WANTED: Nursing student tidbits of advice

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hey guys,

I start this fall in my nursing program and Im extremely anxious!!! Im looking for any advice that will help me in school. Whats the thing you can NOT live w/o during nursing school? What was the best study method for you? Index cards, recorders, palm pilots? What should I take to clinicals? I know you all were anxious when u started!!!

thanks guys

p.s. ....im hoping this will end up being a HUGE thread that other anxious students can read

Good grief..sorry for the typos.really..got to work on that:O/

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Re "wanted.tidbits of advise"

I am sorry to again post in here.But I am a bit baffled as to who to ask this question.I am a RETURNING nursing student..going from LPN to BSN..and the Hesi entrance exam..I know there are exits and entrance and and #1 and 4 ..and It is really confusing me as to what info to focus on.I am presently studying all my saved note cards .A visual a&p quick cram.Hesi evolve reach admission assessment review book, and Exam-cram NCLEX PN.by Wilda Rinehart Dianna Sloan and Clara Hurd( 2008 version).I have cliff notes for college algebra, chem, micro, path, 1 and 2, BIO, english and MEd math book.I also havebeen doing the NCLEX questions from the test prep review web site for NCLEX review...but it doesnt clarify if it is RN or LPN.someone mentioned a a comprehensiv:idea: review by Saunders...Can I ask if I am in a good place for this question or can you direct me to another site? Getting information overload syndrome today :o) *grin.Thanks so much.I appreciate you all

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I go to my orietnation on Monday from 9-5 and then Tuesday my classes start. 10-12pm Fundamentals

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.

Y'all in the pre-clinical areas enjoy it while you can. Starting August 24th, I have to be there by 6:30 am AT THE LATEST, and probably need to be there by about 6, so I don't have to rush through my machine checks. We will be there until at least 3:30 pm, and that's IF we don't have a late case. In about November, we will be expected to start taking at least one day a week of late call...which suits me just fine - just let me be on late call and don't make me be there at the buttcrack of dawn.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

Hey guys...i start aug 24th too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY, oreintation is aug 19-21. Heres my schedule

Monday: NUR 120 2:30-3:50

Tuesday: Clinicals 7am-1:30 pm

Wednesday: AnP Lec and lab 12:30-3:50

Thursday: NUR 100 8:30-10:20, NUR 110 10:30-11:20

Friday: Gen 101 (required academic success class) 10:30-12:20 every other week, BIO 111 12:30-1:50, NUR 120 2-3:20

I have english credits so I dont have to take that class ...wheew

Ill also be working 36 hrs at the hospital as a cna...but dont worry im a critical care aide so we arent really allowed to do ANYthing so ill have PLENTY of time to study.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

hahaha...i think im OBSESSED with starting NS. Even though all current NS keep telling me to enjoy this time b4 school starts I cant help but be anxious! Ive been searching to find the most comfy shoes. Ive also fine tuned my list of supplies that I will need for class and clinicals (thanks for all the tips guys). Ive got my bb curve, downloaded some apps, even already programmed my school schedule for the whole semester in it. Oh guys i meant to tell all u fellow bb users that google calendar allows u to sync your calendar with theirs. It is sooo cool because i also synced it with my husbands phone so he knows when im in class. Last thing is figuring out how to pay for the books....which are over 1000 (wth, lol)...thinkin ill ask family for some help ;)...besides my bday is aug 14th and xmass is dec 25 (lol)...ill just request large monetary gifts (or a check made out to the bookstore for 1000, ha).

ok...enough of my ramblings

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.
Re "wanted.tidbits of advise"

I am sorry to again post in here.But I am a bit baffled as to who to ask this question.I am a RETURNING nursing student..going from LPN to BSN..and the Hesi entrance exam..I know there are exits and entrance and and #1 and 4 ..and It is really confusing me as to what info to focus on.I am presently studying all my saved note cards .A visual a&p quick cram.Hesi evolve reach admission assessment review book, and Exam-cram NCLEX PN.by Wilda Rinehart Dianna Sloan and Clara Hurd( 2008 version).I have cliff notes for college algebra, chem, micro, path, 1 and 2, BIO, english and MEd math book.I also havebeen doing the NCLEX questions from the test prep review web site for NCLEX review...but it doesnt clarify if it is RN or LPN.someone mentioned a a comprehensiv:idea: review by Saunders...Can I ask if I am in a good place for this question or can you direct me to another site? Getting information overload syndrome today :o) *grin.Thanks so much.I appreciate you all

They have a forum on here for nclex and hesi questions...hope that helps

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I have 25 hours until Orientation............yikes! Where did vacation go?

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.

Mrskellrd - you'll be amazed at what all you WILL be allowed to do if you make it known you're interested and want to learn. I don't know what your hospital's policy is, but there are ways around it.

No, I didn't let the externs deliver actual patient care outside their scope, but I took them with me and gave them "pimp" questions. (e.g. Why do we use vaseline gauze on chest tube dressings, how long do we use it for, and what are the pitfalls of using it? What happens if the CT comes out? Draw me a picture and explain the mechanism of a tension pneumothorax to me. What do you do for one?)

Those kinds of things. I took our externs with me all shift and gave them as much OJT knowledge as possible. They helped with dressing changes, learned quick physical assessment (I'd do mine, then they'd do theirs and we'd talk about why they saw/heard what they did) and basically, I tried to start giving them a real taste of what this is like.

Every ICU has a few nurses who will teach you. Make yourself useful, learn how to help them, and make it known you want to learn. Ask them to help you integrate what you're currently learning in school to what you're seeing in patient care in the unit.

Good luck, and welcome to the profession. :)

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

My best advice:

Steer clear of the drama.

Never tell anyone your grades.

Never ask anyone what grade they got.

You are there for YOU and no one else.. Nursing school, unfortunately, can be high drama. Don't waste a second of your valuable time and talent on it. Study hard and be the best nurse you can be...

Best,

Diane, RN

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This has definetly been a big help. Thanks to everyone for sharing. The love and compassion of Nursing really shines through in these posts. I am glad to be a part of this wonderful profession. I will be attending my orientation for Nursing tomorrow July 7, and I am so excited and nervous at the same time. Not knowing what to expect may be the hardest thing for me. But, the posts in this forum has been a great insight into the program. :yeah:

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.
This has definetly been a big help. Thanks to everyone for sharing. The love and compassion of Nursing really shines through in these posts. I am glad to be a part of this wonderful profession. I will be attending my orientation for Nursing tomorrow July 7, and I am so excited and nervous at the same time. Not knowing what to expect may be the hardest thing for me. But, the posts in this forum has been a great insight into the program. :yeah:

You are so welcome! This thread has been a tremendous help to me as well. People on this site really care. Congrats and good luck in school. Be sure to let me know how ur first week treats u. Kelley

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