Any Advice for New Nursing Students?

[jrabbit0811]

What advice does anyone have to someone who JUST got accepted into a nursing program? As I keep reading I just see horror story after horror story - It amazes me that anyone gets through it - I know nursing school is going to be the hardest thing I've ever endured, mentally and physically, but I want to be as prepared as I can be. Is it truly a program that is just not something you can prepare yourself for until you are in it? Or are there any books or anything that I can read to prepare my mind for what I am about to jump into head first? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[2GNsoon]

It will be the toughest schooling you have ever gone through or will go through. I came from a family of nurses. Basically was born wanting to be a nurse, took classes in high school, worked as a CNA, and I can tell you I STILL was not prepared for what was about to hit me in nursing school. It's a culture shock honestly. I do not sleep more than 6 hours a night ever (my program is accelerated so we have heavier schedules), and I eat breathe and live nursing all day and night. The stress levels will be through the roof, nursing questions literally mess with your mind, and you will no doubt fail a few tests in nursing school. Even as a straight A student. But I can tell you that EVERY SINGLE SECOND is worth it. In less than a year I'll be taking my NCLEX and become an RN like I've always dreamed about. The journey is hard and EXHAUSTING. (You have not experienced exhaustion until you get to nursing school). But taking care of patients is the most humbling and sweetest experience. I walk into clinicals (very tired and stressed albeit) but NEVER have a day go by where a patient does not make an impact on me. We are learning to take care of people holistically--you have their lives in your hands. And to be able to be there to resuscitate, be there while they are in labor, or just have a therapeutic conversation with them, it makes every second of studying for these HORRIBLE, scary tests all worth it knowing one day a patients life will be in my hands and I'll know how to respond because of the knowledge and training I'm getting right now in nursing school. It will be tough but you can do it! It's been done, it's doable, just the hardest thing you will probably have yet to do.