STCC Nursing Fall 2009

Hello Everyone! I am new on this post, and read every ones responses. I also was excepted this fall. What a life changing event for all of us! About books, I bought 11 books and I am up to $230 bucks. I go back and fourth from amazon to half.com, or just type the name of the book on google, and go to the cheapest choice on the net. Shop, shop, shop....but DO NOT BUY IN THE BOOKSTORE unless you want to spend over a grand. I am hoping to meet someone so I can buddy up with them for the next two years to study with, share info about classes, input, blah, blah because I think its important. I don't know ANYONE in the class! Hope to meet some of you in September. About math for meds...the online coarse was terrible. I would rather sit in a class room. I bought math for meds by Anna Curran, its from the same makers as the online we all took. I plan on getting the other book that was recommended also. That will be my whole summer. I had no idea untill reading the post we had to read from "Nurses Diagnosis." I thought it plainly stated we are doing our readings in the fundementals book? Any input on that?

YourMyBud2, you will find that you will be spending a lot of time with your clinical classmates and can always try to develop a study group with them. Congrats on getting in, I hope everyone does well! As important as it is to be prepared for the upcoming semester, remember to enjoy the summer too!

Just my but, I went in to the program with a few friends, we had pre-req's together and I was so excited that I wasn't going to be "alone". Once school started though, I found that we drifted apart. We either didn't have class together (if you aren't in the same group, it makes studying difficult unless it is before an exam because the lectures aren't the same day by day), or we just were not on the same page on how we wanted to study/prepare for the nursing exams. With that said, I have met some great friends! I don't think anyone should worry about not knowing anyone come September...cause with 100+ students you will meet people! I think it also helps to not commit to any study groups early on, kind of browse (LOL) and find students that prepare like you. Some study groups turn into gab sessions, freak out sessions (OMG I don't get it please explain it to me), NCLEX questions (100's!), oral reviews, etc and you have to find the one that helps you the most.

Good luck guys!

ADVICE:
-Start your term paper ASAP. Once clinical starts you will have so much paperwork, studying to do, etc. that you will be happy you did! Also, follow the grading sheet on that term paper to a T, check off that you have included everything they ask you, do this and you will be fine.
-Try and get your lab book done early, even do a few weeks in advance (I did my entire lab book the first week of school) then you don't have to think about it and can spend more time studying)
-Pay attention during lecture. This sounds obvious but you would be surprised how many people talk or do other things while the professor is lecturing. MANY of the professors offer clues as to what will be on the exams, whether it is just repeating the same thing 3 times during lecture, or changing their tone of voice, or in rare instances saying "know this". The reading IS important (to fully understand the concept) BUT what they go over in lecture is what you will be tested on, so try not to miss a day.
-Stay organized. Whatever your method is. I used a three ring binder for each exam. You will get powerpoint handouts for each lecture and can easily three hole punch them.

I know there are a few others on here that have finished their first year, so hopefully they will chime in with some good stuff too.

A lot of this is repetitive of what tero stated. The term paper and clinical paperwork, as is, will take out a lot of your time from studying. Anything else is just additional work to worry about. You will find getting your lab manual and math for clinical out of the way those first couple of weeks before clinical will help a great deal! The last thing you want to worry about is completing your lab work before a exam. Some of the work can take awhile to do.

With the term paper, it does help to have all sections completed when you turn it in for peer review. You can get good insight. With that said, make sure you focus on fixing what you're peer reviewer suggests. If you question whether or not you really should change you paper to what your peer reviewer states, you should ask your faculty reader for help. Asking for clarification goes for anything you're unsure about, term paper or otherwise. You should aways be sure of what is expected of you.

For clinical paperwork, I have found what works for me. However, people have stated that writing it out helps them to learn the labs and medications I will stick to typing it out if I can. The copy/paste method for meds help cut down on time writing everything out. I still learn what the meds are for, and, try to memorize everything regarding the med that I will be administrating to my patient.

The lab manual I was speaking of will be given to you, it's just a packet of work to be done before lab each week. You will be using the Fundamentals and Taylor's clinical skills textbook to complete it.

There have been times I'd put in additional notes when reading into the handouts. However, it seems that everything you need for the exams is generally given to you through lecture and handouts.

The clinical professor I had second semester did not allow the copy and paste method for labs/meds

This was already said but get organized and stay organized. Find whatever works for you early on and stick with it. It's very easy to get overwhelmed with due dates and other things they add last minute. I had a hard time with it first semester but found things that work for me by the beginning of second semester. Enjoy your summer!!!!! Life will be a whirlwind once the semester starts!