Nervous for nursing school

AmyRN303, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2014

Congratulations! Time management is key, as you said. It's also very helpful to know your learning style early on. There are online quizzes that can help you narrow it down if you're not sure what style learner you are (auditory, visual, etc.) find out what is the best way for YOU to study and stick to it. I'm an older non-traditional student, but those suggestions apply to everyone. Oh, and ask questions when you're unsure of something. This goes for any class or clinical experience. Good luck, and congrats again!

RunBabyRN · Apr 6, 2014

Look into the student resource center at your university. Find out if they have a test taking strategy seminar or managing test anxiety seminar or something along those lines. Sometimes those kinds of things are available, and they can be very helpful. They often have seminars for time management and lots of other topics pertinent for college students, so stay involved with your school and keep yourself in the know.

Experiment and find what works for you. I've learned that reading while walking on the treadmill is more effective for me than reading sitting down. I can read longer and I retain more. Not everyone works that way. Try different things, and think outside the box. I also study better from a coffee shop or restaurant than I do at home. Some people get too distracted doing that. I get too distracted with the 952 chores that need to be done at home if I stay there. I love note cards, but they're not for everyone. Just keep trying different things, and go with it. Some people like study groups, but I find I prefer to go at my own pace, generally. Plus, all too often, people are more interested in chit chat than the topic at hand.

MountainBikeChick · Apr 6, 2014

I agree with others who say that you should figure out the best way to study! A lot of us in the nursing program have managed to get through pre-reqs without studying very hard, but nursing school is a whole other ball park and there is so much to learn in a short amount of time. (Example: my first test, 4 weeks into school, was based on over 1,000 pages, and that was just for one of my 6 classes.)

One thing I have noticed about my program is that the younger ones have really been struggling in the beginning. They've all graduated high school with most of their pre-reqs done (through some kind of caveat program at their school for dual enrollment) but since they have zero life experience, everything is so knew. Just waking up before noon is a real struggle for a lot of these girls, let alone doing a short 6 hour clinical! I'm only 22 but I've had a lot of work experience since I was 14 and have worked many 13 hour shifts on my feet (and now work a job that has 24 hour shifts) so 6 hours is nothing to me. Time management also seems to be a problem. A lot of them say they don't have time to do the readings, but we're in class two days a week and they don't have jobs, so what are they doing with the other 5 days? I manage to work full time most weeks, if not more, and still do all my readings, homework, etc. I guess I'm writing all this to say that it may be harder since you are younger, but as long as you realize these things, you'll be fine! Really focus in on growing as a person, learning the best way you study, and going with the flow of everything.

As for the test anxiety, definitely talk to someone about it! The advisors always have so many great ideas on how to help. And some NCLEX style exam tips from my teacher: airway/breathing is always most important. If they aren't breathing, they aren't doing anything else. For the questions that ask what is the most important thing you should do, treat it as if it were the last thing you could do for your patient before you left you left for the day. For example, your patient complains of shortness of breath. Do you a) raise head of bed b) administer oxygen c) call the doctor d) ask the patient why they are having trouble breathing The answer would be a. You may want to administer oxygen, but you would want to try other things first and will need a doctors order (unless it's an emergent situation), you may want to call the doctor but you have to try other things first, and if you just called the doctor and left you wouldn't be helping your patient. You may want to talk to the patient first, but that wouldn't be solving the problem. Again, if you asked the patient what was wrong and left, you wouldn't be helping them! But chances are, if you raised the head of the bed and left, they will most likely be able to breath better. Obviously you would still do more after that in real life, but for question purposes that would be the best answer. (And none of this may make sense to you since you haven't started the program, but this exact question was given as an example the first day of my program.)

Lastly, don't stress yourself out too much! Make sure you take time to enjoy the things you love. A day of sitting around and doing nothing every once in a while always helps. Good luck!

MedicalPartisan · Apr 6, 2014

First of all, CONGRATS! I wish I would've known sooner what I wanted to do. While I'm only 23 I often think that I could have been a nurse for four years now had I started early. Albeit not a healthy way to think, it would have been nice. I digress... You should be very proud to have gotten accepted into a competitive program and I commend you for going straight for the BSN; you'll need it. Nursing school will undoubtedly be challenging, stressful, and tiresome, but you will make it. You clearly are headed down the right path by pursuing admittance while still in high school and you seem driven so stay strong future RN!

leonard_huh, BSN, MSN, RN, APN · Apr 6, 2014

it all depends on the individual if they can manage there time and study when it needs to be done then you should be good. Try not to be overwhelmed by the stress of other students in class because that can take an effect on your learning. Just do what you can and remain clam. you will be good. congrats

WannabeNurse(: · Apr 13, 2014

Thank you all for your advice! I really appreciate the responses :up: