing, historical aspects, theories, speeches.
• Grade: A (easy course).

Communications for Healthcare Professionals

• Content: How to communicate with healthcare personnel and patients, collecting health histories.
• Grade: A (easy course).

Study Tips for Pathophysiology

• Teacher Selection: Choose a teacher wisely, potentially through sites like RateMyProfessor.
• Study Guides: Use condensed study guides (e.g., "Patho Made Incredibly Easy" by Lippincott).
• Study Groups: Can be useful if you learn well with others.
• Lecture Recordings: Listen to recordings repeatedly, take notes.

Surprises in the First Semester

Lack of Clinical Time

• Expected more hands-on clinical practice.
• Mostly lecture-based with minimal practical skills sessions.

Nature of Test Questions

• Shift from fact-based to critical thinking questions.
• Need to apply knowledge practically, especially in preparation for NCLEX.

General Semester Tips

• Organization: Use a planner or app, keep track of syllabus deadlines and exams.
• Study Guides: Essential for hard classes, check reviews or ask peers for recommendations.
• Tutoring: Utilize free tutoring services if available.
• Study Groups: Can be beneficial, but depends on personal study habits.
• Avoid Stressful People: Stay away from negative or overly stressed peers.
• Have Fun, Don't Stress: Enjoy the process, stay positive, and remember your goal.

Conclusion

• Nursing school is challenging but manageable with effort and planning.
• Stay dedicated and organized to succeed.