Friday, January 28, 2011

Week 2 - Freak the Freak Out!

Things are starting to catch up with me in NS. There is an unbelievable amount of work expected out of us, with not much direction to go on. I have 2 research papers, a group project (ugh!), health promotion plan, weekly discussion posts, midterm and final for one class. A Geriatric assessment project (4 separate visits to the elder of my choosing), process recording, 2 practicums (pass/fail), a midterm and final for another class, then a practicum (pass/fail), random math tests, and a final in my other class. Did I mention this is all in the first 8 WEEKS?!?! I will have two new classes in, now 6 weeks, and who knows what exciting busy work those are going to bring.


To say I am overwhelmed at this point would be an understatement. I know I can do it. I am just not sure how at this point. We really don’t have much direction in our classes. Our skills class is all hands on, and like I said, no demonstration beforehand (unless you count the silly videos we are supposed to watch before class) and really no lecture (what the hell is going to be on the final then??) Our Intro class is a hybrid. Which means most of our time is spent learning the material on our own. I am fine with online classes. Hell, most of the classes I took to get where I am now were online. The problem is, I don’t remember a damn thing from those classes. I learned enough to get my A and then left it all at the final. I know in Nursing that isn’t possible. You have to KNOW the material and APPLY it. It is really taking a lot to get myself to readjust to this. To try to train myself to actually retain what I am essentially self teaching myself. I have only been to my Health Assessment class once. I hope it will be different but I have the feeling it is going to be a lot like my skills class. Lecture for a few minutes and then let us go to learn on our own. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind getting the hands on practice, but I feel like I need a little more direction. Maybe I am not the “mature learner” I thought I was.

We already had one girl in our class drop. She was terrified after just two days. I saw it in her eyes on Friday and by Tuesday of the next week she was gone.

I’m sure she won’t be the last.


6 comments:

  1. He he he...was waiting for it, and there it is -- Welcome to nursing school!
    :)

    Seriously, the first adaptation is to get used to the fact that things will also appear massive when they are given to you. But, plan your work and work your plan, and the next thing you know is that you will have done it and be moving on.

    I'm a lists person. I have lists of lists. And I just plug through the lists until I run out or go to sleep.

    A suggestion is that you check in with some upper classmen or your honor society. Find a "buddy" or a mentor or a tutor (free) to help you get organized and pull things in to perspective.
    I mention honor society because ours has the obligation to provide free tutors.

    You're going to be fine.

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  2. Oh dear, that's sad someone already dropped. Hope she doesn't regret it.

    I should quit reading your blog though, I feel like I might convince myself I'm making a horrible, horrible decision hahaha. Just kidding. Sort of.

    Hopefully this will be the hardest & best thing we've ever done for ourselves.

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  3. Well let me tell you, I've just finished week 1 of my first semester of nursing school and I wanna cry because of all the reading and work expected of us. We don't know where to go or who to talk with and every time we encounter an upperclassman they have an air about them that they are better and really just unattainable to speak with.
    So good luck, hang in there and listen to SendAManToNursingSchool and just make a bunch of lists! You can do it!

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  4. Hey don't you all be worried about the reading and stuff....honestly...it isn't as bad as it seems...you can even eat a whole elephant if you cut it up into small chunks!

    Estelle has some great ideas over at her blog:
    http://brfirefly.blogspot.com/
    and so does UndergradRN: http://undergradrn.blogspot.com/

    one day at a time! :)

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  5. Gahhh. And I thought MY class was overwhelming.

    Good luck! You got this...No sweat. :)

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  6. Aww. Thank you, Cartoon Characters. :)

    Okay sweetie. Take a breath. It'll be okay. I know it all looks scary and overwhelming and completely ridiculous of them to pile all this on you but listen to me: It is doable.
    Take a little time to get organized. Break it all down into managable pieces. Like I have told my darling Callie Ann, do a little everyday and do a lot when you can.
    The semester will go by faster than you think and before you know it, you will be celebrating the end of finals and looking back, saying "That wasn't so bad." ;-)

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