Dear First Semester Student,

Congratulations on your acceptance into UA’s BSN Program! This is such an exciting

time in your undergraduate; ENJOY IT. CELEBRATE IT. You’ve grinded through prerequisites

and interviews and you’re halfway to getting your degree, so you deserve to give yourself a pat

on the back. Maybe you’re also feeling a bit anxious or nervous? This constant conglomeration

of emotions, and I’m sorry to say, will never go away in nursing school, but you’ll also never

have a dull moment. Excitement when you get to practice INJECTIONS for the first time to

nervousness when you walk into your first or even last exam. This is completely normal, I assure

you, and everything will be okay.

One of the best things about nursing school is being in a room with 53 other like-minded

individuals who are in your exact position for two full years; it’s an experience that I would

never give back. I’m so grateful for my 53 besties who are going to change the world. So I

advise to you get into a group early, makes some friends, stay close to your prerequisite buddies

but branch out and make new ones. These are the people you will spend late nights and

weekends and weekdays studying or celebrating or crying or laughing or all of the above (or in

nursing school, we say “select all that apply”)! Just remember, you’re not in this alone when

times get tough.

First semester is all about physical assessment and Foleys. You will use the physical

assessment skill for the rest of nursing school and your career. Although it’s daunting that it’s for

a grade and you don’t want to fail, look at the bigger picture. You are learning a skill that takes

time to perfect and to make it your own, so cut yourself a break. Watch the videos and listen in

SILC, practice on your friends and roomies and family and take the opportunity to practice it as

much as possible when you start clinical. Ask questions if you are confused or need help, and
your instructors will gladly help you. I’ve never had such passionate, amazing instructors in all

my life; believe me, they WANT to help you succeed. The UA nursing instructors are not trying

to “weed” you out and I know prerequisite instructors make it seem like that sometimes, but that

is not the case in nursing school.

On the first day of orientation, you may become struck with anxiety or start thinking

negative thoughts about the journey ahead. I promise you that getting into nursing school is not a

fluke, you earned your spot, you will succeed, and you will one day have “BSN, RN” behind

your name. Appreciate all the victories, big or small and learn from the mistakes. This is a period

of constant growth, dedication, and hard work that is molding you into a future rockstar nurse.

Embrace it, and don’t fret about grades. Put forth your absolute best effort and learn the material

and skills because you’re going to have human lives in your hands in the very near future, but

C’s still get degrees in nursing school! One bad test grade will not define you but go back and

remediate and learn from it so you can ACE the next one.

Finally, enjoy the journey every step of the way because it’s going to pass by in the blink

of an eye. I’m so excited for you, and I wish you all the best!!

Sincerely,

Amanda Shackelford BSN, RN

“The spirit in which she does her work makes all the difference. Invested…with the cloak of love

for suffering humanity, she can enable anything her hand may be called upon to do. For work

done in this spirit, there will ever come to her a recompense far outweighing that of silver or

gold.”