How To Survive (and Thrive) In Nursing School

Are you struggling with nursing school? These handful of tips will help you change your day and your grades as you work your way into your career. Students General Students Video HowTo

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You are reading page 2 of How To Survive (and Thrive) In Nursing School

laramyy

61 Posts

This was fantastic! Thank you!

PacoUSA, BSN, RN

3,445 Posts

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I don't know how true that "C equals degree man, don't sweat it!" is today ... especially when the trend is having potential employers request transcripts sometimes. However, this was an excellent article, thank you! :) I am looking forward to seeing more updates!

Loving This

15 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics, med surg.

Thank you very much for this!! I will be saving this under my favorites and refering back to it frequently!!! Thanks for sharing... and easing my worries!! :yeah:

Loved this post!!! I finally finished all my prerequisites and begin Nursing school September 2011...this post was great!! I just got a job as a patient care tech on a med/surg unit and being that I have no prior patient care experience, I know this job will most likely be an eye opener! :eek: The part about you saying that the HR department LOVES seeing on your resume that you are going into nursing school HAS to be 100% correct. I have applied to this particular hospital about 3 times over the last few years with no call backs and this last time, I did put down that I was heading into nursing school. Wouldn't you know I got a call back within 2 days!!! :yeah: My interview lasted 2 hours and they showed me around the floor and met everyone I will be working with. I can't even tell you how excited I am to FINALLY get in a hospital setting and work with patients. I am even shadowing a friend of mine who is a nurse next week. So happy to see it's just all starting to come together after working towards this for a while now! :heartbeat

Once again, your post will be invaluable once I start to tackle the beast that is nursing school!

Specializes in General Surgery.

Wow, just... awesome! :yeah: I'm in my first semester of nursing school and I LOVE it. This is a great article for anyone considering going into nursing school. I especially relate to the first part where you touch on the culture of the profession, couldn't be any more true. I always encourage my classmates or whoever wants to go into nursing to get some type of job at a hospital even volunteering because you really get a sense of the inner workings of a hospital. Oh and you get the opportunity to schmooze :cool:

I definitely need to go get some NCLEX stuff. Although, we were required to buy this whole ATI kit (company that provides the TEAS test) which cost around $450 :eek: It has NCLEX style questions but I think I need to get something else to supplement cuz that's what it's about at the end of nursing school, passing boards and getting a job!

Again, great, GREAT article!

gavkei

2 Posts

You gave some practical tips for persons in or wanting to enter nursing school and should be commended for it. However, as a registered nurse one should be as professional as possible even in the modern eras. Therefore, all nurses should make an effort to learn to spell correctly and watch their language. One can be quite theatrical in comments and even make jokes without becoming lewd and vulgar. RN's are the leaders in the nursing arena so must be professional without being ancient and out of touch with the modern eras. For example, what I am saying is that if one is wearing scrubs it must compliment the figure, the tailored ones look real nice, therefore as trend setters, one would want to see us as efficient, caring, compassionate critical thinkers to be emulated.

It is also important to keeping reading and be up to date with treatment modalities and be knowledgeable through out the career so that patients can be cared for competently. Again thanks for sharing with the nursing students.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you for this posting. I actually saved it on my pc (and gave you props)! I was recently accepted to nursing school (I still can't believe it!). I will follow all of this tips through my years of school :-)

gavkei

2 Posts

Congratulations on being chosen to enter nursing school. The zeal you know feel will help to get you through the years. I had entered nursing school at age 18 when our then tutors were harsh and hard and did not seek to guide but rather punish than encourage. I am happy to know that 32 years later so much has changed especially with the advent of technology.

I am now a nurse educator/preceptor and am here to tell you that hard work pay off so just get a realistic time table going and try to do your assignments on time. Form a study group with serious positive persons that share your goals, be eager to learn by making yourself available in the clinical areas to enrich your learning, have a positive attitude and all will be well. If per chance you meet on a challenging situation, ask questions and do not react to nasty people because some persons do not know to be kind.Be enthusiastic and love your patients because even the difficult ones have fears. Since nursing school I continue to learn and grow to meet the needs of my clients and to help me to be an effective practitioner. God's guidance always.

SRL656

17 Posts

Great article! Thank you! I'm in my second quarter of nursing school, and I appreciate the words of wisdom!

newRNAllie

49 Posts

Thank you so much for writing that..and I agree with the comments as well. I would only add a couple of things. They're based on my experience: I graduated in 2009 - when many of the local hospitals weren't hiring new grads for $$ reasons - and just got my first nursing job, a year later, after a 6 month hiring process. I volunteered at a local clinic meanwhile, but it was still an agonizing year. Anyway...

1) I heard "C = degree" too, but it isn't always true. Two of the best hospitals in our area required a 3.5 cumulative GPA to even get an interview.

2) Some hospitals now will only hire BSNs, because they are trying for, or have, Magnet status. I already had a BA, so opted for an ADN, but in hindsight a BSN would have been better. Also, there are more programs that offer BSN to MN programs than RN to MN.

3) Last but not least, try to choose a nursing program that has an ombudsman or other student advocate. It's one of those things that you never think you'll need, but then when you do, they really help.

Good luck, everyone!

blogera

17 Posts

:yeah:i love your article 86toronado! all true, as if you were reading my mind! i did the exact same thing when i was in nursing school and i graduated last december 2010. i took nclex this morning, i hope to see the pass result friday! also, i'd like to add to always keep positive mental attitude (pma) in mind. pma comes in handy everyday for me although i have learned a great big deal on this while in nursing school :yeah:

mcRN2b

52 Posts

Hello there, I am happy to read your message. However, I have a different issue. I got my non-nursing courses out of the way. I got into Phi Theta Kappa and had good grades. I applied to the community college I had been attending and also to a diploma school. I chose the diploma school because of the higher NCLEX pass rates. Since I have started, my GPA was lower. First semester, I had a 2.5 GPA and I was dissapointed because I didn't make very good gueses and thought too hard through the questions. Also, I did not think of checking NCLEX books so soon. They did not advise us to do so that early. Now, I am working on Fundamentals of Nursing to get my grade up in the course yet, I am doing exceptionally well in Pharmacology. I am trying to stay optimistic and believe in myself because I feel discouraged that I did not get on the honor roll. I hear voices calling me stupid and saying things like I am not so smart. Can you or anybody out there help to encourage me? I just want to be an excellent nurse. I don't want to feel like I need to compete with other people for grades. People boast and brag and it gets on my nerves. HELP!!!!!!!