What separates sucessful nursing students from the rest

lovemykiddos · Aug 24, 2015

I'll say all of the above. I stay very organized, study consistently (without cramming). I also roll with changes and respect the rules and instructors that are in place. I'm doing well with all A's and 1 B in each of my 2 semesters so far.

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2015

I think one classic mistake some students make is assuming nursing school is like any other major. It's not. They have so far been able to skate by with cramming for exams, passing those exams, and then discarding that info after. Nursing does not allow for that kind of borderline commitment to your education. Keep on top of your reading/assignments at all times and stay organized.

NuGuyNurse2b · Aug 24, 2015

I learned it the hard way, you just gotta keep up with the herd. I took it for granted my second semester and dug a hole I almost couldn't dig out of. saying to myself "i'll catch up over the weekend" - well, one chapter behind became two chapters behind, which became three chapters and soon I found myself doing the cramming, and that does NOT work with Med Surg. Thank God for spring break, I took that time to refocus, catch up and was able to rejoin the herd.

MLSTTS2015 · Aug 24, 2015

honestly it is all gonna depend on you and what works best for you. you have to find it and stick with it. I worked alot through school so I was always a crammer I had to be. however I never missed a class and always payed attention. study groups worked for me and the Saunders nclex comprehensive book is amazing I used it all the way through nursing school and still look at it from time to time. Dont let students in the semesters above you scare you because what has been difficult for them may not be difficult for you. Nursing school is Hard very hard but it is what you make it. Dont let yourself get overly stressed take one week at a time and roll with the punches.

mrsboots87 · Aug 24, 2015

There isnt really any advice that will work for everyone. People kind of have to figure themselves out in nursing school. I am luck and just have a natural nack for learning the material. There are some that try as they might can't figure out how to answer the NCLEX stle questions. Some people, don't critically think well. And so on.

Basically, if someone is worried, then hit studying at every angle until they figure out what works best for them. Record lecture, take detailed notes, get an NCLEX book or two, read. Do everything until you figure out what is working and what isn't. The one solid thing every student can do is to study a lot. Whether it be reading, watching youtube, re listening to lecture, making flashcards. Whatever, just study. Even after a test, review the previous material periodically. Nursing school builds upon all previous material. And most instructors will not review old material. It is just expected that you retained the knowledge so cramming wont work.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2015

I think it's a sense of personal accountability that sets those who can apart from those who can't. The students who are able to go with it, know that everything ultimately is on them, and do what they need to do to be responsible students are the ones who succeed. That means being able to recognize your weaknesses and play to them. It means anticipating what is going to be hard and working harder to master it. It's also a lot of emotional maturity that is necessary.

Oh, an be FLEXIBLE.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 25, 2015

Everyone's kind of dancing around one important factor... intellectual horsepower. Not all nursing students are created equally. Some students are simply not hard-wired to become nurses, no matter how they try. OTOH, some can skate through with (seemingly) minimal effort. PP's are absolutely spot-on. There is no one-size-fits-all method. You need to discover what works for you and apply it consistently.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Aug 25, 2015

I'd say not getting caught up in drama is a key. No one is out to get you, no professor is that personally invested in making your life miserable, no assignments were given just to keep you awake all night trying to get them done, no test question was written by an idiot professor with the sole intent of keeping you from passing and living out your life long dream of being a nurse. Just put your head down and get it done. Many have survived before you, it's unlikely that your situation is truly that unique that you are the only person ever to deal with nursing school and _____ simultaneously. You are responsible for you. You are responsible for doing your assignments and your readings, or you risk being unprepared even if the professor didn't say "this will be on the test". You are responsible for your learning so that you can provide safe and competent care upon completion of your program. No one else will be with you ever minute of every shift for the rest of your career. Do the work, learn the information and realize that the real world isn't always what you want it to be, but it is what it is. Good luck.

chiromed0 · Aug 25, 2015

What separates successful nursing students from the rest? Graduating! Everybody learns differently. Figure out how YOU learn and it does change with age. Also, great students don't always equal great practitioners so I wouldn't fret so much about school, just graduate. You will forget A LOT. You will have to re-learn things over and over again. So just do the best you can b/c there are no "secrets". Plain studying and reading is what it all boils down to. Get out here in practice where the real learning takes place b/c textbook technique is hard to practice when the patient is covered in feces or vomit. Bottom line is 'every' nurse has something they focus on being real proficient at and NOBODY is proficient at everything. You will find your skill/knowledge after a while so don't think every RN out here remembers it all. Believe me, they don't.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Aug 26, 2015

Re-read HouTx 'intellectual horsepower' comment. No diss, but not everyone can become a nurse, no matter how much they want it. It is just plain HARD TO DO. And some students just don't have what it takes. Does that mean they are bad people, stupid, lazy, or somehow not as good as everyone else? HECK NO! It just means nursing is not for them.

sommer0515 · Aug 26, 2015

My advice is this.. No one gives a flip about your GPA and they won't post it on your degree!! I graduated from a tough ADN program at a community college where our day time enrollment went from 120 in first semester to 38 of us graduating at the end. Passing was 79.5 and we ALL clawed and scratched our way through it together! Learn that these strangers you have never met before will most likely become some of your closest friends while you're on this roller coaster together. Study together! Support each other! Laugh and cry together! Embrace those instructors who love what they do bc they are your biggest allies!! Take care of yourself and if you need to cry, scream, laugh (or all at the same time).. Do it!