Tips for Surviving the 1st Semester of Nursing School

[ArrowRN]

I can't believe I made it through finals week and my first semester of nursing school is done. I was totally exhausted with several days of 3 hours of sleep and 5 straight exams. Anyways I'm like a straight B student, that's not bad considering I have a family and lots of distractions at home...for me that not where I usually am, so I wanted to offer up some tips on how to survive the first semester of nursing school.

1. READ your books.

This is probably the most annoying thing especially for those like me who learn visually or auditory, so I ended up having to rewrite my notes ( because highlighting does not work for me), and reading out loud.

2. Buy an NCLEX book and start using it now!

Some might not like this idea, but nursing questions suck because all the answers are viable and getting an NCLEX book in your first semester will help you get past the shock phase of those crazy critical thinking questions for those who are more fact-based learners like myself.

3. Be outspoken.

I think it's no secret by now that almost all nursing instructors highly favor students who are extroverts and who talk a lot. Being an introvert did not help me out much. My clinical instructors said I'm too shy to be a nurse when I really have no problem talking in front crowds, I'm just quiet and that's how God made me. If you are quiet like me, make it a point to be extra loud and outspoken especially to your clinical instructor and always volunteer to be the first to try new skills...just trust me on this.

4. Get a good calendar.

Be it an online calendar or old fashioned one, it is needed cause you won't be able to remember all the dates and commitment you have for assignment deadlines.

5. Start projects early.

Go into each class schedule on the first day of class and find all your big papers and start drafting them. Do a little each week so you won't be overwhelmed especially with the time-consuming task of finding evidence-based research.

6. Nursing students Don't get sick.

Ok apparently nursing students are not allowed to get sick, I had a long sick weekend and missed a few assignment deadlines one week and missed 1 day of class for being sick...next thing I'm being called into the nursing office as they question my motives for being a nurse. Anyways...as long as you not in a casket...drag yourself to school, it's better for them to send you home than to call in sick.

7. Say goodbye to life as you know it.

The boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, dog, cat and pet rats will need to understand that you are in nursing school. This means you basically don't have a life and won't be seeing much of them...ok they won't understand but they will try to. Just be patient with the transition of the school life, it is not easy and many relationships do not survive this test.

Finally good luck to those who will be entering their first semester in summer and Fall. I know it's an exciting time. Got some tips of your own? Please add them to this post, I need all the help I can get as I move into semester 2.

Get youtextbookok early and start reading

[igotaxed]

Love the post! I'm only in prereqs, but I'm mentally preparing for the wild ride that is nursing school!

[brujacakes]

I am in my third semester of nursing school, graduating in May.

My tidbits of advice:

Do a little bit ALL the time, cramming does not work, too much info. to try and cram it in last minute.

Ace the easy stuff: professionalism points for punctuality, turning in assignments on time, uniform rules followed to a "T". Those few points might make you or brake you if your grade is borderline at the end of the semester.

Treat clinicals as if they were a job interview, do as much as you can, stay busy, ask questions, listen, be interested. The only people who have problems in clinicals are ones who try to "get away" with doing very little, or try & hide all day.

Surround yourself with positive influences, classmates doing well, classmates with a good attitude. It will help by osmosis ;-)

Focus on the concepts you do not understand and nail them, ex...ABG's, EKG's, Med Math. You will see them over & over again, might as well get it the first time and not let them haunt you.

Google is your best friend. Terms you do not know, nursing careplans, Tutorials on concepts u donot understand, just Google it.

Good luck & you can do it. Many people have and many more will.

:-)

[hazel30, BSN, RN]

I'm starting my first semester on Monday. These are awesome tips, thank you!

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Surround yourself with positive influences, classmates doing well, classmates with a good attitude. It will help by osmosis ;-)

Learning by osmosis? lol There's a new concept. Great advice. I tried once to literally absorb my textbooks by balancing it on my head...it did not work, just ended up with a headache

[boricuarn23]

Thank you for the post. I will be starting my clinical sequence in the Spring. I am currently taking nursing courses now and yes the exams are very different. Health Assessment definitely opened my eyes to the life of a nursing student. I am now more prepared because i am taking my pre reqs/first semester nursing classes already. Good luck to everyone

[MyOwnBlueSky]

Ok people... This is seriously a great topic and I love all the different viewpoints of advice!! Thank you!

I start my BSN program in August, am a non traditional student with a hubby and 2 young children.

[sunny3443, MSN, RN]

Thank you for sharing :) Much appreciated!

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Wow guys, this post is still alive? lol. Thanks for all the comments. I'm now a few months from graduating - what a journey! Keep the ideas coming for new students...soon I'll be reading tips to pass the NCLEX.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Ok people... This is seriously a great topic and I love all the different viewpoints of advice!! Thank you!

I start my BSN program in August, am a non traditional student with a hubby and 2 young children.

Well you are in the same boat as me. I'm married with 2 kids. Since I first wrote this article I could tell you that time management and procrastination has been my greatest challenge. You spend all your time studying and the family hates you...You spend all your time with the family and you fail tests. Both have happened to me and neither are good options.

I've suggested before that persons with family find a separate location, maybe create a home office space to study that is away from the family and they got to know once you in there not to be disturbed. It will be challenging because they will always disturb you..I know lol. But hey, I've made it this far. I hope you got a strong supportive hubby. Good luck in August.

[Nurse2B2016]

Loving this thread. I start the nursing program in August. Jotting down some awesome tips!

[collegegirlRN]

This is an awesome thread! I start my program in August and all this advice is great. Still a little nervous since I know this will be the hardest thing I will ever do. But I know with hard work and following these tips we can all get through it :).

[Amyschmamey]

I'm starting my BSN program in the fall. Reading this thread made my stomach hurt, ha. This is so helpful, though. I have a tendency to be introverted and put myself in the background in new social and environmental situations, so mentally preparing myself now to not do that is going to be helpful. I also have a husband and three children. I don't think they, or I, have an accurate idea of how much nursing school is going to affect us all. Thanks for the tips.