My Suggestions... for what they are worth

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Specializes in Oncology.

Hi There! I have officially made it through my first week of NS. I know some of you have yet to start, so I thought I'd share some tidbits that I've learned from the first week. Since all programs are different everything won't apply.

As for my specifics, I'm in a BSN program at a large university. I'm taking 5 classes this semester.

What I've learned this week (besides the book stuff)...

1. Organization is an absolute must. From the very first day. Immediately come up with a game plan. Here's what I did. I bought a notebook sized planner that has monthly calendars and daily calendars. I wrote all of my big assignments and tests on the monthly calendar. Next, I wrote which chapters are being covered on which dates on the monthly calendar. Then I painstakingly developed a study schedule for the first month and wrote it on the daily calendars. I know when I'm going to read certain chapters, study for certain tests and do certain assignments. I'm sure that things will come up and I'll have to move things around, but at least I know I have a game plan to get everything done. If I hadn't done this, I would already be so lost. Even after only the first week.

2. PDAs are WONDERFUL and I would highly recommend them. However, I was surprised to see that very few students have them. If you don't have one, don't feel like you'll be the only one.

3. I've read on here that rolling bookbags are the way to go. Probably true. But, that's another thing that most people (at least at my school) don't have. In fact, at my school, there's a certain stigma associated with rolling backpacks. I know it's silly, but if you are very sensitive about what people think about you and want to fit in more than you want to take care of your back, wait and see if other people have them. Most nursing students at my school are very young (another surprise) and that's probably the reason that they don't care as much about their backs yet. At my school, people tend to think that rolling backpacks = nerdy older student who hasn't been to school in awhile and doesn't know what is "cool" and "uncool." Like I said, I know it's silly, so please don't kill the messenger.

4. If you are an organization freak like I am, try to refrain from getting all of your notebooks organized with dividers and everything before class starts. I thought I had a great system in mind for my notebooks. Before the first class, I spent a ton on great dividers and labels and everything and I got my notebooks all ready to go. After my classes, I realized that there would have been much better ways to organize the notebooks based on the way each class is set up.

5. On the very first day, start scanning the class for someone you think would make a good lab partner and get to know them. If you're too shy, you could very well get stuck with the know-it-all or the negative student as a lab partner for the rest of the term. Yuck.

6. If you don't understand something, ask. Most of your fellow students probably don't understand either. I noticed that students would hesitate to ask questions even when the professor was going over very unclear instructions. When someone would finally ask for clarification, everyone else would admit that they were confused as well. On the other hand, don't be the student who asks questions just to hear yourself talk or try to make a good impression on the teacher. Just because the teacher asks if there are any questions, it doesn't mean that you have to ask one. Nothing is more annoying that having a student prolong the class by asking questions that can easily be found on the syllabus or that are individual and should be asked outside of class.

That's all I can think of right now. I'll post other tidbits as they pop up.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Excellent post! I, too, found I did not need a rolling backpack. Very few instructors required us to bring our textbooks to class.

I do love my PDA though :)

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I'm one of those older (32yrs) been out of school a while students with a rolling back pack. I just got it yesterday after lugging around 35lbs of nursing books. I don't care if it's not cool, back & neck pain isn't cool either! :coollook:

In my program, they drill it in your head, "Do not be late for clinical", 1 minute late=absent/no credit. Set your watch to the clinical clock.

Another thing I learned this week is to assess everything.

Got any tips about writing out the disease process papers? My first one is due next week.

My first week of core nursing classes has been challenging :uhoh3:

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Oh how funny!!

We "all" have rolling backpacks at my college. We're not all old either....the funny thing is that when we drag them behind us over the sidewalks across campus.....someone DAILY will hit a "larger than normal" crack in the sidewalk and then boom! down it goes.....it's so funny to watch. Yes, it's happened to me too. Plus the "click click"......"click click"......of them rolling over the cracks of the sidewalks...haha.

We have SO MANY HEAVY books plus our nurse kits, huge duffel bags....and we need to bring them too. But I'm taking 17 credits and don't have a choice.

Great advice on the organizational technique. I just completed my 2nd week...and you had some awesome advice.

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Specializes in Oncology.
I'm one of those older (32yrs) been out of school a while students with a rolling back pack. I just got it yesterday after lugging around 35lbs of nursing books. I don't care if it's not cool, back & neck pain isn't cool either! :coollook:

In my program, they drill it in your head, "Do not be late for clinical", 1 minute late=absent/no credit. Set your watch to the clinical clock.

Another thing I learned this week is to assess everything.

Got any tips about writing out the disease process papers? My first one is due next week.

My first week of core nursing classes has been challenging :uhoh3:

Hey - I too am an "older student" and I care much more about my back than how cool my backpack looks. I just wanted to warn people about the stigma attached.

Great point about being on time. Professors in my NS also tend to be way more strict than others about cell phones going off in class. I'm glad. That's just disrepectful.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Good point! Do NOT let your cell phone ring in a Nursing class. The instructors will NOT be happy.:nono:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

On my campus a rolling backpack doesn't mean you're a nerd, it means you're a nursing student... honestly. Everyone seems to be aware how many books we have to lug around (I don't go to lab or lecture without some reference materials) and virtually the whole class has them.

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Specializes in Hospice, Internal Medicine.

I don't know what "older" is, I'm 28 and use a rolling laptop bag. Only a few people had them the first couple of days. Now that we're in week two almost the whole class has one. We have a 350 page "module" that we have to bring to class everyday along with a 1000+ page book we always have to have with us. There's no way I could handle that much weight on my back. Most of us have the same bag, they were $30 at the Ross near my school.

I was also surprised that more students don't have PDAs. I think there's only 5 of us that do. That will probably change once we start clinicals next week and they see how useful they are.

I bought a big weekly scheduler for the first time. I always use the small one I carry in my purse. I wrote out my school and work schedule but have only used the thing twice. I find I'm better off making a to-do list of all the studying/homework I have to do and using my little book for my schedule and appointments. I never have enough time to get the to-do list done though!

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