What was your secret weapon for surviving nursing school??

grandma rn38 · Jun 22, 2004

when i went to nursing school, i worked full time,and had 3 kids in school. my sercert was god, and lots of prayer. i have been a rn for 4 1/2 yrs now. thanks to god.

Nursesuzi · Jun 22, 2004

Hi! I am a new nursing student(I have only been in school for about 3months). With all of the studying that we as nursing students must do to excell in this profession, it can be physically and mentally draining at times. Just wondering- what was the one thing that you needed to have to give you energy while in nursing school? Any suggestions would be extremly helpful. THANKS!!!
God Bless!

Michelle, you're going to think I'm crazy, but my answer is study during the wee hours of the morning. I has divorce, a parent with cancer and single parenthood with two kids while nursing school. I believe my survival was that my only time to study was from 4am-630pm Mon-Sat. I made the coffee the night before and was diligent. I may of studied a little longer before tests but there is something about studying when you are fresh. Suzanne

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2004

What I do that works for me is throw away the clock. If I want to sleep when I get home, I do. If I find I cannot sleep, this is the time to study. I learned to survive on catnaps of three to five hours.

TexasPoodleMix · Jun 22, 2004

Michelle, you're going to think I'm crazy, but my answer is study during the wee hours of the morning. I has divorce, a parent with cancer and single parenthood with two kids while nursing school. I believe my survival was that my only time to study was from 4am-630pm Mon-Sat. I made the coffee the night before and was diligent. I may of studied a little longer before tests but there is something about studying when you are fresh. Suzanne

That's funny, my MIL is an RN and said the exact same thing about studying in the early a.m. !

Pretzlgl · Jun 22, 2004

NOT working during nursing school - because I scrimped and saved for a year before and all during...

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2004

What I do that works for me is throw away the clock. If I want to sleep when I get home, I do. If I find I cannot sleep, this is the time to study. I learned to survive on catnaps of three to five hours.

Yep - same here. Good luck to you. :)

redraccoon, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2004

I was part of a study group. We were "different"... not the agressive get "A's" on everything types nor the "just do what you can to scrape by" types. We all took bowling together! LOL (needed just 1 credit to make a full time schedule)

Our group fed off the strengths of each person and helped overcome weaknesses. It was great. We got together at least once weekly and always a special meeting before tests. We also regularly reviewed during lunch.

It definately helped me.

Also, I couldn't have done it without my hubby who was supportive and did lots of household stuff for me so I would have time to study.

Nurse GOODNIGHT · Jun 22, 2004

Agree about being fresh and most programs encourage and make it almost so all consuming that you almost can't work. I know several who failed and are now "repeat customers" in the same classes wasting more time and money. They will be another 6 mos to get out to start making a "viable" living plus being out the extra money for the classes (again). In the school I know, passing is an 80. It's again also what you want. Do you want to make good grades (for a possible future degree admission) or do you just "want to pass & get by"? Be very organized and don't put off and get behind. Sleep in little bits to remain fresh. Good luck and God bless!

Agnus · Jun 22, 2004

I set aside one hour a week to do something physical that required consentration so that I could not think about nursing while I was doing it.

One semester, tap dance, one semester, golf for women, one semester fencing, you get the idea. these were credit courses but the don't have to be a class.

allnurses Guide · Jun 22, 2004

Angus, that is a great idea. I took a P.E. class every semester. I lifted weights or jogged at the track. Definitely helped.

Prayer was #1. A supportive husband was a close second. He cheered me on when I was in the depths of despair thinking I could never do it.

I also did not work during school. I worked summers at a mexican restaurant 4 hours a night 3 or 4 days a week and then did medical tech work at a doc's office on Saturdays once a month.

steph

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2004

Hi! I am a new nursing student(I have only been in school for about 3months). With all of the studying that we as nursing students must do to excell in this profession, it can be physically and mentally draining at times. Just wondering- what was the one thing that you needed to have to give you energy while in nursing school? Any suggestions would be extremly helpful. THANKS!!!
God Bless!

Good friends/Nursing School buddies! :saint: A sense of humor doesn't hurt either. :lol2: I think that the Nursing Department at my school intentionally sets the schedule with two hour breaks between labs and lectures. It gives us time to gab, get lunch or coffee, or study depending on the day. Nobody else understands what you're going through. Nobody else just finished that killer exam half an hour ago and feels like they were just run over by a truck. Husband, kids, other assorted friends and relatives are great, (very kind, loving and supportive) but they haven't had the whole Nursing experience. They haven't had patients die on them, evil clinical instructors terrorize them, a test from hell, been up all night working on a care plan and have to start all over again the next day. They also don't understand that while all the above mentioned things are stressful, I will be wishing for every last one of them to fall back on for awhile after I graduate. The real world offers it's own kind of stress. I will be on my own in a completely new situation.

P.S. Thank you for the blessings, Michelle, I always need them! :)