A little freaked out about nursing school

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Hi guys,

I'm a first semester nursing student and I'm pretty stressed out about taking actual nursing courses. I'm starting the professional courses in the Spring and I'm clueless on how to tackle it. I'm taking all precautions to help me in nursing school. I'm not going to work 30+ hrs a week while taking classes and I will actually buy the books for all my classes. I'm very intimidated because of the nursing tests since people keep telling me about how they are not like any of the other test I have taken. I am very good at test when they are asking me about facts but I'm not sure how its going to work when I'm in nursing school. I'm very organized and timely but all the posts I read about nursing school is really freaking me out. Can you tell me what was your strategies while going through nursing school? Like study tips and test taking tips? I read a lot of posts and most of them end with either find the best answers. I'm not comfortable picking an answer when I am not at least 90% sure about it. I been through EMT school and I did fine but most of the things I learned in EMT was hands on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Hi Dude. Congratulations on getting into nursing school.

There really is no need to freak out. The exams are a bit different than what you may have gotten used to with your education thus far, it is true, but they are far from impossible. You will have moments of frustration and moments when you do far better than you thought you ever would. Critical thinking type questions, which are what your school should be preparing you for as this is what is used on NCLEX, utilize your ability to apply the knowledge you have gained. Your methodology for taking tests may change somewhat as you learn to tackle these types of questions.

My school built into the application and analysis level of questions gradually over the first two semesters. There are many books you can get that will both help you review the content you are studying along with get you used to NCLEX style questions. Saunders is one such book and there are many more.

I know excitement and anxiety can be very high when starting nursing school. Just keep in mind more people pass than fail and that many before you have been successful. You can too.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

Dude, don't freak yourself out. If you already have the EMT training, you have a flavor of what nursing is about. First semester will probably not be as intense as what follows, so you have time to get acclimated. People who keep up with the work including reading and reviewing notes and showing up to class each day generally do fine.

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Thanks for the encouragement, one of the reasons I'm freaking out is because of my friends found out she failed one of her classes and she had a 4.0 coming into the nursing program. I'm gonna check out those books you listed boss.

Thanks again

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Hi OP

I agree with bosslady. Buy the success series books. They are helpful. I just finished my first semester and the fundamentals success book helped me tremendously. I did bad on my first two exams but after incorporating the sucess book, my grades improved dramatically. Basically these books contain nclex questions with answers and rationales. They are divided into sections. For example the fundamental success is divided into hygiene, circulation, oxygenation, etc. So when you guys are learning about hygiene, you can practice nclex questions about that particular subject.

Also like not.done.yet said, buy saunders. There's a newer edition of this book but the older edition should be enough for nursing exams and it only costs about 4 bucks on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Saunders-Comprehensive-NCLEX-RN%C2%AE-Examination-Nclex-Rn/dp/141603708X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323799773&sr=1-3

make sure to read the first part of this book. It teaches you how to answer nclex style questions.

for example, always keep in mind ABC when answering nclex questions. Also safety, maslows heirachy, and when you answer psych questions, patient's needs come first.

If you have a smartphone, you can also download nclex apps. I have an ipod touch and i have a bunch of nclex apps on it. I practice them when i'm on my way to school, at work, or whenever i have free time. Make sure to read the rationales

really nursing questions feel like its 60% test taking skill, 40% knowledge because even though you know the answer, there's still a likelihood you can get the question wrong. You just have to pick the best answers. Good luck. It's good to be a little freak out than being overconfident.

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What apps have you found that help the most? I am also entering nursing school this Jan. 2012 and am a little freaked out. I'd like to start preparing if that's possible?

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Just be careful if you are mac user. CDs that come with those books don't work on mac.

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I didn't take the time to read the past posters so sorry if I am repeating here: No need to freak yourself out. I just finished my 1st semester. It WAS HARD. But it was doable. I have 2 young children (3 and just turned 2 last week) so I had to quit my job in order to still have time for them. I also have to travel during the week because then I can have a free babysitter and less drive time means more mommy time. I stay an hour away from home (but 45 min closer to school) during the week.

The test questions are different. Most of the time 3-4/4 are right. You need to figure out exactly WHAT the question is looking for (do this 1st, most important, etc.) I read each question, underlining the important things. Then I read all of the answers and cross out the ones that I know are wrong. Then I look at the others to determine the best choice. When it comes to cares for the patient, remember ABCs. You can do it, IF you put your mind to it. Are you going to feel comfortable and confident with every answer? NO WAY! Are you going to ace every test? Probably not... Every class? Probably not that either. Get every easy point possible... that means taking extra time on your homework to make sure you get every point possible. Go and talk to your instructors when need (and even before.) Ask classmates and students that are ahead of you. When you don't succeed, don't let it bring you down... figure out what you did wrong and change it. Good luck! :)

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Thank you so much. Your reply helped me let down a little bit. I guess I can only do one day at a time.

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while nursing, medicine, and emt-ness share some things, especially fact-based things like labs, anatomy, and some manipulative skills, they are not on a continuum; they each have their individual bases, philosophies, language, and (this is the most important in my opinion) ways of thinking. you are just barely beginning to learn the basis, philosophy, language, and way of thinking of nursing. it is not like anything you learned in emt school. the student you mentioned who got a 4.0 in her academic prereqs did fine with them because she spoke their language, but apparently she had a harder time picking up nursing.

the exams are on factual material, sure, but they are also aimed at assessing your progress on the other factors-- the nursing process, which is the outward manifestation of how nursing thinks. some people think it's all critical thinking, and that's certainly important, but in my opinion even that is part of the way the nursing process works-- you assess, then you think about your assessment, then you diagnose, and then you treat.

that's waay not familiar territory to most people who start nursing school, and it takes a focused effort on your part to learn it. but that's why you are in nursing school, presumably-- to learn to be /think like a nurse. never confuse what (tasks) nurses do with what nursing is.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
Hi guys,

I'm a first semester nursing student and I'm pretty stressed out about taking actual nursing courses. I'm starting the professional courses in the Spring and I'm clueless on how to tackle it. I'm taking all precautions to help me in nursing school. I'm not going to work 30+ hrs a week while taking classes and I will actually buy the books for all my classes.

I'm very intimidated because of the nursing tests since people keep telling me about how they are not like any of the other test I have taken. I am very good at test when they are asking me about facts but I'm not sure how its going to work when I'm in nursing school. I'm very organized and timely but all the posts I read about nursing school is really freaking me out.

Can you tell me what was your strategies while going through nursing school? Like study tips and test taking tips? I read a lot of posts and most of them end with either find the best answers. I'm not comfortable picking an answer when I am not at least 90% sure about it. I been through EMT school and I did fine but most of the things I learned in EMT was hands on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

you'll be fine. its normal to feel nervous at the start of some as new and exciting as this :)

the tests in nursing school are different. its not regurgitation, but application.

example:

normal test:

How many lpm do you flow through a nasal cannula.?

nursing test:

patient has shortness of breath and spo2 of 88 , what interventions can you do for them? select all that apply.

nursing is hands on also, but since you are in college you will have some theory(boring) along with it.

best advice i have for you to keep up and do well is #1 worry about yourself-- bc at this point in school you and your grades are all that matter not what someone is or isnt doing.

#2- make note cards of things you need to familiaarize yourself with, so if u know colace is a stool softner dont make a note card. but if u didnt know that metoprolol was a beta blocker. u might want to make note of it. little stuffs like this.

#3- use the resources available to you (ie the library , your instructors office hours, student success/learning center / other students who know what theyre doing)

you'll be ok :), just take a deep breath and relax :)

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