First Semester of Nursing School as an ABSN Student: What to Expect

It helps to be prepared starting nursing school, especially if it’s an accelerated program. At Xavier University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to graduate practice-ready professionals. The first semester of nursing school schedule is intense, so it helps to know what to expect as you make the transition.

The first semester sets the foundation for your nursing education, providing the knowledge and skills necessary for subsequent terms. Explore to expect from the first semester of nursing school as an ABSN student at Xavier.

What Do You Learn in the First Semester of Nursing School?

What is nursing school like during the first semester? It can feel like diving into an entirely new world, complete with its own terminology. At Xavier, our instructors go above and beyond to support your success and help you transition smoothly to the nursing world. Plus, the curriculum is presented in a logical, sequential fashion. That means that what you’ll learn on day two will build off what you learned on day one, and so on.

Here’s a peek at the curriculum for the first semester:

First Semester: Course Sequence

Course # – Name	Credits
NURS 130 – Ways of Knowing	3
NURS 110 – Health, Culture and Diversity	1
NURS 232 – Nsg Fundamentals	3
NURS 233 – Nsg Fundamentals – Practicum	3
NURS 226 – Nsg Communications & Assessment	3
NURS 227 – Nsg Communications & Assessment – Practicum	1

Understanding the First Semester Nursing School Schedule as an ABSN Student

Parts of nursing school may seem familiar to you. You’ll attend classes, review learning materials, complete assignments and take tests. Nursing school isn’t just about coursework, however. There’s plenty of experiential learning. The structure of the Xavier ABSN program includes online coursework and in-person labs and clinicals.

Online Nursing Coursework

Online learning is a course delivery option that involves a significant amount of independent study. It requires good self-discipline and time management skills to be successful.

While instructor deadlines still apply, online learning allows you to learn at your own pace and attend “class” at any time of the day or night. Delivered through Canvas, a popular learning management system, each of our online nursing courses features a series of modules.

Within each module, you’ll complete a list of activities, from watching a video to completing a simulated case study. There’s also a live video conference feature within Canvas that allows instructors to schedule times to discuss complex concepts with students.

If you’re unfamiliar with online learning, it’s a good idea to complete your ABSN prerequisite courses online through Xavier and get acquainted with the course delivery system. While some ABSN programs require as many as 15 prerequisites, we only have four: anatomy and physiology I, anatomy and physiology II, microbiology and statistics.

Nursing Skills and Simulation Labs

Our state-of-the-art nursing skills lab features hospital equipment, medical supplies, clinical task trainers and full-body manikins. It provides a safe, contextual learning environment for developing basic nursing skills such as head-to-toe assessments, nasogastric tube insertion and wound care, the types of skills every nurse must have. Tracheotomy care is among the more challenging nursing skills you’ll learn during the first semester of nursing school.

As an accelerated nursing student, you can expect to participate in nursing labs up to three days a week.

Our nursing simulation lab uses a computerized medical manikin to enhance your nursing competency. By bringing you as close as possible to real-life clinical situations, these labs help develop your clinical judgment and problem-solving skills, preparing you to think on your feet and make evidence-based nursing decisions.

Our simulation manikin lets you actively engage in patient assessment and treatment without the fear of putting an individual’s safety at risk. Under faculty control, the manikin can ask questions and replicate bodily responses to procedures such as intubation and catheterization.

Another benefit of our simulation exercises is that they allow you to be placed in patient care situations that you might not be exposed to during clinicals.

Clinical Rotations

Unlike many nursing programs, we start your clinical rotations during the first semester. Like nursing labs, your clinical practicum starts simple, but we gradually place you in more complex scenarios within clinical settings like hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes.

While we can’t guarantee where your clinical rotations will occur, many of our students gain real-world experience in top healthcare facilities, such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic.

Xavier nurses are unique because they are taught to be empowered at the bedside to provide the best possible patient care.

How to Prepare for the First Semester of Nursing School

Now that you know what you can expect, consider how to prepare for the first semester of nursing school. Arrive at the ABSN program ready to take charge of your nursing education. Because of this, proper preparation starts well before you arrive. Before enrolling, you’ll want to ensure you’ve met all the admissions requirements, especially the prerequisite courses that will support your learning in the ABSN program.

This is also the perfect time to implement a few steps that will help you down the road:

• Talk to friends and family to ensure they understand the time commitment you’ve taken on. Let them know you need their support and might have to miss out on time with them to complete your program.
• Ensure your finances are covered. We do not recommend working full-time while in the program, so be sure you’ve made arrangements and applied for any scholarships you qualify for. Our financial aid office can help you determine the best options for financing your education.
• Be ready to put time and effort into the program. The Xavier ABSN program is rigorous and demands commitment. After all, our program provides the same curriculum as a traditional four-year BSN track on a condensed timeline, so it moves quickly.
• You’ll also want to double-check that your computer has all the necessary updates and technology requirements to run the programs you need successfully.
• It's also a good idea to have a dedicated workspace to complete your Xavier ABSN coursework. You’ll want a distraction-free workspace.
• Be sure to purchase a physical day planner or become familiar with a digital planning app. You’ll need to be meticulous about planning your weekly schedule, including study sessions.

Tips for a Successful First Semester in Nursing School

Once you’re at Xavier and starting to work through your first semester of nursing school, there are some additional tips you can implement to support your success.

First, don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers. Your cohort will face the same challenges, so lean on each other. You can set up a study group, quiz each other and maybe even make lifelong connections.

Always arrive at your labs on time and ready to learn. Aside from coming prepared with scrubs, nursing shoes and the other equipment you’ll need, one of the best tips for labs is to arrive with an open mind. Labs are a time for learning, so be prepared to make mistakes. You’ll have a debrief session after lab to discuss what went right and what could be improved upon. Leaving your ego at the door and taking feedback to build upon will serve you well during this portion of the program.

Take a similar approach as you begin clinicals. Clinicals are your introduction to real-world nursing. While no one expects you to show up knowing everything, it is a busy, professional setting, so you will have to act accordingly and be prepared to learn quickly. You’ll want to arrive a little early for every single shift. Make sure you eat a sufficient meal before your clinical round starts, and be sure to bring pens and a notepad.

You should also realize that some stress about this part of the program is totally normal. This will be your first experience working with healthcare professionals and real patients, so having some nerves comes with the territory. Just be sure to come prepared, ask questions, be flexible and work hard, and everything will fall into place.

Tap Into Your Support System

Whether you’re in your first or last semester of nursing school, our ABSN faculty and staff will support you every step of the way. As an accelerated nursing student, you’ll have access to an Academic Success Coach whose job is to enhance your overall nursing school experience. Xavier students can also access our extensive learning resources, including NCLEX prep tools.

The Bottom Line

Xavier offers flexibility. Our ABSN program is the only one in Ohio to offer two enrollment locations and three start dates each year. That means you can choose quality nursing education on your terms and in a way that fits your life. With exceptional student support and state-of-the-art facilities, Xavier is a top choice for accelerated nursing students.

Ready to get started? Contact our admission advisers today to take the next step toward a meaningful career in nursing.