Any Words of Wisdom- Starting 1st Sem.of Nursing School

bluesky, BSN, RN · May 3, 2004

I would say chill out and roll with the punches. I never did too much textbook reading at all. If I had to do it all over again, I would shut up in class (nobody liked a girl who spoke up in class) and I would choose the toughest clinical instructor for Med/Surg.

bluesky, BSN, RN · May 3, 2004

Oh yeah, and I would definitely, DEFINITELY work a Summer Internship or part-time job at some point during school.

Just my .02.

SCmomof3, RN · May 4, 2004

Thanks to everyone and please keep the advice coming!!!

LauraLou · May 5, 2004

Don't get overwhelmed by the amount of work. Set aside some time every day to study, even if some days it is only 30 mins, and stick to it. Time management is so important, especially if you have children or work.

Nursing tests are unlike any other tests you have taken. You will rarely be asked a straight forward question. It is usually some scenario and you have to make a judgement based on the data provided and what you have learned. Often two answers are right, one is just more right.

Test question hints

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, in that order

Assess before you act

Remember Maslow's hierarchy

Use textbook answers, not what really happens in a hospital

Look for words like most, least, best in the question

Go to open lab and practice your skills, preferably with a friend. The more you practice, the less nervous you will be when the instructor is watching you with a stopwatch in one hand and a red pen in the other.

You will need a lot of emotional support, especially from fellow students. They are the ones who will understand how scary your first check off is and know what it feels like to drop a med on the floor in front of your instructor.

No one expects you for be Florence Nightengale your 1st day at clinical. Do the research on your pt so you can answer your instructors questions about their condition and meds. Be respectful of the nurses on the floor and remember they are not there to teach you, but if they will, be a sponge. If you do nothing more than smile, fill the water pitcher, straighten the sheets and give a bed bath, you have made a positive impact on your patient.

Remember, you can do anything for 16 weeks.

Good luck!

need2be · May 11, 2004

I think that says it all and is really looking at the big picture.

"You can do anything for sixteen weeks" I like that and I will post that in permanent marker on my nursing notebooks. Thanks

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · May 11, 2004

Buy an NCLEX book soon. Use it to review questions for whatever you are being taught & tested on. You will have an advantage in understanding that format ... you will also be able to hone in on what is important.
I wouldn't have thought about that, but it's a great idea. It makes sense b/c that is your ultimate test in the end. Thanks!

Energizer Bunny · May 11, 2004

Get 100% caffine for M-F and 100 proof whiskey for the weekend .. Good luck

:rotfl: This just made me laugh!

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · May 11, 2004

This is a great thread, so I just wanted to bump it up! :specs:

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · May 11, 2004

My advice? Make out your divorce settlement now, and don't be shocked at how much your kids changed while you were too busy in nursing school to look closely at them. No, just kidding.

Seriously though, it will seem like you are gone for days without seeing your family so just try to remember that it is only for the length of time that your school last and not forever like it seems. I hope that makes sense. You will have to miss things, but luckily most classes and clinicals are during the day so you won't miss too much evening events.

Get a BIG calendar that you can carry in your bookbag and mark on it in different color inks when tests are, when assignments are due and when clinicals and classes are. Also include work schedules if your working while going to school. That helped me cause I could look at a day at a glance and know what was due for that day just by the color ink I had written it in. Also if your calendar has a place to make lists, it made me feel good to make a list of my assignments and mark them off as I finished them.

Don't get behind when writing care plans and databases. Our instructors varied from settling for one page databases and one page care plans to wanting to see a minimum of 15 pages for just the database paper. Find out what your instructor wants and follow that to the letter. If you give them exactly what they are looking for then you'll be fine. Don't question why they need some piece of info, just provide it, no matter how stupid you think it is.

Realize that there are instructors that play favorites and grade you in clinicals based on how well they like you. These instructors will give you the minumum good grade they can get away with giving you. So if you know you did a great job in clinical and your instructor gives you a mediocure evaluation, don't let it upset you. In these cases ask your fellow students honestly how you did and compare notes with them. Maybe there are some students that are having the same problem. Don't waste time going to the head of the program to complain though, even as a group; nursing schools are desperate for instructors, clinical and classroom, so they will likely listen to you, but will do nothing about your complaints. (just my experience, may not be true everywhere).

Get a pocket drug reference that you can look at for basic, quick drug info during clinicals. It won't have everything about the drug, but it will tell you the generic name, brand name and what the drug is used for. This pocketguide also will often contain things like blood test values, ACLS protocols, and other helpful information that is nice to have on hand.

Get together in groups to study for tests. Shooting questions at each other is a great way to memorize the material.

Well, those are my suggestions. If I think of anymore, I will post them. Good luck next year!

Pam

STUDITIME · Jul 17, 2004

I've been reading this post and this is all helpful information. thanks to all of you. I will be starting in this fall also.

Paleobug · Jul 17, 2004

Thanks for the insights. I'm also starting an ADN program in the fall. I've been waiting for the books to come in so I can start studying early.

johnnrachel · Jul 17, 2004

My advice is simple, Keep reading these posts at allnurses. This is my support and has helped me more than anything. We are all here to help each other. When you have a problem post a thread. Thanks again to everyone for such a great support system. Hopefully I can return the favor again and again.