ALL nursing students, please give input!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2007

Every day when I come online I check to see what the new posts are in the Nursing Student Assistance Forum and then the General Nursing Student Discussion Forum are. The most frequently asked questions that I see are:

care plans, specifically how to figure out which nursing diagnoses to use
critical thinking
drug calculations
fluid and electrolytes
how to find articles for a research assignment
how to find videos of fundamental nursing procedures
OB and peds links
nutrition
pharmacology

There are sticky threads in each of these forums with links to web sites with information on most of these subjects. Many times, students aren't aware of them. I don't usually go onto the Pre-Nursing Forum much anymore. The students there are struggling to get through anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and microbiology. There are stickys on that forum with web links to help with those subjects.

MikeyJ, RN · Aug 23, 2007

I would like to know what kinds of things you struggle with.
Content related: what subjects (nursing math? pharmacology?), what classes (maternal health? cardiac? cancer? pediatrics?), what procedures (NGs? foleys? starting IVs?)... what do you have more questions about, or what do you wish they'd go into more depth about? What do you feel you need a little more help with?
Personally: time management in school, studying, or in clinicals, keeping track and managing more than one patient? trying to keep dinner on the table for your family while helping your kids with their homework and trying to do yours, too? anxiety, stress, depression, ADD/ADHD?
Everything else: personality issues with instructors, or fellow students? finding good resources for a paper? remembering lab values? how to remember how to do that full neuro assessment?
And then everything ELSE: name it -- what do you have concerns about or need help with?
I appreciate your input -- thank you in advance!!!
-A

You know what I struggle with the most?? To stay motivated! I am not necessarily "struggling" with any of my classes -- sure they are fast-paced (accelerated BSN program here) and difficult at times; however, I have never really doubted that I would get at least a 'B' in my classes. My problem is that it is very hard to motivate myself to kick my butt into gear and to chug forward with studying.

For example, this week is final exam week at our nursing program (we are a year round accelerated BSN program) and I can honestly say that I have not studied for a final exam, but rather just hoped that my studying throughout the semester would pay off (thankfully it has for the most part). I have wanted to study but when I pick up a book or my notes, I have absolutely no desire to start reading or studying.

I try not to worry about not being able to properly perform a certain task at this point, or not understanding certain concepts. My goal for nursing school (aside from doing the best I am capable of) is to walk out of nursing school with a solid foundation where I am able to practice SAFELY.