Anything you would do differently if you were starting nursing school again?

[linzjane88]

Hello there!

I start the nursing program in January and wanted to ask y'all if there was anything you would do differently, study harder, or just plain go about differently if you were preparing to start the nursing program again.Since I only have one pre-req to complete before I start the program I was thinking about getting a head start on some reading before January comes around. I guess I just don't know where to start? Maybe parts of A & P (hormones, cranial nerves, etc) to really get down?

A little background on me: I have an awesome hubby and a sometimes awesome 3 year old:lol2:. I work on the OB floor at our local hospital as a Unit Secretary (love love LOVE my job...and the babies :redpinkhe ). While in school we are staying in the MIL apartment at my parents rent free. Gotta love that, right?!

Needless to say I have a reletively stress-free setup until the start of nursing school and wanted some tips from people who have been there/done that. I don't want to waste the next 6 months :)

[cogath]

Nothing as of yet. The only thing I'd do was probably try harder to get a job in a hospital as a tech or aide so that I'd have an "in" when I begin looking for jobs, but as is I have an internship at the hospital I'd like to work at.

My advice is to take risks and utilize all opportunities. There are thousands of nursing students who have much better qualifications then you. How are you going to make yourself stand out? Follow your passions, don't let anything slip by no matter how hard or difficult it may seem. Keep a very positive atttitude about everything and don't let the complainers get to you (and trust me, they will come in droves). Be a leader in class and clinicals. Don't be afraid to worker harder, speak up, ask questions, ask for and accept challenges, take initiative, and take responsibility for your learning. In clinical help others and never say no to a request for help even if its from an aide; respect everyone no matter what their job is, and ask for as many opportunities as you can get. Stay positive and energized no matter how tired your are. Remember these 2 years are a time for you to shine.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I would have become a CNA first or an EMT.

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Toss bleach in my eyes.

It would be less painful than dealing with the nonsense that goes on in nursing these days.

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I would have used my RN NCLEX book earlier in med/surg and received my A, like I deserve!

You'll still be a nurse, regardless or not of getting your 'deserved' A.

I'm sure you'll pass your classes with no problem.

Good luck to you.

[RNDreamer]

I would have enjoyed life more. It hurt badly to work hard in school and watch slackers and classmates who barely went to class get jobs before me.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

What I would have done differently is ignored my instructors and started applying for jobs before I graduated. I also would have somehow found a way to work, even part-time, as a CNA or tech...just as much for the experience as well as for the networking.

[AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm going into my 4th semester of a 2-yr program and only got into the habit of READING and COMPREHENDING the book assignments as they came. I would gloss over them previously and get Bs on my tests (Bs in the classes), but once I finally applied myself to the reading I actually got As.

I would have also stayed far from the student nurse association. Too much drama that directed too much of my attention to people who don't deserve my energy.

Also, I should have flown lower under the radar. (See preceding tip.)

[GiantJerk]

What I would have done differently is ignored my instructors and started applying for jobs before I graduated. I also would have somehow found a way to work, even part-time, as a CNA or tech...just as much for the experience as well as for the networking.

Your instructors told you not to work? Ours recommended against it for the first 2 semesters but then we were encouraged to work as nurse techs. Working made it tough though as it took away from study time.

[peas&carrots]

I kept to myself and was friendly with absolutely everyone. I never became a part of a clique and didn't hang out with anyone from school on my off time. It was the smartest decision I ever made. The one time someone tried to pull me into drama I shut it down and said I wasn't getting in the middle. Don't make nursing school your life! I study a couple of hours for each test and that is it. I put most of my time enjoying my time off. I wouldn't do it any other way.

Don't read anything until you start school. Relax and have fun until then. They will teach you exactly what you need to know. Actually,they will teach it to you over and over again. :S

[linzjane88]

I would have become a CNA first or an EMT.

I have my CNA license (its required for acceptance into the program) but have not worked as one. About the time I got my license (1.5 yrs ago) I applied for a few different jobs, including Unit Secretary on OB. I have loved my department, shift, and the people SOOO much I have not really wanted to rock the boat with a department change. I am part time (48 hrs a paycheck) and get six consecutive days off every pay period. Its AWESOME for homework :)

I have been trying to get a Tech position on our floor, but those openings are few and very far between!

[butterfly134]

I still have aaages to go in nursing school, but next semester I plan on getting less stressed out and nervous when there is no need to be :) Nursing school is soo much fun and Im so glad Im in it :) :)

[survrgrl08]

I would definitely go ahead and get your nurse assistant certification. This helps you with skills and actually caring for patients, very different from unit secretary. At my hospital, they have CSTs which are unit secretaries and CNA combined and they make more money than either. Also, I agree that study groups they definitely help. Also, think about taking some courses that could opt you out of some of the courses required for your nursing program. Many people that I know were able to opt out of our nutrition and development classes because they had taken similar classes before. This could tremendously decrease your load and help you focus on your more important classes such as med-surg. It seems that you like your unit a lot so that will definitely get your foot in the door. One huge regret of mine is not getting an externship in an ICU. I feel this hurt me when I was looking for positions in ICU upon graduation. Also, try getting an externship during your nursing program. It was a great help to me and you get paid for it! As for reading that's great that you do it, but I felt that I got all the content necessary from lecture. Hope this helps!! :)

Newly Graduated BSN Student

HI!

I will be retaking my ADN program again this fall! Actually I am very excited to go back into it honestly. After much reflection and taking care of personal family matters, I am ready to tackle school again. I know what I can and cannot control and this to me was the biggest obsticle in my way of succeeding.

I am going into Nursing because I want to give back to others. I was diagnosed with BC in 2006 at the age of 29 and had the entire Oncology works.... What is interesting about this is that I have been on the patient side of things an dwas going by that experience to get me through school. I found that my program and others around, do not teach those valuable skills of one on one care. I took a job this summer working homecare and I LOVE IT!!! :heartbeat

I have learned so much from being one on one with a client that I know this knowledge is going to help me in the long run. I whole heartedly suggest anyone going into Nursing, get their CNA or work home health or something along those lines. Truly at this point I am practicing Nursing, just not with a RN at the end of my name!

Good Luck!