How to survive 1st year of nursing school

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Well, I just finished my first year of nursing school and decided I'd share some insights on how to survive this oh-so-feared first year. Please feel free to contribute from your experiences! :)

First of all, the three golden rules to remember when you start freaking out about projects/readings/clinicals/classmates/instructors/general nursing school annoyances:

-stop

-breathe

-you WILL survive

And now, HOW to survive:

-don't get too ahead of yourself. You'll be taught everything in a timely manner, so stop stressing.

-set aside a few hours a week to hang out with friends. Yes, nursing school is busy. Yes, you don't have time to have a life but trust me- your sanity matters way more than your GPA.

-remember that having a GPA below 4.0 is NOT the end of the world. How well you understand the material is what matters most, not how well you can decode your prof's way of wording questions on the test. Got it? Now stop crying over your 3.7

-ask questions. No matter how mean that instructor or nurse looks. For all you know, they can be the nicest person you will ever meet. Besides, when faced with a choice of answering another routine question or having you make a mistake, any one would choose to answer your question. All those people are there to teach you, so take advantage of it.

-don't let people who say that you're "JUST going to be a nurse" discourage you. Some people will never understand what it means to be a nurse so don't listen to them.

-this one is for all the new male student nurses out there: no, you won't be treated much differently than anyone else. With all the estrogen, it's nice to have a guy around for a change. Just don't get caught up in any cattiness that can arise.

-keeping up with your readings is important, but don't forget all those practice questions. They will save you.

-get those personal dramas out of the way. You won't have time nor energy to deal with nonsense.

-time management is kind of important. Unless you're cool with pulling all-nighters the day before your assignment is due. (Ok, I'm being a big hypocrite on this one because I can never bring myself to write my papers in advance but trust me when I tell you that it's not fun staying up till 5am).

-venting is good. Get it out of your system and you'll feel better. Journals, mirrors, friends and the AN chat boards are all good when it comes to listening to you vent.

-try your best. If you don't get it the first time, try again. And again.

-avoid comparing yourself to others. You're your own person. When in doubt, refer to my previous point.

...that's all I can think of for now. I'm sure other members will have more things to add.

Good luck to all you first years! ;)

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Well, I just finished my first year of nursing school and decided I'd share some insights on how to survive this oh-so-feared first year. Please feel free to contribute from your experiences! :)

First of all, the three golden rules to remember when you start freaking out about projects/readings/clinicals/classmates/instructors/general nursing school annoyances:

-stop

-breathe

-you WILL survive

And now, HOW to survive:

-don't get too ahead of yourself. You'll be taught everything in a timely manner, so stop stressing.

-set aside a few hours a week to hang out with friends. Yes, nursing school is busy. Yes, you don't have time to have a life but trust me- your sanity matters way more than your GPA.

-remember that having a GPA below 4.0 is NOT the end of the world. How well you understand the material is what matters most, not how well you can decode your prof's way of wording questions on the test. Got it? Now stop crying over your 3.7

-ask questions. No matter how mean that instructor or nurse looks. For all you know, they can be the nicest person you will ever meet. Besides, when faced with a choice of answering another routine question or having you make a mistake, any one would choose to answer your question. All those people are there to teach you, so take advantage of it.

-don't let people who say that you're "JUST going to be a nurse" discourage you. Some people will never understand what it means to be a nurse so don't listen to them.

-this one is for all the new male student nurses out there: no, you won't be treated much differently than anyone else. With all the estrogen, it's nice to have a guy around for a change. Just don't get caught up in any cattiness that can arise.

-keeping up with your readings is important, but don't forget all those practice questions. They will save you.

-get those personal dramas out of the way. You won't have time nor energy to deal with nonsense.

-time management is kind of important. Unless you're cool with pulling all-nighters the day before your assignment is due. (Ok, I'm being a big hypocrite on this one because I can never bring myself to write my papers in advance but trust me when I tell you that it's not fun staying up till 5am).

-venting is good. Get it out of your system and you'll feel better. Journals, mirrors, friends and the AN chat boards are all good when it comes to listening to you vent.

-try your best. If you don't get it the first time, try again. And again.

-avoid comparing yourself to others. You're your own person. When in doubt, refer to my previous point.

...that's all I can think of for now. I'm sure other members will have more things to add.

Good luck to all you first years! ;)

Thanks, I am starting in a couple of weeks...not knowing what to expect is nerve wrecking...:eek:

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Drink beer.

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that sums it up! :up::heartbeat

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Thank you -- I start in 11 days. I'm so excited and nervous!!

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I just graduated (3 weeks ago). It doesnt seem like it but it will fly by. Also, start studying for NCLEX now. Super important

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1st year? That was cake! Its the rest of the years that will kill ya

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Specializes in ICU.
1st year? That was cake! Its the rest of the years that will kill ya

In an ADN program, the first year is a BSN program's junior year.

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Also, realizing you aren't super woman and you CANNOT do everything is a good thing to do right away. Nursing school seems to attract those type-a-i-can-do-it-all people, and no, you can't; you shouldn't try because you freak out from the stress or just get so discouraged that you drop out. I've seen happen a lot in my program.

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Also, realizing you aren't super woman and you CANNOT do everything is a good thing to do right away. Nursing school seems to attract those type-a-i-can-do-it-all people, and no, you can't; you shouldn't try because you freak out from the stress or just get so discouraged that you drop out. I've seen happen a lot in my program.

Of course I'm not superwoman...

I'm superman! :coollook:

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In an ADN program, the first year is a BSN program's junior year.

I am talking about an ADN program:smokin:

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This was very helpful! I am starting the upper division next fall (well, I'll get my letter in July, so I'm hoping I get in). Even though it will be my fourth year in college (changed my major) and my junior year in nursing school, I am so nervous/excited/anxious/happy/scared/idon'tevenknowhowtoexplainit, haha. It's nice to get some perspective!

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