New Rn Student

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new nursing student and I was wondering if anyone can give me any advise on surviving nursing school. Please Help:eek:

Always remember -- YOU CAN DO THIS! My tips:

Join a study group or start your own. In your study group, ask each person to review something from lecture and present to the group members (see one, do one, teach one -- the best way to learn!). If you start your own study group, be sure to ask people you feel comfortable with because you will be seeing a LOT of them over the next 2 years.

Don't miss ANY classes.

SKIM your reading material prior to the lecture. Post-lecture, reread CAREFULLY any section you didn't understand.

TAKE NOTES or record lectures.

Don't let clinicals make you nervous. There are plenty of people there to help you.

Accept that your fellow nursing students (no matter what age or walk of life) have a lot to teach you and learn from them as well as the instructors.

Saying "I don't know how, could you show me?" or "I need more practice, can you help me?" are much better than trying to muddle through on your own. The toughest (and best) nursing instructors are also the ones who want you to ASK when you don't know.

There are no stupid questions so ask away!

Learn to say NO in other areas of your life and practice saying it before you have to implement it.

If at any time, you feel like school is too much and you want to quit, talk to your nursing instructor FIRST.

Keep a good attitude and an open mind.

Finally, I will say that I got through nursing school with a high B average after a devasting divorce, with a full time job and 2 children, in a city where I had no family close by to help. If I could manage, so can you!

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I know how you feel. I'm starting my first semester in 2 weeks. I'm a nervous wreck. But atleast there is alot of great advice out there. I'm sure everyone here will tell you that this is a great resource. Stick with it.

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Put school first, give up everything else, lock yourself in your house for the next 4 years and study, study, study-this is not for the faint of heart-but its worth every minute of it! :wavey

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Welcome to nursing! :)

Yes, nursing school is hard but it can be done...I am not an advocate of 'not working in nursing school'.....working in a facility as a NA or a secretary provides invaluable OJT and helps you solidify your knowledge. Even very part time. And the nursing staff will bond with you and vice versa. :)

As far as 'don't listen to the old nurses who say negative things'.

Well, there ARE a few negatives in our profession right now, and IMO rose colored glasses are not going to improve them....listen , learn....but take crabbing with a grain of salt....you will need to vent on occasion too somedays. ;)

Not everyone wil be your enemy, not everyone will be your friend, but everyone IS your teacher.

Good luck and also visit the student thread. :)

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Tou Tou, take it one term at a time. If that seems too mind-boggling, take it one week or one day at a time. Break everything down into something that you can deal with.

ALWAYS study, and study hard. Do not allow yourself to become slack, because that is when you will begin to develop as a lackadaisical nurse, or will flunk out.

Try to eat well, and get as much rest as possible. Even if you have a test bright and early Monday morning, and a paper due on Tuesday, allow yourself time to enjoy some part of your weekend. If you have immediate family (husband and kids) try to spend as much time with them as you can. Have drinks or eat out with a friend every now and then, so you don't become an absolute studying drudge!

Best of luck, and study hard!;)

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by midwestrn

toutou,

study what you learn that day every night, don't wait until the night before a test. it's too much. don't laugh, but i kept my notes in the bathroom and every time i went in, i spent a little time studying. it's the only quiet place i could find. good luck.

may not be a bad idea! oh me!
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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by mattsmom81

...not everyone wil be your enemy, not everyone will be your friend, but everyone is your teacher...

this one is a keeper! thanks!
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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by suzielee

put school first, give up everything else, lock yourself in your house for the next 4 years and study, study, study-this is not for the faint of heart-but its worth every minute of it! :wavey

welcome to the board!
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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by beckymeds

i know how you feel. i'm starting my first semester in 2 weeks. i'm a nervous wreck. but atleast there is alot of great advice out there. i'm sure everyone here will tell you that this is a great resource. stick with it.

hello and welcome! i agree, the advice is awesome and i am taking it in too! all the best to you!
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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by researchrabbit

always remember -- you can do this! my tips:

join a study group or start your own. in your study group, ask each person to review something from lecture and present to the group members (see one, do one, teach one -- the best way to learn!). if you start your own study group, be sure to ask people you feel comfortable with because you will be seeing a lot of them over the next 2 years.

don't miss any classes.

skim your reading material prior to the lecture. post-lecture, reread carefully any section you didn't understand.

take notes or record lectures.

don't let clinicals make you nervous. there are plenty of people there to help you.

accept that your fellow nursing students (no matter what age or walk of life) have a lot to teach you and learn from them as well as the instructors.

saying "i don't know how, could you show me?" or "i need more practice, can you help me?" are much better than trying to muddle through on your own. the toughest (and best) nursing instructors are also the ones who want you to ask when you don't know.

there are no stupid questions so ask away!

learn to say no in other areas of your life and practice saying it before you have to implement it.

if at any time, you feel like school is too much and you want to quit, talk to your nursing instructor first.

keep a good attitude and an open mind.

finally, i will say that i got through nursing school with a high b average after a devasting divorce, with a full time job and 2 children, in a city where i had no family close by to help. if i could manage, so can you!

welcome! thanks for sharing the advice and your experience.
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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by sharkadelicrn

i agree...if there is any way possible, don't work while you are going to school. i didn't work until my last 3 semesters, and then i only worked 16 hours a month...just to get some hospital experience beyond clinicals. my only other advice is to tune out the nurses you'll meet when you start your clinicals who are very negative about nursing.

i absolutely love my career and can't imagine why i didn't go to school sooner for this. nursing school is a big challenge, it takes a lot of perserverance and time, but the reward at the end is well worth it.

best of luck to you!

welcome!
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