What helped you in your first year / semester of nursing school?

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I start my first semester this fall woo! So excited for this, I was just wondering in general what had helped you your first semester? What did you expect? what you didnt expect? Any advice or tips? Did you have fun or just any general discussion about your first semester. :D

I wouldn't say nursing school is "hard." It's very time consuming, however.

I completely agree. There is nothing difficult about the material in nursing school, but there is tons of busy work. You will also be expected by your nursing faculty to jump through hoops to prove how much you "want" it. By my fourth semester, the general consensus among my class was that we didn't even care anymore if we passed, we were just so ready for it to be over.

If you haven't taken a medical terminology class yet, get a book and learn it (hypo means low/slow; ectomy means surgical removal; etc.). If you have taken one, review it. If you've had pharm and dose calc review that too. Also learn lab values now and don't forget them. This will also be very important for the NCLEX.

Set aside a specific time to study every day or every other day and study. When that time is up, stop studying and don't think about school at all.

Write everything that is expected of you down. What clinical site you have to be at and what time (these will change frequently throughout the semester in many programs). Date and time your clinical paperwork is due. You will have so many things to do each week that you will forget if you don't write it down.

Specializes in NICU.

1. Ask questions. They are there to teach you.

2. Call ALL your instructors by either Mrs., Professor, or Dr. You give them respect and they will give you respect.

3. If you need to talk to an instructor, email or call them to make an appointment.

4. Avoid arguing with the instructor. Even if you think something is unfair. Let the other students be the ones to get on the bad side of the teacher. They alone have the fate of your grade in their hands.

5. Talk to as many classmates as possible the first week. Find the most organized, dedicated, and hopefully intelligent students and get a study group with 2 or 3 of them.

6. Implement the Survivor Study Group Rule- Anybody in the group can be voted out of the group if they are distracting the rest of the group from it's main focus-Studying. (Limit gossiping, complaining, personal drama during study group)

7. get organized. If you are a procrastinator find a hyper-organized person and become their best friend. Maybe they will rub off on you. At least they will keep you on track.

8. exercise or walk every day. You will be stressed out and exercise will reduce the stress and increase oxygen to your brain.

9. Surround yourself with positive people. Negative people bring your mood down and cause self-doubt.

10. Make a pact with your study group to be each others cheerleader. Everybody needs someone to encourage them.

11. Sit in the front row. The more the teacher gets to know you and respect you, the more likely that they will give you the higher final grade if you are close to the next higher grade (ex. 89.6 and 90 is an A, but don't expect an A with a 89.1)

12. Smile and say "Hello, how is your day going?" to every instructor every day when they walk in to class, even the ones you can't stand. See number 11.

13. The most important person in your class is you. Don't let anybody else's problems become your burden and drag your grade down.

Specializes in Oncology.

You all gave some really good advice, although I'm not in nursing school yet, but I'll be sure to take each one of your words to heart when I do start!

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The words of encouragement was great it was so many good detailed advice thank you all I applied for fall 2013 and I'm so excited to start this journey thanks again for those words

Okay so I have one more final and I am done with my 2nd semester of nursing school (of four). I thought first semester had moments of difficulty and it was rigorous, time consuming, tiring. Its a little like boot camp, they are trying to clear your brain of bad habits you've learned and get you thinking like a nurse. It amazing you'd never think you'd come out thinking in a different way but it works! After semester one you realize the difference between the way you were day one and the way you are now and how different your perspective really is.

So you will have moments where you ask yourself WHY, WHY am I putting myself through this? Those are the days that you must take one at a time reminding yourself constantly that you have been working at this for years and you only have a little time left now, and that after it is all said and done, you WILL be an amazing nurse.This is despite B's on tests when you are used to getting A's, despite NOT knowing the pathophys on every disease (I think you could go to school FOREVER and still not know every protocol, nursing intervention and disease process) despite days crying in clinical because you are internalizing a patient who doesn't want the student to be their nurse for the day or the nasty RN who doesn't like having students to teach, and despite the clinical instructor who thinks you are not cut out to be a nurse. Nursing school is a great and humbling experience. Honestly those of us that are able to make it into nursing school are usually more than qualified, and we may need a little humility to get us on the right track. Those that are humble are better able to serve. In the end that is what we are doing, right?

Praying is really helpful.

Taking the hard times day by day and pace yourself.

Prioritize your learning, you will NOT get it all in there.

Cry when you need to.

Make some friends in your cohort, you will need someone who understands what you are going through.

Find a study method that works for you, you may find that your old way of studying no longer works in nursing school.

Dont be afraid of contact precautions and code browns. Your professors and especially your nurses will like you better and respect you more.

I am 100% with the person earlier who said not to expect A's, you just set yourself up for disappointment.

Good luck in semester one!

Buy Test Success by Davis it will prepare you how to answer critical thinking type of questions for your test.

Get a good calendar so you can write your schedule for the whole semester.

Read a head of time, if you're comfortable studying with someone find a study buddy, 2 friends at the most and make sure you study/read your ppt. and books 2 weeks before your test. Never procrastinate!!!

Two days before your test just do practice questions lots of it make sure you read the rationale, if you can buy Saunders nclex books (yellow and the blue cover) it's very helpful. If you have Hesi for your final exam I suggest you get the Hesi Nclex book too.

Pray and relax if you feel overwhelm take a time to pamper yourself go out with your family or friends, but never do it 2 days before your exam never start a bad habit in nursing school that you might regret in the end.

During the test if you experience test anxiety just close your eyes take a deep breath and exhale slowly do it for full minute. (This always works for me, it calms me and clear my mind)

think positive and always claim that you already pass the semester. Never dwell on negative thoughts!

Good luck!

Wow...so much great advice! I applied this month. Praying that I get in and can put all of your advice to use :)

first semester is so much more easier than the rest of your semesters. the first thing in first semester to do is to find out your best learning method. and then do some interactive studies with your classmates. its all about dedication, you always have to read and know all theories by heart all chapters that are assigned and they are usually 10-20 chapters -not kidding- after every 1 or 2 weeks.

in the rest of semesters, NO LIFE MODE. eat sleep drink talk mind nursing...

I just completed the semester with a 4.0, 3 very young children, a crazy household, and an absentee husband ( works 14-16 hour days). First of all nursing school in terms of being hard is really based on your prior experiences. The reality is some people struggle and then there are some who just get it and can apply the concepts. There are also the natural born test takers. The key is if you struggle initially run and get help from an intervention specialist.

Pretty much here are the keys to success:

1) avoid the drama queens/ kings at all costs

2) study a little to a lot every day--- there are those who study 6 -8 hours every day and still barely pass and those who cram and do well ( find what you need to do to do well). I studied at night at least an hour or 2 every night during the week after the kids were asleep. before a test I always gave myself at least 10-15 hours of study time spread out over 4 days. I didn't study on the weekends or the night of a 12 hour clinical.

3) breathe( kep positive affirmations at your fingertips) pull out when you need encouragement

4) pray, pray, pray

5) if you don't know..... be honest and say so

6) ask questions

7) be respectful

8) buy fundamentals success and use it often

9) learn to be a duck let crap roll off your back

10) stay away from the loudest people in your class ( you'll find out why very soon)

11) learn when to be quiet, never argue with instructors if they say the sky is purple just say really Mrs. so and so I didn't know that thanks for helping me to see it..smile...then curse them in your head

12) get a calendar

13) prior to the test block out the converstions of those who are waiting with you....other peoples lack of confidence prior to a test is contagious, I stayed in my car until 8 minutes before the test , spent 5 min in the restroom, and the last 3 I'd say hello and wait in a corner to be called, and i kept earplugs in my pocket just in case so i wouldn't overhear other people's conversations

14) exercise when you can ( stress reduction)

15) encourage yourself as well as your peers... be a subtle cheerleader

Thank you for this list...I love it!!

Most importantly...Take it one day at a time. But also, don't be afraid to ask questions or go to your instructors for help. Find a select few friends you can turn too for anything. Study, study, study. Read the textbook. Take time for yourself!!! Nursing school has been the best time of my life so enjoy it... it's also the most frustrating indescribable time (I developed an eye twitch my first semester....but it went away during winter break!) Enjoy and good luck!!

Specializes in Peds, ER, NICU/PICU, OR.

I'm really glad this advice is here. I start in August and I am trying not to stress too much. The size of the books and the amount of information that they contain is just incredible(especially the med/surg book) and a bit daunting. Reading the advice on this forum thread is really helping ease my mind and I thank you all for posting!

Morgan....You gave the best advise I read. I just finished my first semester and my advise is DO NOT EXPECT ANYTHING! If you go in with ANY preconceived ideas it will screw you up. I listened to too many people, too much bad advise and I did not do my best. This semester I am not talking to anyone about semester two, and I am looking forward to it, not dreading it from all the negative reviews I got in the prior semester. I am going to a not very popular school, known for awful instructors and high failure rate, so I have to fight very hard everyday. Like Morgan said, agree with everything an instructor says, don't challenge them. I pretend I know nothing, am empty headed waiting for them to fill it up with all this wonderful information. Keeps me safe. Good luck to you, don't let the naysayers get you down. And they WILL try!!

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