Advice for a newbie

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Specializes in Psych.

Hey guys and gals, but mostly from a male point of view, I'm about to start an accelerated BSN program in June 1st. What lessons did you learn the hard way in your first few months that could really help out a newbie? They say it's the small things that matter but I'm also looking for the big things as well. So if you could do over you first day, month, or even semester, what would you do or have done differently?

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

Find a good note taker and make friends.....best friends:paw:

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Specializes in addiction.

Find the best student and become her friend!

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

Invest in a digital voice recorder. Something I used in grad school, taking handwritten notes, you miss somethings and that is frustrating.

PLAN you life with a calendar and STICK to it. There is a lot of reading, so if you are in the bar/frat scene, forget it if you want to be successful. Try to make excellent grades in your BSN program. You are going to want to go onto to grad school eventually and they are becoming far more competitive. Take your GRE early, don't wait like I did and forget all your college basics.

Try to hook up with a few buddies, sometimes it helps to have a study group, but watch the "talkers" who like to socialize, rather than study.

Get a mentor! An RN who can answer your questions, offer advice and really mentor your progress, offer a net for your failures and just listen to your frustrations. Sometimes you just need to vent. :hrns&wlcm:

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