Advice for a new nursing student?

[lunardreams]

Hello everyone!

(Please forgive me if there have been previous posts similar to this one. I am new to this forum and love all the advice people give.)

I have recently been accepted into the nursing program at Brenau University and I am very eager to start in January. I was wondering if anyone had any advice they could give to a new nursing student. I want to be as successful as I can and learn as much as possible. Unfortunately, I do not have a job in the medical field nor do I have any friends or family I can ask advice from.

Thanks in advance!

[nguyency77, CNA]

Thank you for the all the great advice! I especially like the calendar one. Maybe I'll try that. :)

[tacomaster]

I agree with all of the previous posts as well. A few little other bullets I would add--

1. I bought this software called NCLEX 4000. You can make customized tests in subjects you are weak in and it gives you all the rationales as well so it's a good study tool. It is broken down by course such as med/surg, pediatrics, L&D, psych nursing, etc. It's a great tool

2. I don't buy textbooks because you don't make any money selling them back and they always change editions. I rent mine on bookrenter.com. It is extremely reasonable and they pay the shipping coming and going.

3. Nursing school takes a lot of time so you need to be wise with your time. If you don't have to, do not work during the program. The people that have failed in my program are the ones who decided to go be PCAs even though instructors suggested they didn't.

4. Have one or two people you are really close with that you can vent, study, and talk to. Nursing school is challenging so you need a classmate to depend on. Also, do not share your grades with everyone.

5. You can make study docs using google docs and have your class work on them together in real time. We do this and it helps with productivity and gives us more time to study in the long run.

[gatoraims RN]

*I think organization is the key. I write down all my due dates, tests, quizzes, clinicals, and any other meetings we have.

*Make friend(s), I find that when I vent to my non-nursing school friends they just do not get it, it is nice to talk out things you do not understand with someone in class, if you miss something they can catch you up, they are a great source when you are overwhellemed.

*Nclex book, I read my text book and then a few days before my exam I review the chapter in my Saunders book and take the quiz. If I do horrible on the quiz I review my notes and that area in my text book.

* Schedule time to study, make it an apointment.

* Know that you can do this. It is hard, it is demanding, but it is doable.