Help! Will This Get Easier?

It does get better. You have to get used to the fast paced all consuming life of a nursing student. Studying is way different for nursing than for other classes. You will probably hear stuff in lecture that will give you an indication as to what to focus on when studying at home. Also, supplemental books to help break it down are a must. I do not know what you are studying, so I can't really help specifically...

One thing to remember, in most cases, what you are tested on is what the nurse would do in a particular situation. You are not memorizing, then regurgitating facts. You will hear alot about "critical thinking" in your time at school. Pay attention to this and don't blow it off. I had lots of test questions where every answer could have been right, but the right answer was the priority point of care for the patient. It helped me to buy NCLEX study books to get used to the style of questions I could expect. I also had a few close friends that would get together and study, do quizzes, etc. You will be fine...

Plus you always have this site for a resource.

Good luck!

Amy

I agree. I'm starting week 7 and am not nearly as uptight as I was week 1. It seemed like once I took that first exam and got a feel for it and started falling into routine with studying, I was fine. And yes, nursing exams are different from any other exam you'll ever take. The point of these exams are essentially to prepare you for NCLEX. It is to my understanding that they are setting them up like the NCLEX so we will be used to it when we take it.

Don't panic and good luck!!

It does get easier because you learn how the routine goes from one instructor to another. It does however get more challenging when each instructor feels their theories are of priority compared to other instructors, but don't worry about it, you will do fine. Just keep studying and don't give up. I am a second year student and have seen more than 50% of my fellow classmates just give up, or not study at all (DON'T BE ONE OF THEM!) it is too tempting to go out on the weekends with your so-called friends and party, but don't fall in to that trap. Stand your ground and keep your nose in the books. I have only eight more months left of school (I AM counting) and it just feels like I started all of this yesterday.

You will be fine, just hang on for the great ride!

Scott

No, it does not get easier! It actually gets harder. However, I agree with all of the above posters that you will "get used to it".

I wouldn't say it gets "easier" persay, just that you get used to constantly being bogged down and running on only 4 or 5 hours of sleep and then dealing with everyday life while trying to study somewhere in between all of that. Like right now, I'm running on 3 hours of sleep, and I'm so tired I can't sleep, clinical tomorrow for 8 hours and I work 230-11 fri-sun nad to top it all off I have a test on Tue!! If I pass this test it'll be a miracle in itself, but this is what I've been used to for the past year. The tests only get "easier" because you learn how to take them, it's not memorization anymore, it's learn it and apply what you know...what would the nurse do first?!? You'll learn to relax a little bit, expecially after your first test, that's always the worst cause you don't know what to expect. I agree with the NCLEX books, they do help you with how to answer the questions...also STUDY GROUPS!!! But make them with people that will actually study, not just get together and talk about everything but school stuff. You'll learn from eachother because something you heard in class someone else may not have heard and vise versa..help each other out!! It's not a competition for who gets an A is better then everyone else...You have to pull together and get through it, it's the only way you'll pass honestly. Some of those that are C students in my class are the best ones at clinical because they have actual bedside manner with pts. and they can still put all the pieces of the puzzle together to care for the pt. Just relax and be ready to not have a life for 2 years!!

I have to agree also it doesn't get easier. Especially as you head into the more difficult aspects of Med-Surg as I am about to. But coming to this board for feedback and studying and trying not to compare yourself to others, (I didn't know how competitive girls could be until I started RN school.) and setting personal goals for yourself, you will get it.

Like I feel proud of myself because through prayer and study even though I don't "get it" as quickly as many of my classmates (which many are older and have worked in healthcare in other capacities before starting RN school) but now it is "clicking" because I am understanding prioritizing both on tests and in clinicals and my clinical instructors have said I have a good bedside manner which I didn't know that that having a good bedside manner was a big deal compared to knowing lab levels and whatnot. So to make my long winded reply short even though it gets harder, "you will get it" with prayer and perseverance (IMHO.)

I guess I'm strange. I'm a non-trad student (36yo) and I find it to be interesting and a little challenging but far from overwhelming. Most of the work (in a bsn program, traditional) is busy paperwork. If you can handle multiple deadlines, studying a little each day and multi-tasking, it will get simpler. I also will have to recommend STUDY GROUPS! I lead one and I've learned so much with/from them.

Richard