How does nursing school work? As an accelerated nursing student, you can expect to participate in an orientation and then dive into online coursework, skills labs and clinical learning experiences, including placements at healthcare facilities. Along the way, you’ll study topics potentially including pathophysiology, pharmacology, adult health and behavioral health.
You’ve completed all your nursing school prerequisites, submitted the paperwork and are finally ready to start nursing school. Now, the anticipation sets in. As you prepare to start your first semester, it can be helpful to take a closer look at the answers to common questions like “How does nursing school work?” and “What is nursing school like?”
At Concordia University, St. Paul, it’s possible to graduate in as few as 16 months with our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. Because of the nature of the curriculum we deliver, you can expect to take on material at a faster pace than in a traditional BSN degree path. No matter the type of program you attend, however, you’ll need to be prepared to intensively study in nursing school.
To further explore what to expect in a nursing program, you should examine the curriculum and speak with an admissions advisor to get a sense of what coursework, labs and clinicals look like. You’ll also need to consider which supplies to purchase ahead of time, and you may want to take a closer look at the experiential learning components.
What to Expect in a Nursing Program: Curriculum and Coursework
When you complete nursing prerequisites, you’ll examine topics in lifespan development psychology, microbiology, chemistry and human anatomy and physiology. These prerequisites provide a foundation for the nursing school curriculum, which provides a comprehensive survey of topics in areas including:
- Behavioral health nursing
- Geriatric and palliative care nursing
- Health promotion and assessment
- Nursing care of the adult
- Nursing care of the childbearing family
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
You’ll complete nursing coursework online, with many opportunities to interact with your fellow classmates and faculty members. You’ll study the provided resources and complete learning activities, assignments and self-assessments. When you need extra help and in-person interaction, you can visit your nursing instructors during office hours.
These 7 nursing school tips can help you thrive in an accelerated nursing program.
Nursing School Supplies: What You’ll Need to Succeed
Certain items that you’ll need for nursing school are self-explanatory, such as a laptop, internet service, a quiet place to study, notebooks, a planner or planner app, pens, highlighters and index cards for use as study aids. You’ll also need textbooks, which you may be able to find used for a reduced price.
Other items are specific to nursing school students, and your nursing program will provide very specific guidance before you make any purchases, such as the following nursing school supplies:
- Face masks and hand sanitizer
- Two pairs of scrubs, both tops and bottoms
- Comfortable, supportive shoes and compression socks, as you’ll often be on your feet during clinical learning experiences
- Stethoscope
- Pen light
- Bandage scissors
- Nursing bag
What to Expect in Nursing School During Your First Week
How does nursing school work during your first week of classes? Your first semester of nursing school likely will be an adjustment, especially so in an ABSN program like ours.
Before you begin classes, you will attend an orientation. This is an introduction to the curriculum, your nursing cohort and faculty. Then, you’ll begin attending classes. Use these tips during orientation and throughout your first week:
- Write it down. Keep a notebook with you and take notes as needed. Write down reminders to yourself and try to stay organized.
- Ask questions. Faculty and staff are here to support you. If something is not clear, just ask.
- Build up your contacts. Nursing school provides opportunities to begin building your professional network. Furthermore, your fellow cohort members can become lifetime friends because you will go through this experience of becoming a nurse together. Use orientation to get their contact information and to share any concerns or questions with your fellow students.
Experiential Learning: On-Campus Nursing Skills Labs and Clinical Learning Experiences
What is nursing school like after orientation? During your four semesters in your ABSN program at Concordia University, St. Paul, you will work through a blended learning format that consists of online coursework, skills labs and clinical learning experiences.
On-Campus Nursing Skills Labs
On-campus nursing skills labs will teach you how to perform fundamental nursing skills, such as complete a patient assessment, take the patient’s medical history, insert an IV line and check vital signs. You’ll practice your new nursing skills on a variety of high-tech medical manikins and models. These labs take place at one of our ABSN learning centers in Portland, Oregon, and St. Paul, Minnesota, whichever corresponds to your enrollment location.
You’ll also have opportunities to practice important soft skills for nursing during skills labs. For example, you’ll practice communicating with patients, working as a member of a team and providing collaborative care.
Clinical Learning Experiences
As a Concordia University, St. Paul ABSN student, you’ll also participate in clinical learning experiences. In labs, you will use medical manikins to practice the skills you have learned. You’ll practice applying nursing theory to develop appropriate clinical responses to various patient care scenarios, such as how to manage childbirth or how to address an unresponsive patient. Everything you do in labs is meant to prepare you for clinical learning experiences.
Under supervision, you’ll also work directly with patients in a variety of environments, both within healthcare systems and the community. While the length may vary, you may complete clinical learning experiences in the following areas:
- Mental health
- Acute care
- Adult health
- Behavioral health
- Intensive care
- Long-term care
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
Accelerated nursing students often enjoy clinical learning experiences because they provide an opportunity to explore various areas of nursing to find their fit. You may discover that you have a passion for pediatrics, for example, or, equally as valuable, you might find that a particular nursing specialty doesn’t suit you well and is best avoided after graduation.
Explore in more detail about how accelerated nursing programs work.
Why Concordia University, St. Paul?
Concordia University, St. Paul offers ABSN students a small school feel with big opportunities. Our school is a Christian community that encourages student and faculty interaction, individual attention and spiritual growth, all backed with an emphasis on service. Students who graduate from our nursing program learn to care for the whole patient: mind, body and spirit.
Our ABSN program offers plenty of resources to help you succeed, not just in becoming a nurse but also in becoming a healthcare leader. In addition to our dedicated nursing instructors, you’ll work one-on-one with an admissions counselor, who can help you put together a personalized plan to prepare for nursing school.
Ready to graduate with a nursing degree in as few as 16 months after completing the prerequisites? Take the first step toward your nursing future and contact an ABSN admissions counselor at Concordia University, St. Paul today.