Dear First Semester Nursing Student,

Congratulations on getting into nursing school! I am so excited for you! I know all of the
hard work it took you to get here and you should be extremely proud of yourself. You may be
feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or eager to start and know that whatever you are feeling is
normal. I remember my first semester so vividly. I was so excited to wear my scrubs for the first
time, getting my first stethoscope ever, and buying all the fun nursing supplies. Enjoy starting
this brand new chapter in your life and try to make light of the little things as much as you can.

I won’t lie to you, nursing school is challenging and I had many days where I questioned
my own capabilities. If I can give you one piece of advice from the very start is to never doubt
yourself no matter what. Take every lesson as a learning opportunity and do the best you can.
Whenever I noticed being too hard on myself, I would remind myself that it is because I truly
care about being the best nurse for my future patients.

Clinicals may seem daunting at first. Do not worry if you feel confused or lost, because I
know I was. It takes time to become acclimated to the unit you are on with all new people so do
not be hard on yourself, everyone is in the same boat! Be open to criticism and try to be as out-
going as possible. The more questions you ask your nurse and instructor, the more you will
learn, and the faster you will grow!

Make as many friends in your classes as you can, because I promise, you will be
spending a lot of time with them! I have made the best friends through this program and I am
truly so grateful I had them to lean on. Having supportive friends will make all the difference, so
don’t forget to surround yourself with positive people during this stressful time.

Also, please take care of yourself! I know it sounds cliche, but do anything and
everything you can to have good mental health. I personally found it helpful to establish a
workout routine, set days for going out with my friends, napping, and grocery shopping for meal
prepping. Self-care makes all the difference in nursing school!

Looking back at myself from first semester compared to now, I am so amazed by my

growth, and I know it will be the same for you. I promise you, this whole process is so worth it!

I wish you nothing but the best of luck through this journey, you will do amazing things!

Best,
Christine Anaya