Tips to survive nursing school... I need your help!

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Hello everyone, I posted this in the student forum but wanted to get some advice from you guys as well!

I need your help! I am compiling a list of advice for incoming students to my nursing program and I wanted some input from this board. If you have to give one piece of advice on how to survive nursing school what would it be?

Thanks and I really appreciate your help!

If you can, and per the requirements in your state, even part time CNA jobs are very good for learning time management (which you do not get in school, since you don't have a full patient load). And, the people skills, doing personal care, and learning from the other CNAs and nurses is very helpful. I worked 40 hours on weekends (I was single, no kids), and it made a huge difference. :)

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To xtxrn: I work as a CNA and just finished my first Fundamentals class, so thanks for reminding readers that yes, being a CNA helps! I contributed quite a few stories & can easily relate when teachers are lecturing. Also, did you say you worked 40 hrs/week? Right now, I work PT, noc shift- two 12-hr shifts- I'm very scared entering fall, not knowing whether I can handle the work hours, plus w/ all the studying. I've been proactive though, talking to my fall teachers, buying my books/syllabus. I dont have kids, just a house payment. Any tips for PT workers like me? Thanks so much!! God bless

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Hello everyone, I posted this in the student forum but wanted to get some advice from you guys as well!

I need your help! I am compiling a list of advice for incoming students to my nursing program and I wanted some input from this board. If you have to give one piece of advice on how to survive nursing school what would it be?

Thanks and I really appreciate your help!

Same exact rules they told me my first day as a golf caddy:

1. Show up.

2. Keep up.

3. Shut up.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.

Whatever they throw at you, put up with it. Nursing school is a little like being in the military. I had classmates in school who dropped out because they thought the faculty was speaking to them a little too harshly or trying to belittle them. It's part of the program to see how you react to the stress. If you allow a little attitude to interfere with your dream, you wouldn't be able to cut it in a clinical setting. Just put up with it until you graduate.

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Accept that you will never know it all - and certainly it will not help to act like you do.

Accept that you will be stressed and fatiqued. This is how nursing school is, and how nursing is as well. Learn how to take care of yourself and DEFEND your free time from old friends and others who want to suck it up. It is called prioritization.

That is some good advice!!!

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Same exact rules they told me my first day as a golf caddy:

1. Show up.

2. Keep up.

3. Shut up.

LOL LOL LOL!!! Short ,simple and to the point!!! I will remember this!

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Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

Don't wait until the night before an exam to study. Read (if you have the syllabus) at least the first chapter for the first lecture before class. Don't assume that all instructors are "out to get you". Some may be (shame on them!), but for the most part they really do want you to succeed. However, they WILL put patient safety before your perceived need for a 4.0.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

This was started in the General Nursing forum several years ago. Moving it to the General Nursing student forum so more students can benefit from it.

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