Some advice for a new Student Nurse!!!!

1southernstudent · May 3, 2011

Congrats!!!

One of the biggest factors for me has been organization. Get some good supplies.....you'll need to keep your notes for each class together, need to have a calendar to track assignments and test dates,and a tape recorder for lectures if they are allowed can also be a huge help (you can listen to them as you drive to and from school).

Get ready to work hard!!

ziggysgal,RN · May 3, 2011

First off, congratulations on getting into nursing school. What kind of program did you get into? LVN? ADN-RN?

Ssecond... based 100% on what I've seen of my 18-20yo classmates this year, I would suggest you stay focused. Commit to the fact that you'll have no social life for the duration of the program and you won't be disappointed when you have to decline invites to go out. When rare opportunities present themselves and you DO have time to go out without sacrificing study time, you'll enjoy it that much more.

Also, take the reading and assignments seriously. Start off strong grade-wise and you wont be so stressed at final exam time. A good deal of the younger people in my class are the ones currently stressing over a high # of points needed to pass. Read chapters a day or two before the class you'll cover them in... then again within a couple of days after class. If your chapters have review questions at the end, answer them and then anything you did not get correct, re-read those topics.

If you have study guide workbooks with any of your texts, do the corresponding chapter before class, even if it isn't an assignment. This reinforces the information you have already read.

Take your absences seriously. Everyone needs a mental health day occasionally, but don't skip school just because you can. If you're not there, you're not learning... and you never know what might happen that you'll NEED those absence days.

Try to sit in the front half of the class. There are fewer distractions the farther forward you are.

Turn off your cell phone during class. Young people find it difficult to ignore texts and such during class... just turn it off and leave it off until break time.

When you start clinical, it may be a little intimidating... but jump in and do anything and everything you can when the opportunity presents itself. The sooner you get over the fear that comes with a new environment, the sooner you can learn to apply those topics you're learning in class.

I hope this helps. Again, a lot of it is based on observation of the younger people in my own program. I love them to death, but the transition from high school to college (and nursing school) was much harder for them than the rest of the class.

JTODDRN · May 3, 2011

Congratulations!! As of today, I finished nursing school!!! It has been a good for both of us! The best advice I can give you is be organized, stay on top of assignments, don't procrastinate, and keep up with your reading, you will have a lot of it. Don't be scared, you will make wonderful friends who are all sitting in the same boat you are!! Just take it one day at a time and remember this, one of my instructors told us one time that when we get stressed out remember this "Dumber people than me have gone to nursing school and are now nurses" YOU CAN DO IT!!!!:)

Survivor 1957 · May 3, 2011

congrats!!!
one of the biggest factors for me has been organization. get some good supplies.....you'll need to keep your notes for each class together, need to have a calendar to track assignments and test dates,and a tape recorder for lectures if they are allowed can also be a huge help (you can listen to them as you drive to and from school).
get ready to work hard!!

i totally agree, and with 1southernstudent i would like to add don't miss a class. put your life on hold for next few years. school is "all" that matters right now. keep a calendar, ms outlook works very well for me, schedule everything. and do not lose track of any assignments. grades determine whether you are in or out. get to know your professors and what they expect, and remember they are always right! i use my laptop computer for everything, including recording every lecture. classmates can save you gluteus if you get in a bind. oh and one last piece of advice, hormones are you enemy, keep them in check. wisdom is expensive, and i have a lot of it. signed: old nursing student, almost.

mkhoaja · May 3, 2011

Congartulations on getting in.

The best advice I received was from my foundations teacher, when she said to mass email all your family and friends, and tell them that your taking a vacation for 2 years and not to contact you directly, you will contact them LOL. Sadly this is a true statement because you will be too occupied with school work, and the days off you have will be used to recover and rest.

Having said that, all of the high school graduates in my program are not there anymore because they were unwilling to make that sacrifice and commitment. Just remember, 2 years of sacrifice will equal a lifetime of reward. Sounds like a good trade off to me. Best of luck to you.

PatMac10,RN, RN · May 3, 2011

I was accepted into a A.D.N program ziggyGal! Thanks so much for you guys advice!

commonsense · May 4, 2011

Everyone is stating the main point. Life as you know it is over for the next two years, if you can't make that sacrifice it will be that much tougher to get through school. Best of luck to you

Turd Ferguson · May 4, 2011

Congratulations!

Here are a few quick bullet points from my experience:

1- Get organized

2- Do NOT get behind! It is a ton of work and time in clinicals- you are going to be tired, intimidated, confused, overwhelmed, and frustrated, but you've got to stay on top of things

3- Ask questions

4- NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK- this will make your job search a million times easier when you graduate

5- When (not if) you feel like it is too much, too hard, or not worth it- remember that every single nurse has gone through the exact same thing to get where they are today

PS- If you have facebook/myspace/twitter etc... be hypervigilant about what you post and what others post about you- they will see it!

meltnpointofwax · May 4, 2011

Ssecond... based 100% on what I've seen of my 18-20yo classmates this year, I would suggest you stay focused. Commit to the fact that you'll have no social life for the duration of the program and you won't be disappointed when you have to decline invites to go out.

Congratulations!! :yeah:

But don't let the "no social life" thing scare you. Everyone said this to me too, but everyone's different. Just know that it is possible to work, maintain relationships, go out, and still get A's & B's and still have a really good school experience. If you stay organized and keep a good schedule, it will all be possible :)

ziggysgal,RN · May 4, 2011

Congratulations!!
But don't let the "no social life" thing scare you. Everyone said this to me too, but everyone's different. Just know that it is possible to work, maintain relationships, go out, and still get A's & B's and still have a really good school experience. If you stay organized and keep a good schedule, it will all be possible :)

Possible, yes... the 'norm'? No.

The majority of high school programs these days are NOTHING like college, and do not adequately prepare students with the appropriate study skills.

And for what it's worth, I work an average of 30 hours a week and tend a family in addition to my nursing school experience. I consider my younger classmates at a distinct advantage when they talk about living with Mom and Dad and having no kids. However, the majority of the 18-20 year old students (in my small program) try to maintain a highly social life and then struggle with exams because they're used to the way it worked in high school.

Yes, everyone is different...

nurse.sandi · May 4, 2011

Congratulations. You will eat, sleep, and live nursing. Best of luck.