When I first started nursing school, people in my class were very resourceful. We looked up a lot of the information that was thrown at us. When I say "look up," I mean searching it online verbatim. There was no real credible information online then, and I think we really had to dig deeper. The most important resources we had then were former nurses, nurses who are in the workforce.Now, I am here to help you narrow down some of the ins and outs of nursing school. It really helps to know about what other people went through to make your own journey through nursing school worth it.Here are some of the things that I think is worth knowing before starting nursing school. Remember, this is just the beginning and you are building on all the knowledge that you will be learning from pre-nursing classes until your last block in nursing!Math BasicsYes, people's lives are dependent on our calculations specially if pediatrics is where you want to go. Don't panic! Knowing the basics in math such as multiplication, division, fractions, and canceling similar units as a beginner is the easiest go to when it comes to math. They have a term for it... its called Dimensional Analysis! Never miss a math equation on any of your nursing exams. Also, memorize basic conversions such as kilograms to pounds. Memorizing the basics helps a lot of nursing students get through blocks 1 to 4! Cement it! Retention is key!Now do not mistaken memorization versus critical thinking... We will tackle that in a different post!Medical JargonIn the beginning, you will definitely find yourself stuck in a lot of abbreviations you need to get used to hearing and the quicker you learn them the faster your comprehension will be when it comes to learning the world of nursing!Your instructors do not have time to stop and spoon feed every single term - there's just so much to learn in this field but don't be afraid to ask if a certain terminology or abbreviation does not make sense at all. Trust me, BIBA... took a while for me to figure that out since I work on the floor! BIBA means brought in by ambulance.Exams and SkillsNursing students' competency is tested two ways: skills and written exams. The written exams are weighted heavily versus the skills. Think of it this way, the written test involves critical thinking questions that involve knowing the ins and outs of the skills. So listen well and practice! Clean versus sterile technique is a good skill to learn at the very beginning! You'll understand better in practice... everything's better with practice. Invest the time and clock in those hours in the skills lab!Learning Skills and Building Blocks.What's the best way to study? I don't think there is one specific way to achieve a successful study session. So get this, I was so overwhelmed with the materials in front of me, I have index cards, hard bound books, highlighters, my laptop, pens and papers everywhere - I was not going anywhere until I started typing. I was just typing away the notes I wrote down in lectures in reference to powerpoints and instructor points. The process of typing the words I wrote down on paper helped me retain the information more than once and it takes me back to the lecture all over again.The main takeaway is that the process of taking the time to write notes however is best helps a lot with retaining the information. Retaining the information is key in nursing school! You will not only see one topic or idea once. You're building on it! 2 Likes About biobots I am a former BS Biology graduate and Supplemental Instructor before I started nursing school. I am currently working as a Resource Nurse and the owner of the website called TheNurseMentor.com 8 Posts Share this post