Reassurance from the nurses out there...

A

ally1966

Cathlete
Classes have started for me again, year 2 (of 3) in a BSN program, and I'm ready for a little reassurance! It was actually a great week, and I'm very excited about this year. But, do you remember your school days, and the TONS of information you got at the start of each semester? I have med-surg and OB-peds clinicals this semester, and we had two days of orientation this week, and now my head is spinning. Please tell me I will be able to remember where things are, where to be when, PLUS all of the truly important stuff! It can be a bit overwhelming! But I'm trying to focus on the positive...and I do always remind myself that I'm so lucky to be able to pursue this path. TIA for sharing (and reassuring)!
Allison
 
>Classes have started for me again, year 2 (of 3) in a BSN
>program, and I'm ready for a little reassurance! It was
>actually a great week, and I'm very excited about this year.
>But, do you remember your school days, and the TONS of
>information you got at the start of each semester? I have
>med-surg and OB-peds clinicals this semester, and we had two
>days of orientation this week, and now my head is spinning.
>Please tell me I will be able to remember where things are,
>where to be when, PLUS all of the truly important stuff! It
>can be a bit overwhelming! But I'm trying to focus on the
>positive...and I do always remind myself that I'm so lucky to
>be able to pursue this path. TIA for sharing (and
>reassuring)!
>Allison

RELAX!! I'm sure you'll do fine. It's been a LONG time since nursing school (19 years!!) but I absolutely loved my OB clinicals. They were my favorites ones!! I used a big calendar (still do!!) and marked everything down, color--coded for each class. Okay ... so I'm a big anal - LOL! But it worked for me. I'm sure you already have a great system in place so just stick to it and in a few weeks' time you'll be a pro!!

And THANK YOU for going to nursing school!!

Carol
:)
 
Carol -- thanks for your thanks! I really do feel so lucky to be doing this. I'm 39, and finally worked up the nerve to follow my heart and go to nursing school. It means so much to me to be there...and I just really want to do it well.

I like your color-coded calendar idea! I may have to give that a try; it sounds like a good visual. And I'm excited about the OB clinical. Today we had orientation, and I loved hearing about the newborn assessment!

Thanks for your encouragement. It really does help to think of the others who have been there before me!

Take care,
Allison
 
Hi Allison
Bedside nurse for 23 yrs. and counting here after finishing my BSN in '82. I initially figured I'd work in acute care for a few yrs., then grad school. Truth be told, I love the bedside. One great thing about being a nurse is there are so many different ways to work.
If someone told me when I was in college that I'd end up working L&D, I'd never have believed them. I hated my OB rotation, mostly because my instructor was a beast and some of the nurses who precepted me weren't very helpful.
Some of my instructors, and some I've seen when working in teaching hospitals, can be very intimidating. others are very giving, always looking for things students can do.
As for 'doing it well', having a kind heart and a cool head go a long, long way. Never be ashamed to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out." Always show up a little early to collect yourself for your shift. Pray for the people you take care of, the doctors who might drive you crazy, your co-workers and your family. Being a nurse is a way of life, much more than 'a job'.
Welcome!
Valerie

:)
 
I wish you well Allison. It's been almost 25 years since I graduated but I still remember how overwhelmed I was on those first days. I seem to recall that we were so busy the time flew by. Good luck:)

Michele
 
Valerie -- I think I'll paste that last paragraph into one of my notebooks -- "kind heart, cool head, saying I don't know, praying" and all... That makes a lot of sense! One thing that appeals to me a lot about nursing is having so many possibilities. I'm keeping an open mind as I get started with clinicals, and it will be so interesting to find out what I like and don't like as it goes along. I *think* I would love OB -- but I wonder if those jobs are hard to get? I'm also very interested in oncology and home health. I know I have plenty of time to figure it out!

But Michele, you're right -- a semester goes very fast! I have to remember that when things get heavy.

Thanks, both of you, for being in touch!
Allison
 
Allison, I fell so in love with the newborn part of our OB rotation I worked Neonatal ICU for seven years right out of nursing school. Best of luck to you!! I'm sure you'll do fine!!

Carol
:)
 
Allison, if the nursing shortage where you live is anything like where I live, NO jobs are hard to get. You'll be able to work in just about any area you want to once you graduate.

Carol
:)
 
I always wanted to work peds., but the thinking was 'first do a few yrs. of med. surg. to get some experience'. I dreaded this, since med-surg. was not my cup of tea. I went to a job fair and spoke to a recruiter from a children's hospital who said that SO was not true. So my first job was an infant and toddler unit. A mixed bag w/ hem-onc, cardiac, HIV (HTLV3 back then), along w/ surgicals. It was truly, the toughest job I ever loved. Learned a ton, made life long friends.
Then a yr. of high risk antepartum OB before labor and delivery. A move got me into home health, where I did a lot of high risk ob home visits, plus NICU grads, failure to thrive etc. Fun and different. You use a whole nother part of your brain doing home care. More autonomy, more 'meeting people where they are'. I missed 'managing' (HA!) a labor patient, so it's back to the hospital for me.
Keep your eyes wide open in school and you'll get a real sense of what's a good fit for you in the working world.

Valerie
:)
 
Valerie -- thanks for your story! You addressed something I have wondered about: do you really have to get med-surg experience before moving into another area? I, too, suspect it's not what I want long-term. It's good to know that it's possible to enter in other areas. Your thoughts on home health match up with what I've imagined; I look forward to learning more about that. But I also know I need to keep an open mind, because my best match may end up being something I haven't even considered yet!

It really is a great adventure, and I need to remember that when things feel intense in school. You established nurses give me hope!

Thanks for being in touch,
Allison
 
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