Advice for first semester?

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I just received my acceptance letter into my college's ADN program and I was wondering if any of you other Nursing Students had any advice?

Get a planner or an app or make lists. Or do all three.

When you're at clinical and your instructor or a nurse on the floor says "I need a student to . . ." run toward him or her with your hands waving above your head. You can walk if you want to. I am a shy person, but I have forced myself to become assertive in clinicals. If I don't speak up and say something, the nurse I am with usually ends up doing the task with me standing by watching. Not cool.

Realize that you probably won't make the grades you made in prereqs. At least, you won't make those grades without working twice as hard. But that's just my experience.

Don't let nursing school consume you. I am having a hard time with this one myself. It's very easy to burn out.

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Specializes in HIV, Psych, GI, Hepatology, Research.

I agree! Volunteer for everything possible in clinical. You won't always have a chance to do things while you are still in school. If you pass up an opportunity it may not come up,again.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Congrats on your acceptance into the wonderful world of nursing!! I have 3 weeks left in my 1st semester. My advice is to get your books and your study guide before your class starts and or as soon as they are available and start on your assignments. Our 1st competency had 12 chapters we had to read. That happened to be the competency with the least amount of chapters to read. You need to read, read, read and then reread. You can pretty much say good bye to a social life. I mean you can find some time here and there, but believe me your time would be better spent staying ahead on your reading. Make your drug cards from whatever drug is mentioned in your reading or in your clinicals. Make the cards for your lab values as well. Always use alternate resources. Don't chain yourself to only the info you are given in class. The net provides you with tons of resources that will help you. Just study hard and try not to get stressed out. I am still excited about being in the program and that has made it much easier for me. I know this is what I want to do. Good luck!!

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Thanks everyone for all of your awesome advice! :yes:

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