This may sound silly but...

Put yourself out there. Ask questions, answer questions...even if it's the wrong answer, you're trying!
Read your chapters prior to lecture so that you CAN answer the questions!
Practice your skills!(We have skills lab checkoff each quarter, so during our first quarter, it was things like taking vital signs, bedbaths, making beds, and they increase until we are doing injections, IVs, etc)... I think it shows your dedication to safe practice when you are asking them how to correctly do something, or using the skills lab(if you have one) to practice.

Work hard. Don't complain.

ask appropriate questions in class, do your work, be on time, or show up early and when u need help go to their office hours..they seem to like that..LOL shows u care & they get to know you a little better

If your in a large class like mine, you will need to make yourself available to the professor. Just small meetings like waiting after class to meet face to face will help. You need to rinse and repeat so the professer will get familiar with you. Like another post, go to their office during office hours if you need help. If they need a volunteer, raise your hand up. Just show that your serious about becoming a nurse, be yourself, and have fun. They won't miss you.

Don't try to force anything. It helps a lot if you happen to have a personality that clicks with your instructor. If you do, you do, and if you don't you don't. You are there to learn and work and do your best work and take it in stride.

My biggest regret for my first year of nursing school has been my lack of assertiveness. I tend to freeze up in the clinical setting when wanting to ask if I can do extra procedures. I am going to work my ass off next time around to fix this. I have noticed that a lot of my instructors like that I seem excited to learn though even if I only ever verbalize it to them.

And then there are some instructors that you don't want to stand out with. They are nightmares so you just do your work, and go home and are happy to fade into the background and not suffer the plight of those with bigger mouths than yours.

I agree with some of the other posters - find a reason to talk privately with instructors during office hours about succeeding in the program or career goals or things like that.

Pay attention to the conversation - if you seem to get along great, fantastic. If there is any sense of uncomfortabless, you don't want to stand out unless it's for your outstanding nursing skills down the line. The last thing you want is to become a target for some reason!

Overall? Just be yourself. I know it sounds trite, but you'll be spending so much time with your instructors, they'll get through to the real you no matter what. Good luck!

Know your stuff.. Study, learn, practice, etc.

Come to class/clinical well-prepared. Ask questions -- but not too many stupid ones that you would have known if you had done your homework. Asking a good question is a good thing. It shows you are thinking and trying to do a good job. However, asking questions that show you didn't read the assignment ahead of time is not. Neither is asking questions that are clearly challenging the authority or expertise of the instructor -- or questions that are obviously trying to "show off."

Get good grades. Do what is asked of you. Hand in things on time. Don't make problems.

My niece gave me some advice before I start school this Fall. She said to come to class prepared. This means read ahead, bring what you are supposed to bring, and show up on time. If you are allowed to eat in class don't bring anything that is in a noisy wrapper or crunchy when you chew it. If you consistently fail to do these things you will stand out to your teachers, but not in a good way.

She said while in clinicals volunteer to do procedures, draw blood, start IV, insert Foley, etc. She was a little bashful and would never volunteer for things. She graduated with never starting an IV or inserting a Foley and only drew blood once. The sad part is it is not really all that uncommon. Her first job as a new grad was in the ED at a large hospital. She said she was totally lost because she had not experienced those things in school.

I will give you some advice I learned while in Corpsman school. NOBODY cares if your husband's cousin's second wife's sister took a steroid and it cause her to grow excess facial hair. Too often people try to interject their own experiences while the teacher is trying to teach a subject. Just concentrate on learning what is being taught without adding distractions to the class.