Tips for entering nursing school

[czerwodl121]

I am a 34 year old with my BS in health promotions (i got this degree when i was 22 keep in mind) entering nursing school in Jan. I am extremely nervous to start. I have a few months before I start the program and am afraid I will not be able to handle the stress because all I keep hearing is how much stress and anxiety everyone has during nursing school. Plus being out of school for a few months after completing all my prerequisites adds to my stress because I don't wanna fall out of school mode. I have a habit of psyching myself out before things even get started so does anyone know what the best route to prepare for nursing school would be? What are some helpful hints you can give me that may not make things as bad as everyone makes it out to be...Does anyone have anything positive to say about nursing school? lol maybe hearing the good and staying positive might help instead of hearing all the negatives.

[adamfrn]

I just graduated nursing school and all I can say is that it's gonna suck no matter how you prepare. Just relax and accept that it's gonna be rough but it's also going to be the most rewarding thing you've ever done! Good luck!

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

Don't let other people's comments freak you out. I honestly didn't find it as stressful as people made it out to be. Everyone has different experiences and their own areas of struggles throughout nursing school.

Stay organized and manage your time well. Keep up with your readings. Allow some free time - you need to relax every now and then between studying. Utilize YouTube (there are a lot of great videos for visual learners). Good luck!

[advsmuch08]

Organization is everything! For now, use your own ways of organizing notes, planning, and scheduling. Watch how others organize for classes and try their methods till you find what works best for you. If you don't already, it is helpful to have a mini office at home with a quiet work space and place to store your textbooks. Consider renting textbooks to save some money or checking out used book stores, especially near colleges. Perhaps most important is to have fun. Don't let nursing school totally consume you. Try new hobbies, catch up with friends, and get some sunshine. Best wishes!

[Purple_roses]

I'm just starting too, and some of the nursing students from previous years talked with us newbies. One guy went through his first year of the ADN program, had a family (and six kids!), and worked part time as well; he said that it was stressful, but that he always managed to find the time to play with his kiddos while maintaining his grades. He said if he can do that, we can manage nursing school too.

[BertG77]

The positive things about nursing school are those moments in clinicals when you connect with your patients and realize that you're helping people in an immediate and direct way. When a patient smiles at you and is put at ease by some words or intervention you've offered, is also one the best moments. It'll make all the anxiety and doubt about the next Pharm exam or paper due completely go away for a little while, and it's worth it.

[direw0lf, BSN]

Well I guess that you have to know what you want and do it based on that, remember why you want this, not what anyone tells you! I think college is hard. My non nursing major friends have calculus, mcats to prepare for, or student teaching, or whatever. Nursing school is hard too. But in the words of Tom Hanks from A league of their own, "If it was easy everybody would do it. It's the hard that makes it great."

Also I really like the book Illustrated Guide to the nclex. I used it in anatomy and phys and it'd be great to keep yourself in school mode and prepare for nursing school.