The first semester of nursing school is typically an intense experience, as you'll be diving into a whole new academic world. Your first semester nursing school schedule consists of didactic classes, nursing skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations. You can expect to take classes like health assessment and pathophysiology.
Nursing school is unlike many other degree programs in that it requires an intensive pace, rigorous curriculum and a blend of didactic classes and hands-on learning experiences. The effort is worthwhile, as you’ll be working toward an in-demand career. To facilitate your success, learn what to expect in your first semester of nursing school and prepare accordingly.
At Utica University, our dedicated admission representatives take the time to answer prospective students’ questions about our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. Plus, upon enrollment, you’ll have access to our Academic Success Coaches, who can help you navigate each semester with confidence.
When considering how to prepare for the first semester of nursing school, look at the classes and schedule. You’ll want to enter the first semester with a firm idea of what you need to do to be successful.
Still need to apply to nursing school? These tips can help you succeed.
First-Year Nursing Classes: What You Need to Know
The Utica University ABSN curriculum is designed sequentially so that the initial classes lay an academic foundation for future coursework and labs.
What is the hardest subject in the first year of nursing school? Every student will bring their own perspectives to the coursework, of course, but many students find that pharmacology is among the most challenging classes.
In addition to coursework, you’ll have hands-on learning experiences in labs and clinical rotations. Do clinicals start in the first semester of nursing school? It depends on the school. Usually, students in a traditional four-year nursing school program start clinicals in their third year. In ABSN programs, however, students typically begin them fairly soon after enrollment. At Utica University, your first semester nursing school schedule will include clinical hours.
First Semester Courses
- NUR 311: Socialization to Professional Nursing (online coursework)
- NUR 321: Foundations for Nursing Care (includes labs and clinical hours)
- NUR 326: Health Assessment (includes labs)
- NUR 332: Pathophysiology (online coursework)
Second Semester Courses
- Leadership and Informatics in Professional Nursing (online coursework)
- Medical/Surgical Nursing Care I (includes labs and clinical hours)
- Care of Populations with Psychiatric Concerns (includes clinical hours)
- Care of the Aging Population (includes clinical hours)
- Pharmacology (online coursework)
Your Nursing School Schedule
You should become familiar with the format of your first year nursing classes. Right from the first semester of nursing, you’ll have a blend of didactic classes, taken online, and in-person, hands-on learning components.
Online Coursework
Online learning at Utica University offers an interactive experience and greater convenience for students. Many ABSN students say the best part of the online coursework is being able to complete it on your own time. It’s particularly ideal for parents of young children who are in need of a flexible schedule so they can care for their family while attending classes. In addition, you can replay the online lessons as many times as you’d like, which can help you master the material.
Skills/Simulation Labs
Along with online classes, Utica University’s ABSN students develop clinical skills in nursing skills labs. Hands-on lab hours are meant to reinforce what you’re learning in your online classes. You’ll learn such skills as:
- Performing physical exams
- Changing sterile dressings
- Administering medication
- Using medical equipment and supplies (e.g., IVs and catheters)
Nursing simulation labs prepare students to interact with and care for patients and to apply the nursing process to work through various patient care scenarios. Nursing students practice their skills on high-tech manikins.
Clinical Rotations in the First Semester
Since Utica University ABSN students begin their clinical hours right from the first semester of nursing school, they can more quickly gain real-world experience in clinical settings. At first, you’ll be expected to do simple tasks, like preparing rooms for new patients. Later, as you progress through the curriculum, you’ll be entrusted with more responsibility. Rest assured, your nursing instructor will supervise you closely.
Chandni, a Utica University ABSN student, says having the unique in-hospital experience from the beginning helped her nerves of dealing with patients.
During first semester you do your basic nursing – like how to do bed baths, how to make a bed and how to speak to patients. Thank goodness we did that first semester, because if I walked in later in the program not knowing how to speak to a patient, then I would be in trouble.
One of the first clinical experiences you will have is in Med-Surg, where students learn the fundamentals of nursing in a hospital environment.
Says Denise, another ABSN student, “Med-Surg is good. It gives you a good idea of what it’s like to be like on a normal nursing floor. You’re following a nurse, and you’re figuring it out. You’re seeing how they make these decisions, how they use time management, how they talk to patients and how they explain things to patients, so that we are really prepared when we get to that next step.”
Is the First Year of Nursing School Hard?
It can take some time to adjust to the intensive, fast-paced first semester nursing school schedule. You’ll be diving right into classes, labs and clinical hours, and you’ll be expected to master a great deal of material. Because of this, many people consider the first year of nursing school to be challenging.
At Utica University, however, you aren’t doing it alone. Our dedicated nursing instructors are committed to providing the personalized attention our students need to excel. In addition, you’ll be able to work one-on-one with Academic Success Coaches when you need some extra help. Plus, you’ll be able to draw from the support of your nursing cohort.
How to Prepare for the First Semester of Nursing School
Getting into the rhythm of attending classes, doing assignments and taking exams may be more difficult for students who have been out of school for a while. If that describes you, then one way to prepare for first-year nursing classes is to enroll in online classes. You may already need to do this if your admission representative determines that you need to complete degree requirement courses (formerly known as “prerequisites”).
You may also prepare by:
- Completing your Basic Life Support (BLS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certifications
- Designating personal responsibilities, like childcare, to loved ones to free up more time for studying
- Downloading a scheduling app for better time management
- Ensuring you are up to date on all immunizations
- Learning medical terminology
- Purchasing scrubs and other necessary nursing school supplies
- Refreshing yourself on math and science concepts
There are plenty of steps you can take to prepare for nursing school.
Tips for Surviving Your First Semester
It’s helpful to know how to prepare for the first semester of nursing school, but you’ll also need to know how to survive that crucial first semester. Try these tips:
- Stick to a reasonable schedule. Manage your schedule with a calendar so you can block off times to study. Give yourself some time off, so you don’t get burned out. You need to stay healthy and take care of yourself so you can put in your best work.
- Don’t use up your enthusiasm on day one. Try to be in the moment and control your emotions. Remind yourself why you chose to become a nurse and refer back to it as the semester progresses.
- Expect the unexpected. While you may know what courses you will experience during your first semester, you can’t always plan the results. Remember to give yourself a break.
- Be yourself. Everyone’s experience is different, and everyone’s interpretation of those experiences is unique. Remember, this is your nursing school journey; only you can decide what you want to get out of it.
There are also many other resources with great advice from former nursing students who know exactly how you feel and offer some great advice.
Prepare for Your Future in Nursing at Utica University
Utica University, an accredited school, has maintained a tradition of academic excellence since 1946. Our private, nonprofit school seeks to graduate nurse candidates who are lifelong learners and ethical servant leaders who prioritize the well-being of others. Here, you can choose from two ABSN program sites in Albany and Syracuse, New York, and three start dates each year.
Contact an admission representative today to discover if you could be eligible to earn your B.S. in Nursing in as few as 16 months.
