Advice for New Nursing Students

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I am seven weeks from starting a 15 month accelerated BSN program am looking for any advice! What would you tell yourself in those early days of classes? What would you change?

People ask me all the time what I plan to specialize in. I haven't started classes yet, haven't been in the hospitals, so how can I know? I'm leaning toward ER/Trauma or maternity (which I feel most girls want)- but I want to leave all the doors open until I can get in there and see what the floors are really like.

So, ANY advice would be great!

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I would say definitely keep an open mind. You may go in thinking one area of nursing is for you then change your mind, or not but either is fine. :) If I were to start nursing school again then I would have made more of an effort to make friends and have more of a support network. That would have helped me so much! Also whatever experience you can get do it. You will find that you may have to adjust your lifestyle and study habits a bit. Don't worry that is normal. You will figure it out just be ready for a challenge, huge commitment, and very great reward at the end.

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I was blessed to finish my last semester of prereq's at the university I'll be doing nursing school! I have met so many great girls (and guys) already! Thank you for your advice!

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Get a lot of sleep now. Workout a lot. Prepare your mind and body for hard work. Never give up. Be prepared for occasional grades lower than you may have expected. Learn from and and move on. You will see people quitting all around you. You will see people blame teachers, school, life situation. Do not fall into that trap. Figure out what the instructor wants from you and do it. Figure out what the school wants from you and do it. ABSN is not like traditional college. They are giving you 21 hours a semester because you are an adult. Act like it and work hard and you will be good to go. Good luck!

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I will be finishing my 1st semester on Wednesday. Two words... No sleep.lol

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Words of advice: do not freak out over the small stuff, figure out your way to stay organized and stick to it. Do not change your study habits that work for you. I changed mine because,I wasn't putting as much time,in. as others and I actually did worse on my tests. If you find yourself struggling seek help. Do not wait until the end of classes. Seek clarification and DO NOT fall into the professor hating game your classmates will instigate. I am 11 months into my 15 month program. One semester to go and I will be done!! Also do not,compare yourself and your situation to others. I did this and it only instigated anger in me. I dropped that and stopped worrying about others. You can do it! It flies by and you will be done before you know it!!

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Specializes in ICU.

Leave yourself open on what you want to do right now. I thought I would hate the nursing home, but I have loved every second of it. I don't think I want to work there but it wasn't anything like I thought. I like it a lot. I love the older people and taking care of them. I feel good when I leave clinicals each week. Just relax now. I'm sure an accelerated program is much faster than what I am doing but we went pretty fast this semester. 4 weeks of fundamentals and lab. Then went directly into med.surg I where the lab was just 4 weeks also then off to clinicals. We had completed 7 credits in 8 weeks!! I was amazed. Now finishing up med/surg I lecture and clinical. It's been a rollercoaster.

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