How hard is First semester in Nursing school?

Ok, I need some advice from those who are in or completed their first semster in nursing school.

I am finishing up my pre-reqs and can begin the application process to the nursing program in my area. One of the campuses that offers it is 10 min from my house, the other is an hour away. Obviously it would be more efficient to go to the closer of the two, but the only problem is that the closer campus only starts in Fall and I still have 2 more co-reqs (Micro and human growth) and would have to take them also in fall. (yes this is allowed but not recommended, but they say you shouldn't have a full time job either and I know that people do and do well) I won't be working and am an excellent student.

So do you think that it would be worth it to wait until spring and apply to the farther campus and have a lighter corse load for the first semester or go ahead and have 6 classes (I did 5 in spring) and then reap the benefits of the other 3 semester being close to home?

Thank you for any advice.
I would not suggest taking Micro and Human Growth along with nursing classes. Both classes are fairly difficult, and you don't know what to expect from your first nursing classes, so I wouldn't recommend it. You took 5 classes last semester, but both these classes are fairly difficult and time consuming, and A LOT of info is thrown at you during your first couple of semesters of nursing courses. I don't recommend taking any extra courses while in nursing school. I only took nursing courses while in nursing school, and I graduated at the top of my class. Some classmates of mine did take co-reqs along with nursing courses, but they normally struggled or were very stressed. I didn't work while in nursing school either. Some do, and I applaud them, but I couldn't risk it. It wasn't easy, but I managed to get by financially until graduation. Some don't have that choice though.I can see where the closer classes would really be an advantage over the course of the program, but I still wouldn't recommend taking two hard classes at the beginning of nursing school. Can you take one the first semester, and another the second semester? If you can, that might be an alternative.Good luck!:heartbeat

That is a tough call although I would probably try whatever I could to start a semester sooner and be much closer. I didn't think the nursing program work was all that difficult and my biggest issues with the first semester was getting used to all the politics etc. that seem to be a part of nursing school. I did growth and development for my RN while in LPN school and found it to be an easy fluffy class however I'm not sure I would have wanted to do micro along with a full load of nursing classes. I did take an extra class each semseter all through and worked a min of 30 hours a week so it can be done. Can you take micro this summer? What about doing a CLEP for growth and development? One school that I considered accepted CLEPs for that one. I'd try everything possible to at least get one of those classes out of the way now. You young students amaze me! Best wishes.

First semester is about learning how to organize yourself and settle into the nursing coursework "style". After I was accepted into a program, I was given advice from the 2nd year students about getting my prereq's out of the way, take all the classes I could during the summer, so that I could concentrate on nursing coursework in the Fall. It was excellent advice! I also quit my full time job right before school started. I agree with previous posts, although it may be possible to do nursing school and work/take extra courses, it all adds to the stress. The amount of reading assignments far surpass the amount of time in a day. Because my program (2 year RN) admittance was based on a lottery drawing, it took me 7 years to get in. I wasn't about to mess around with my ability to stay in the program. I made sure my prereq's were out of the way. Out of about 100 people we started with in the fall, we have about 80 left (various reasons). Do what you need to, and remember nothing is impossible.

I think it depends what your first semester consists of. Some programs have an excruciating first semester while others ease you into it with only a few classes. First semester for me was definitely tough -- mainly because it is a huge learning curve, and nursing school is all about busy busy work. It was a challenge just figuring what was due for what class.

An example of what was covered in my first semester (NUR106) for 9 credit hours (which is no reflection on the large amount of studying outside of class):Lecture Topics (2-4 hours each):Skin AssessmentEliminationProfessional IssuesMedicationsBarriersClincial Decision MakingADPIE (Nursing Process)Parenteral MedsFunctional AssessmentHomestatisCardio PulmonaryOxygen & PerfusionSelf Care ModelCommunicationOlder AdultPharmacology ClassificationsImmobilityRole of the NurseClient Records NutritionAntibioticsEthicsValues & CultureAPA StyleProjects:Community Survey PresentationOlder Adult InterviewHealth Promotion ProjectCulture PaperLab:Musculoskeletal Techniques (1 hour)Intro to Medication Administration (4-8 hours)Isolation Precautions (2 hours)Sterile Gloving (1 hour)Sterile Field (2-6 hours)Injection site selection (2-4 hours)Drawing Up Meds from Vial & Ampule (2-4 hours)IM Injections (2 hours)SQ & ID Injections (2 hours)Urinary Catheterization (4-6 hours)Mixing meds in a syringe (2-4 hours)Cardiopulmonary Assessment (4 hours)Oxygen Adminstration (1 hour)Simulation Lab: transition into clinical & cardio assessingVideo Lab: Communication & Human NeedsAnd also Clinical site experience for 12 hours per week x 5-6 weeksDoing the prep work, keeping things organized, and testing on each subject keeps one busy!!!!

I thinks it's best to get all of your non nursing classes out of the way. I've taken all of my non nursing courses(AP1&AP2 lec/lab,psychology, human growth, etc.) so when I go to nursing school, I can just focus on those nursing courses. Whatever you decide GOOD LUCK!!!!!!:spin:

I think it depends on you and what else you have going on in your life. I wouldn't say my first semester was hard, but I will say it was a lot of work and a lot of information to digest. Saying that I'm sure there are a lot of people who do pre-reqs and nursing course work simutanously and succeed wtih it. It at all possible I would see if I could break up micro and human developement between two semesters or take them in the summer. A fulltime job is definately difficult to do in nursing school.

That is a tough one. I think it would be very difficult to take two additional classes. I think you could get by with one, but two is pushing it. I know my first semester was very hard and there is no possible way I could have taken on anything else. Even when you are not in class, you are still practicing for skills check-offs....it's more time consuming than you might think. Do you HAVE to take the classes first semester or will they let you take one first and one second semester? Maybe they would work with you.

Thanks for all the input everyone!I wish I could take Micro over the summer, but I am already taking AP 1&2 over the summer. Its a lot to digest in such a short time, but I'm a week away from finishing A&P 1 and I'm pretty sure I've got an A (if I do well on my test tonight lol)I know that they are offering Mico Online (fall) with an in class lab on Saturdaysand Human growth I'm not sure if that would be online or what, that would probably be a deciding factor as well.jla623...thanks that is a good suggestion, and yes I would be able to take human growth and development in second semester. That would also help my budget.Here is the schedule for the first semester (M-F)Fall Semester NUR 1820Socialization ICredits 1NUR 1142PharmacologyCredits 2NUR 1022CIntroduction to NursingCredits 4NUR 1024CNursing ICredits 3Total Credits10I am just thinking that If i am driving an hour each way thats two hours a day that I don't have to study anyway that I could use for another course, ya know? Because the drive itself is very stressful, two lanes most of the way, which is veryy aggrivating when you need to be somewhere on time lol

Consider recording the lectures/discussions, so you can review as you fall asleep at night, or running errands in the car. Digital recorders work best, because you can download them on your computer easily. Multi-tasking!

Quote from PinksterThanks for all the input everyone!I wish I could take Micro over the summer, but I am already taking AP 1&2 over the summer. Its a lot to digest in such a short time, but I'm a week away from finishing A&P 1 and I'm pretty sure I've got an A (if I do well on my test tonight lol)I know that they are offering Mico Online (fall) with an in class lab on Saturdaysand Human growth I'm not sure if that would be online or what, that would probably be a deciding factor as well.jla623...thanks that is a good suggestion, and yes I would be able to take human growth and development in second semester. That would also help my budget.Here is the schedule for the first semester (M-F)Fall Semester NUR 1820 Socialization I Credits 1NUR 1142 Pharmacology Credits 2NUR 1022C Introduction to Nursing Credits 4NUR 1024C Nursing I Credits 3Total Credits 10I am just thinking that If i am driving an hour each way thats two hours a day that I don't have to study anyway that I could use for another course, ya know? Because the drive itself is very stressful, two lanes most of the way, which is veryy aggrivating when you need to be somewhere on time lol

First of all, whatever you decide to do it sounds like you'll do fantastic with it. You're organized, youre thinking ahead, and you're planning. Great qualities to have in nursing/nursing school. My first semester I had my 9 hour nursing courses, then i also took physiology (4 hours) and pharmacology (2 hours). It was stressful, and it was crazy, but I was able to pull it off without pulling every hair out. If you can split up the classes, then do so. take one first semester and the next the other, that will definitely help. I just finished my second semester and i took 2 additional classes with my nursing courses again and found it to be no problem. (even though 1st semester was a joke compared to second semester). I would suggest staying close to home, with gas prices and if you still need to work trying to work your schedule around a 2 hour commute a day gets pretty tough, especially with studying and everything. But again, whatever you decide you'll do great and that's all that matters. Best of luck to you! Let us know what you decide on!:heartbeat