WOW! 4th semester is really here?! It feels like as soon as I got comfortable with full time student life, it’s time to change it up again & switch our focus to clinical schedules, NCLEX preparation, job searches
& future employment opportunities.
No two weeks were ever the same due to the coming & goings of everyone’s clinical schedules,
but each week we for sure all met as a cohort every Thursday for class 8-5.
MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY
- Clinical days- depending on my preceptor’s schedule… we were required to complete 218 hours together,
lots of time to learn & practice! - Simulation Lab days would occasionally be added in
- Time to study, work on care plans, homework, get together Board of Nursing materials…
THURSDAY
- 8-11:30am: Nursing Care for Patient’s with Complex Health Problems lecture, weekly quiz every class!
- 12-2:30pm: Professional Nursing- Leadership
FRIDAY
- 9-11:30am: I took the Neuroscience Nursing elective, where we learned ALL things neuro, very helpful & informative especially when you have a professor as passionate as Dr. Reynolds 🙂
- Potential clinical days or a simulation lab day
SATURDAY/SUNDAY
- More potential clinical days…
- I also took an online Nutrition Management for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction elective course
Fourth Semester Tips
- I would work to get as many clinical days done as soon as possible! this way you allow for random surprises, sick days or potential preceptor call outs…
- Make sure you come prepared for every weekly quiz! You may be feeling tired or apethetic but the questions can be tricky, so a good cram sesh the night before is worthwhile
- Try to get a day & night clinical… All days are easier to work in with school scheduling & all nights can be really difficult to schedule around class…. but try to get at least 1 night before you start your job, you can’t hide from them forever & it’s a worthwhile learning experience
- Apply to jobs at the beginning of the last semester, the early bird gets the worm!!
- Complete clinical objectives as you go to save on a paperwork pile up at the end of the semester
- Really actually do try to start studying for the NCLEX ASAP! I kept putting it off since I was overwhelmed… but more on that later!
- Utilize your ATI materials!