Registered Nurse (RN)-Former Nursing Student & Current Nurse Blog My Journey of Becoming & Working as a Registered Nurse

Hello Everyone,

So many times nursing students get frustrated when it comes to learning how to do the conversions. At first, I was so overwhelmed and I had a hard time learning.

However, after lots of practice I eventually became very comfortable doing conversions, and from that point on I never struggled with them again. I had a great question regarding conversions:

Hi Sarah. I love your site and your explanation on conversions is fantastic!I was wondering if it’s also important to learn how to convert to grams and grains? Also, if you could tell me what to expect for my first semester and what can I do to help prepare me for that. Thanks a lot.

Tabatha

Thanks so much for the kind words and the great question Tabatha! I will try to cover all of your questions the best I can.

Should Nurses Learn How to Convert Grams and Grains?

I am glad that you enjoyed the conversions page that I placed up. As I said before, I did have trouble at first learning the conversion formulas, and I was really stressed out when the test came.

However, after lots of practice I did eventually learn how to do the conversions. For those who may be interested in practicing those conversion problems, you can find the dosage and calculation conversions page.

As far as your question regarding the grams to grains conversions, no I was not required to learn that specific conversion, and it wasn’t stressed at all on the tests. In fact, I didn’t really bother with studying it much at all.

However, your school curriculum may be different and they may possibly choose to include those with your dosage and calculations problems. If that is the case, then I do recommend learning them. It may help if you can ask some of your fellow nursing students =-).

There are a couple of sites I can recommend which give some basic grains to grams conversion formulas/calculators, if you are interested in seeing how the formula works:

http://www.asknumbers.com/GramsToGrains.aspx

http://www.metric-conversions.org/weight/grams-to-grains.htm

What Should I Expect In My First Semester of Nursing School?

My first two years of college were mostly core non-nursing classes. The actual “nursing school” part was really the last 2 years. So what can you expect during this time? What will your first semester of actual nursing school be like? Great questions! I have written a similar post about nursing clinicals here that you may also be interested in.

Each year of nursing school had its good parts and bad parts. For example, my first year of nursing was more difficult academically, and I had some very difficult classes I had to pass. However, I didn’t have to really worry with clinicals at a real job too much so that was nice. The “clinicals” were mostly just skills tests that were performed in the actual classroom (such as inserting a catheter, applying dressings, and so forth).

The second year was much less difficult academically (the classes were easier), however, I had a much more rigorous work load with clinicals, projects, and so forth. The clinicals were a little more challenging because you deal with real people in an actual hospital setting.

As far as my very first semester of nursing school, it wasn’t too bad at all. Each nursing school may be structured differently, however, mine focused mostly on academic book work and so forth.

So if yours is the same, I would recommend you really just try to remain dedicated to your homework, projects, and studying. If you have trouble doing this, you can always get a study buddy, or form a study group.

I tended to study mostly on my own, and I would simply sit in my apartment bedroom and just study over and over as much as I could (and sometimes listen to music). That has always been my own personal study routine.

You really have nothing to worry about at all, and I think you will really enjoy your first semester. I know you must be very excited, and at the same time anxious and nervous.You will probably make some friends that you may end up partnering with throughout Nursing School on various projects, and you may even work with them once you graduate!

I think you will do great, and you will see that it isn’t bad at all. If you just keep up with your classes and study, it is really like anything else in school. Just remember that practice makes perfect, and studying regularly will not only help you pass your classes, but it will also help prepare you for the HESI and NCLEX tests.

Thanks again, and good luck! =)

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Posted under Ask A Question, Nursing School

Hey Everyone,

I hope every one is having a totally awesome Tuesday. Sorry I haven’t made a post in a couple of days. I have been sooo busy like you wouldn’t believe. I only had ONE stinking day off last week. Balancing orientation for my new job with clinicals and school is a little demanding. Crazy me pulled three 12 hours shifts in a row this weekend. I have never done it before and figured I would give it a try because I will be doing it when I work. Believe it or not it wasn’t that bad considering  I was busy all of the days before I pulled them. I think the second day was the worst and the third day went by fast. Saturday and Sunday were very busy days but Monday was constant but not crazy.

I actually feel like I am getting a grasp of the nursing stuff lol and I feel like I know what I’m doing. I feel more comfortable with my documentation, communication (patient interaction), and assessment skills. Yesterday I did a complete discharge all by myself. I had to call and make appointments for the pt, complete discharge teaching, filling out of the paper work (many papers to complete), put in for transport to pick up the patient, and house keeping to clean the room……..and I did this all by myself….woohoo!!

The most interesting thing I got to do during clinicals was give meds through a PEG tube and change out the tubing for the feedings known as Jevity. A PEG tube is a tube that is inserted through the skin that enters the stomach. The pt gets medications and “food” (in liquid form) through it and it goes straight into their stomach. Many pts have them because they are a huge aspiration risk (meaning their “windpipe” doesn’t close fast enough and the food/liquid enters into their lungs causing problems) or they have problems chewing & swallowing food.

Oh yeah and I’m finally learning the whole IV pump thing. I feel like my school sort of didn’t touch on this subject very well but I think I have finally got the hang of it. I have got good at hanging antibiotics, priming the tubing, and setting up the pump. I feel I still need to work on putting doctor’s orders into the computer and communication with the doctors. We don’t have a clerical on the floor I work on so we have to put in all of our orders…yeah it takes time.

Guess what……HESI is this Friday every one. Sheew!! I’m nervous…I can’t believe it is already here it…it came up really fast. I’ve been studying so I hope it will pay off. I just want to get it over with. I’ll keep you all up-dated!

Saturday is my Mammaw’s birthday and we are going out to eat at this restaurant called Fatz (cool name huh? lol). They are suppose to have some great food. I got her a gift certificate at this place she has been wanting to get her hair cut and a book called “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. It is a very good/inspirational book……something she has been wanting to read.

Here is my outlook for the week: Tuesday (today): OFF, Wednesday: class 1230-330, Thursday-more orientation 8-4, Friday: HESI, Saturday: going out to eat for my Mammaw’s birthday, and Sunday: REAL Work (getting paid….finally) 7am-7pm.

I hope everyone has a great week! Pray for me about HESI….

Until next time,

Sarah

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Posted under Clinicals, Daily Ramblings