First day of nursing school.....overwhelmed!!!

collegegurl_2003 · Jan 18, 2005

You can do it!!! I remember my first day and I was overwhelmed too..I was even overwhelmed this semester!..Just give your self some time to get settled down and get into the swing of things. Once you get used to the routine the stuff wont seem so overwhelming. As for the reading it helps. Everyone is different in how they learn. Some people can just listen to the teacher and some have to read the material. Find a style that is right for you and stick with it. Also once you take the first test you will know the format of the tests and you can study better. My test scores got better and better each time...GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 18, 2005

Last week I was totally overwhelmed myself (1st week of class). I couldn't believe that in just 1 class I had what seemed like 500 pages of reading....then I had another class.....then another class.....it just kept adding up.

This week is better....I got myself organized....and I just did what needed to be done and you know what....most of it's done and I feel really good about it!!

Keep your chin up, remember you can do this and take one day at a time.

Good luck!!!

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2005

Don't stress yourself out over the reading. There's a way to read this stuff and it isn't word for word. Some may do that but for the life of me, I don't know how they can still see.

What I do is look at the objectives in the syllabus and preview the chapter meaning I first read all the headings. Then I read the first and last sentence in each paragraph. If something is particularly relevant, I'll read the whole thing. I'll also read the information in the boxes. Sometimes, the information in the boxes is all I'll read. Sometimes I don't read at all from the text book but use other more succinct resources. And sometimes I just use my notes and good old common sense.

Once you've had your first test, you'll know better how to do the readings.

This is how I handled first year. It worked for me.

Hope this helps.

Ginyer · Jan 18, 2005

Our first day of school was Jan 4th and we just had our first test yesterday on 12 chapters. If your syllabus has objectives in it definately look at those. It's a lot of reading but you'll be fine...no way to read chapters word for word. After this first test there won't be so many chapters per test. First test was 10 times easier than I was expecting. For us the review questions at the end of each chapter read almost exactly the same as the test questions...same format. You'll do great...everyone freaks the first week but you'll get yourself organized and will be fine...good luck!

Ginyer

ManEnough · Jan 18, 2005

I had a study group during nursing school and the 5 of us consistently scored highest in the class. And the dirty little secret we never let out.. not a single one of us read the assigned material!

I did not miss a single lecture in all of nursing school. I took good notes and when something didn't make sense, I looked it up. I never sat down and did three hours of reading at a time. I suppose for some that might work but for me I wouldn't retain a single word.

Don't let the volume of reading overwhelm you. I can assure you that you can be successful in nursing school without doing all the required reading. (Just don't tell everyone.. they may hate you). :coollook:

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 18, 2005

Get to know some upperclassmen. Sometimes, they are your best source for tips on getting through the program as they have recently taken the courses you are taking now.

As another poster has suggested ... The trick is to identify the sections of the book that are most important and focus most heavily on those sections. Learn to skim the other stuff ... identify key points ... etc. without trying to memorize it all.

llg

wv_nurse 2003 · Jan 18, 2005

Best advise: take one day at a time.

It does no good to worry about all that has to be done and how can I get it all done.....

One step, one day, (one hour if need be!) at a time!

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2005

You have gotten some good advice so far. You will eventually learn what classes you need to read for and which you don't need to read for. I strongly agree about finding people a track ahead of you. I have friends a track ahead of me and they have given me all of their old tests and study materials. The tests aren't the same, but it gives you an idea of the depth of questions.

Personally, when I had my first quarter at school I was completely overwhelemed, I thought that there was no way I was going to be able to do it. Here I am 5 quarters later doing just fine. Take it one day, one subject, one lecture at a time.

MarcyRN3385 · Jan 19, 2005

Oh thank you, thank you everyone!!! You have no idea how much better you all just made me feel!! Especially about the reading. I know for a fact that not reading everything is the best for me because that's what I did in all my other classes (pre-reqs) except the ones that I absolutely had to read for (my soc class I had to because our instructor didn't lecture from the book). I've been reading so much these last couple of days and feel like I'm getting no where and I just read and read until my head is spliting and I can no longer absorb another morsel of information. Thank you so much everyone. I'll be able to sit down and actually relax tonight. I figure I deserve it. I'll start reviewing all of the chapter's tomorrow. Thanks!!!

MistyLou · Jan 19, 2005

ooops double posted!

MistyLou · Jan 19, 2005

Another nonreader here, and I do well in my nursing classes. The only reading I absolutely do is for our lab. We have/had quizzes every lab. We're done with them now. YIPPEEE!!! If there is something I'm not understanding, I will refer to my textbooks, but not very often.

Good luck! You can do it. First quarter is extremely awkward, and you figure things out about a week before it's over. If that's how you're feeling, you're headed in the right direction. Just prioritize and make yourself a daily/weekly to do lists. It's the only way I get by. I take each day, one at a time.