Things You Know Now (And Wish You'd Known Then!)

Nursing Students General Students

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This is for every student and past student, from pre-nursing to those who have graduated. What are things that you learned along the way, even if your just now getting done with your first semester? What are things you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

I'm was a pre-nursing student, and I'm now going into my first semester as a full-fledged nursing student in just a few weeks. Things I've learned so far, that I wish I'd known in the beginning:

Ink-pens have legs! And they're fast little boogers too. The minute you turn your back, they're gone. And there's typically not one to be found, especially on the day of a test. As soon as the teacher hands you the test and says, "you may begin..." you go to grab your pen and poof, it's gone. What luck.

The Financial Aid nightmare. Every student goes thru it, even the seniors. If you are receiving financial aid, DO NOT WAIT until the week of the starting semester to go visit financial aid after filling out your FAFSA. Over 200 students were crammed into the waiting room, it was a 7 HOUR WAIT. As soon as you fill out your FAFSA for the upcoming semesters, go visit the financial aid office! Doing it months ahead of time beats doing it days ahead of time. For the 2012-2013 semester, I'm going to visit the financial aid office in just a couple months, as soon as I get my W-2 and do my taxes. It'll be much easier. :up:

Save yourself! Get a rolling backpack. I spent months lugging an insanely heavy backpack up and down stairs, going from class to class. I was stubborn because I had invested a good bit of money in such a nice new backpack, and I didn't want to invest in another one in the same semester. BUT, for this upcoming semester, I bought a new backpack... ON WHEELS. O-M-G. It's heaven. I'll never go back to a backpack without wheels. :heartbeat

I also learned a lot about people. I learned that they can be liars, gossipers, haters, biggots, and just plain full of hatred... but they'll smile to your face. I learned to do my best to weed out the good from the bad, to not include myself in the gossip, and to separate myself from the negative. Trust me, the drama is not worth it. Focus on your studies, surround yourself with positive people, and move on.

So, what have you learned so far?

Specializes in Neuro, Geriatrics, Progressive Care.

Printing is free in Guided Studies. (All of the powerpoints my little heart desires). Care plan, drug, and lab books can be checked out of the library. Never procrastinate. When doing your calculations write every step out so that when you look back over it to study you will not be like "How did I do that?" Read what your instructors tell you to read (BEFORE class!). Stay out of each others business/grades. Have a sense of humor. It keeps you young. Listen in class and only write the important stuff.

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Specializes in ICU.

1. Not all instructors are fair.

2. Not all students that want to be nurses are cut out to be nurses.

3. 75=RN. Coming in with a 4.0 does not mean you will graduate.

4. Don't get too invested in your first semester classmates. Chances are pretty good some will not make it to second semester.

5. Don't let those struggeling drag you into the ditch with them. You will have to cut some people lose in order to make it through the program.

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Time management and organization is of key importance! Study a little bit each day saves you from cramming the night before an exam. Get some sleep. Procrastination is the enemy. Enjoy what you are studying and learning or it'll be a long semester.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

What I've learned in my first two semesters:

1) In my program, 75= pass. That's all I focus on and other things are just gravy.

2) Know how you study. For me, this means by myself, with powerpoints on hand,

and the diagrams/charts nearby for reference. Never was in a study group, as

I find it distracting. I probably studied at most, 3-4 hours for each final.

3) Decide if you need to do your readings or not. I found it helpful in A & P,

not so much in Med/Surg, great for pharmacology.

4) I learned more in clinical the precious days I was there, than I ever

did in a skills lab. Always try to talk to and learn everything you

can from your instructor, the other nurses, the CNAs, because they

all know way more than you do.

5) Know if some of your classmates say they studied 40, 50, 60+ hrs/week, or some

other super high number, they're either not studying effectively,

or they're lying to you.

6) Some people are drama queens/kings and you're best off doing your own

thing and not making enemies.

7) Make a little time for other important things in your life. It will keep you sane and balanced.

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I've learned that textbooks are a huge sham. It's called Half.com and find one edition older than the book they are requiring. I have saved at least $500 since I realized it is the same book just without the fancy pictures/cover.

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Specializes in ICU.
What I've learned in my first two semesters:

1) In my program, 75= pass. That's all I focus on and other things are just gravy.

2) Know how you study. For me, this means by myself, with powerpoints on hand,

and the diagrams/charts nearby for reference. Never was in a study group, as

I find it distracting. I probably studied at most, 3-4 hours for each final.

3) Decide if you need to do your readings or not. I found it helpful in A & P,

not so much in Med/Surg, great for pharmacology.

4) I learned more in clinical the precious days I was there, than I ever

did in a skills lab. Always try to talk to and learn everything you

can from your instructor, the other nurses, the CNAs, because they

all know way more than you do.

5) Know if some of your classmates say they studied 40, 50, 60+ hrs/week, or some

other super high number, they're either not studying effectively,

or they're lying to you.

6) Some people are drama queens/kings and you're best off doing your own

thing and not making enemies.

7) Make a little time for other important things in your life. It will keep you sane and balanced.

I agree with everything you said but I would advise to be careful of #4, getting information from nurses, CNA's and such. Not because they will lie to you but because they will tell you how it is actually done, not how you will be tested on. In class you are learning the correct way, they way you will be tested on, not the real world way, the way it is actually done on the job.

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I learned that the most ugliest of shoes are generally the most comfortable :p

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Thank you for all your great advice!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

i have learned that nursing is the hardest thing i have ever done so far. i am getting ready to take my last 2 classes for 4th semester in 3 weeks and it has been a hard journey. i learned that i am a stronger person than i ever thought i was. i learned that you can meet some pretty great people but at the same time be stabbed in the back by others.

study groups are a huge help if you are able to put one together but make sure that you know the people and that they will all do their fair share of the work. all of the instructors talk to each other about each and every student so watch what you say and who you say it to. if you can work part-time or not at all it would be to your benefit (although i know that is not realistic for most people) if you have a space to call your own at home for studying that would be a big help so that you can go in there and just "lose yourself" in the world of nursing!!! i have a spare bedroom that we made into an office and i have note cards and charts that i have made plastered all over the walls as a way of helping me remember the mountain of material that we need to know!!!! make sure that when you take tests that you don't "read" into the question....just take it as it is and answer accordingly. and don't change your answers!!! i had a big problem with this and it is a hard habit to break.

good luck to you!!! :)

leesha

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I agree about "reading into the question". So many of us did that in my Fundamentals class and 9x out of 10, we got the question wrong.

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1. Do not buy the required texts at the bookstore, buy the older edition for $5 on Amazon, Barely anything has changed and depending on the program you may never open your book. For that matter wait 2 weeks before buying anything to make sure if it is really necessary. We bought all of this expensive software for our iphones when free software would have worked almost as well.

2. Skip printing Powerpoint lectures and lugging a 4" thick binder to class. Bring a laptop and type notes in Powerpoint directly.

3. If you want to work full time and go to school, night shift is where its at. Lots of study time on night shift.

4. Work as a tech while in school, the job market is super competitive and techs will have an advantage since you can network with hiring managers and possibly have a job waiting for you. Plus you gain invaluable experience and become much more comfortable working with patients.

5. Never stop doing NCLEX questions.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

your textbooks are often more than enough to get good grades in school. don't buy a million study guides, you may never use them!

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