Beginning of last semester!!!

ImKosher · Jan 6, 2014

Right there with you. May of 2014

adreamdeferred, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 7, 2014

Hi kywoord!

Congratulations on starting your journey! I graduate on May 10th! I am excited about returning to class next week but at the same time I know what I am in for. With that being said things to do include sharing information about the program and your goals with your support network so they have a little understanding of what you are going through and how to support you. You WILL have to make some lifestyle changes, everything will now revolve around nursing school not the other way around. Make sure you organize your assignments and time in a planner or calendar, there is just too much to keep track of. Add in time to study so that you are not finding yourself cramming. Allow yourself a little time (maybe a couple of hours a week) to blow watching tv or doing something with friends or family. Look over the syllabus for your courses if you are able to obtain them early and try to find out how much time you will need to allow to complete larger projects. Schedule time in your calendar or planner to get started on them because there is a certain point in each semester of nursing school where you will feel you just entered into the belly of hell and preplanning will help with that. Do figure out what kind of learner you are whether audio, visual or tactile there is so much material that this is critical to avoid struggling with absorbing so much in such a short time. Be proactive in your education and seek out additional learning opportunities in clinical. Don't try to be invisible, school will be over before you know it and it is better to learn as a student than on the job. Reach out to instructors and classmates for help if you need it, don't try to be superwoman.

Things NOT to do include trying to work more than part time, even part time hours can be detrimental when you have to work right in the middle of crucial study time or when you have a group project due. Don't try to maintain an active social life, you will kill yourself trying to keep up or flunk out, but mostly flunk out. Plan on missing out on a lot, it goes with the territory. I hate that I have to put it out there but don't try to cheat. I have several other degrees but I have never heard of so many classmates being caught for cheating ever before than when I became a nursing student. All I can say is these were bright girls who caved to the immense pressure of passing. I never would have suspected them until it came out so don't cave to the pressure, it is not worth it nor is it helpful in the end. Also if you are used to being a straight A student or somewhere along those lines you may need to get over that. It can be done but it is not unusual to get to a point mentally where you just want to pass. Nursing school is a different kind of beast. Don't try to approach exams from a knowledge-based standpoint (major source of frustration for new nursing students). Yes, you have to learn the material but they are trying to build your critical thinking skills, all of the answers may be correct you will need to pick the most correct answer so study rationales in addition to the material. I like the NCLEX Made Easy books because it gives you an understanding of how to approach the questions. My classmates swear by the Pearson Reviews and Rationale series.

More than anything believe in yourself and know that you are stronger than you think. I pray for strength, guidance, grace and mercy and it works for me. Also don't discount connecting online or finding help with studying. I love this forum and youtube! My classmates and I have formed a bond (no student left behind) and we support each other. You will be surprised how people who are complete strangers on the first day of class become such a lifeline. They know what you are going through. I hope this doesn't stress you out or bring down your mood. I just want you to know what you are getting into. I thought I knew but realized I didn't know and that turned out to be a good thing because I may have talked myself out of it but here I am at the last semester. I have 3 boys and I work every other weekend as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. My school is 40 miles away and some of my clinicals have been as far. I have made the Dean's list only half the time but have maintained a g.p.a. over 3.0 so it is definitely doable. Just go in with an understanding of how much of yourself you need to dedicate to nursing school and you will be fine.

Just.Blessed.RN, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2014

Hi kywoord!
Congratulations on starting your journey! I graduate on May 10th! I am excited about returning to class next week but at the same time I know what I am in for. With that being said things to do include sharing information about the program and your goals with your support network so they have a little understanding of what you are going through and how to support you. You WILL have to make some lifestyle changes, everything will now revolve around nursing school not the other way around. Make sure you organize your assignments and time in a planner or calendar, there is just too much to keep track of. Add in time to study so that you are not finding yourself cramming. Allow yourself a little time (maybe a couple of hours a week) to blow watching tv or doing something with friends or family. Look over the syllabus for your courses if you are able to obtain them early and try to find out how much time you will need to allow to complete larger projects. Schedule time in your calendar or planner to get started on them because there is a certain point in each semester of nursing school where you will feel you just entered into the belly of hell and preplanning will help with that. Do figure out what kind of learner you are whether audio, visual or tactile there is so much material that this is critical to avoid struggling with absorbing so much in such a short time. Be proactive in your education and seek out additional learning opportunities in clinical. Don't try to be invisible, school will be over before you know it and it is better to learn as a student than on the job. Reach out to instructors and classmates for help if you need it, don't try to be superwoman.
Things NOT to do include trying to work more than part time, even part time hours can be detrimental when you have to work right in the middle of crucial study time or when you have a group project due. Don't try to maintain an active social life, you will kill yourself trying to keep up or flunk out, but mostly flunk out. Plan on missing out on a lot, it goes with the territory. I hate that I have to put it out there but don't try to cheat. I have several other degrees but I have never heard of so many classmates being caught for cheating ever before than when I became a nursing student. All I can say is these were bright girls who caved to the immense pressure of passing. I never would have suspected them until it came out so don't cave to the pressure, it is not worth it nor is it helpful in the end. Also if you are used to being a straight A student or somewhere along those lines you may need to get over that. It can be done but it is not unusual to get to a point mentally where you just want to pass. Nursing school is a different kind of beast. Don't try to approach exams from a knowledge-based standpoint (major source of frustration for new nursing students). Yes, you have to learn the material but they are trying to build your critical thinking skills, all of the answers may be correct you will need to pick the most correct answer so study rationales in addition to the material. I like the NCLEX Made Easy books because it gives you an understanding of how to approach the questions. My classmates swear by the Pearson Reviews and Rationale series.
More than anything believe in yourself and know that you are stronger than you think. I pray for strength, guidance, grace and mercy and it works for me. Also don't discount connecting online or finding help with studying. I love this forum and youtube! My classmates and I have formed a bond (no student left behind) and we support each other. You will be surprised how people who are complete strangers on the first day of class become such a lifeline. They know what you are going through. I hope this doesn't stress you out or bring down your mood. I just want you to know what you are getting into. I thought I knew but realized I didn't know and that turned out to be a good thing because I may have talked myself out of it but here I am at the last semester. I have 3 boys and I work every other weekend as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. My school is 40 miles away and some of my clinicals have been as far. I have made the Dean's list only half the time but have maintained a g.p.a. over 3.0 so it is definitely doable. Just go in with an understanding of how much of yourself you need to dedicate to nursing school and you will be fine.

Omg, thank you sooo much for all the advice! I'm taking everything you said and committing it to my planner. I'm so excited...5 days to go!

chelbelle · Jan 21, 2014

I graduate on May 3rd! So excited to be done but I better not be the only one that's also super nervous! Reading forums about waiting 6 months or more to get an RN job on here scares me to the core! Don't want it to overshadow my great accomplishment though! Way to go everyone!!! :up:

adreamdeferred, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · May 9, 2014

Congrats to all that are finishing!! I'm truly happy for you. Can anyone give a few tips on how you made it through and what NOT to do? I start at LSON on the 16th and I'm so excited to begin my journey through nursing school!

Kywoodrd,

How was your first semester? I am curious how things worked out...I hope you were very successful!

adreamdeferred, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · May 9, 2014

Just an update if anyone cared-I am done finally! Pinning ceremony was on Tuesday. Graduation is tomorrow! It has been a weird feeling the last few days not to have any homework or studying to do. It seemed like this day was never gonna come and then all of a sudden I'm staring it right in the face and it feels awesome! I'm free! I'm free!

Hi kywoord!
Congratulations on starting your journey! I graduate on May 10th! I am excited about returning to class next week but at the same time I know what I am in for. With that being said things to do include sharing information about the program and your goals with your support network so they have a little understanding of what you are going through and how to support you. You WILL have to make some lifestyle changes, everything will now revolve around nursing school not the other way around. Make sure you organize your assignments and time in a planner or calendar, there is just too much to keep track of. Add in time to study so that you are not finding yourself cramming. Allow yourself a little time (maybe a couple of hours a week) to blow watching tv or doing something with friends or family. Look over the syllabus for your courses if you are able to obtain them early and try to find out how much time you will need to allow to complete larger projects. Schedule time in your calendar or planner to get started on them because there is a certain point in each semester of nursing school where you will feel you just entered into the belly of hell and preplanning will help with that. Do figure out what kind of learner you are whether audio, visual or tactile there is so much material that this is critical to avoid struggling with absorbing so much in such a short time. Be proactive in your education and seek out additional learning opportunities in clinical. Don't try to be invisible, school will be over before you know it and it is better to learn as a student than on the job. Reach out to instructors and classmates for help if you need it, don't try to be superwoman.
Things NOT to do include trying to work more than part time, even part time hours can be detrimental when you have to work right in the middle of crucial study time or when you have a group project due. Don't try to maintain an active social life, you will kill yourself trying to keep up or flunk out, but mostly flunk out. Plan on missing out on a lot, it goes with the territory. I hate that I have to put it out there but don't try to cheat. I have several other degrees but I have never heard of so many classmates being caught for cheating ever before than when I became a nursing student. All I can say is these were bright girls who caved to the immense pressure of passing. I never would have suspected them until it came out so don't cave to the pressure, it is not worth it nor is it helpful in the end. Also if you are used to being a straight A student or somewhere along those lines you may need to get over that. It can be done but it is not unusual to get to a point mentally where you just want to pass. Nursing school is a different kind of beast. Don't try to approach exams from a knowledge-based standpoint (major source of frustration for new nursing students). Yes, you have to learn the material but they are trying to build your critical thinking skills, all of the answers may be correct you will need to pick the most correct answer so study rationales in addition to the material. I like the NCLEX Made Easy books because it gives you an understanding of how to approach the questions. My classmates swear by the Pearson Reviews and Rationale series.
More than anything believe in yourself and know that you are stronger than you think. I pray for strength, guidance, grace and mercy and it works for me. Also don't discount connecting online or finding help with studying. I love this forum and youtube! My classmates and I have formed a bond (no student left behind) and we support each other. You will be surprised how people who are complete strangers on the first day of class become such a lifeline. They know what you are going through. I hope this doesn't stress you out or bring down your mood. I just want you to know what you are getting into. I thought I knew but realized I didn't know and that turned out to be a good thing because I may have talked myself out of it but here I am at the last semester. I have 3 boys and I work every other weekend as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. My school is 40 miles away and some of my clinicals have been as far. I have made the Dean's list only half the time but have maintained a g.p.a. over 3.0 so it is definitely doable. Just go in with an understanding of how much of yourself you need to dedicate to nursing school and you will be fine.

Shandra2008 · May 9, 2014

That's GREAT adreamdeferred. Congrats. I am taking Hesi today and graduation is on next Friday! Have fun at your graduation festivities!!!!! ?

adreamdeferred, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · May 9, 2014

Thanks Shandra2008! Good luck on the HESI!

That's GREAT adreamdeferred. Congrats. I am taking Hesi today and graduation is on next Friday! Have fun at your graduation festivities!!!!! 

Camwill, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, LPN, APRN, NP · May 10, 2014

Good luck and congrats everyone!!!! I graduate and pinning ceremony is next friday also :)

Shandra2008 · Jun 6, 2014

I PASSED MY HESI ON THE 2nd TRY!