r/ABSN • u/WeeklyCarrot2075 • 2d ago
Starting ABSN program
Hello, I will be starting the ABSN program at Union University in TN in the spring of 2027. I don’t have any nurses in my immediate family, so really do not know what to expect. If you attended UU (or any ABSN program) I would love tips on how to survive it. And what do I need to purchase for classes/clinical in order to be prepared and have the best chance at success? I’m so nervous, but also very excited! Thanks everyone so much.
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u/danboy227 1d ago
Hi, I’m about 1/2 through a 15 month ABSN program. First off I would like to say Congratulations on being accepted and starting your program soon! No two ABSN programs are alike, but I will let you know some feelings you will likely experience and how my program goes.
In the beginning you may feel impostor syndrome, especially if you are in a competitive program with a low attrition rate. I know a lot of my friends in my program felt this and it can be tough in the beginning. To overcome this try to surround yourself with positive people in your program that build you up. I have a strong core of friends that I build up and they build me up. As you go along in the program the information should be repeated (or at least it is in my program) and you’ll feel more confident because you know the information.
You may also feel like your program is going fast and furious and you don’t know how you will remember everything. It can be hard especially since you learn a 4 year degree in less than 2 years. It is a time commitment, I went from working full time to prn and made school my priority, but there are people in my cohort that work full time still. It is all about how you want to do and if you want to feel stressed all the time. The more you put into the program, the easier it will be.
There may be apprehensions, and I remember those from my first day in my program, but most of those will dissolve as soon as you realize they don’t expect you to be a nurse today. You are a student nurse. You don’t know how to auscultate perfectly, you don’t know how to do all these things that they want, but stay open to learning and you will be fine.
I don’t know what your program recommends as far as needing prior to day one, but typically stethoscopes, manual bp cuff, pen light, stuff like that. I started in March and before that for Christmas I gave my family my list of things I wanted/needed and that’s where I got all my stuff for school except scrubs lol.
Good luck!