I GOT IN!!! Advice wanted :)

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Specializes in MICU.

OMG, I am SO happy! I don't know the stats for this year yet, but last year 450 applied and 125 got in! I was a nervous wreck!

Any nurses or nursing students who have already done their first term - If you could give just one piece of advice for a brand new nursing student, what would it be?

Thanks! :D

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Congrats!! That's so exciting! I'm starting my program next month, so I can't offer you any 1st term advice, but there have been many topics here regarding pieces of advice for new students. You could probably find them by doing a search on this site.

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Specializes in Family Practice/IM/Pediatric.

Which school will you be attending??

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Oops, I just posted in response to someone else and posted on the wrong topic...can't seem to delete the post. Sorry!

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
congratstext-1.gif
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Specializes in ED.

There is some great advice on this board. Grab a glass of wine and pour over the threads on this board.

The thread about "what do you wish you were told on the first day" is a great thread. Dig around and take some time to read through some of these. There really is some GREAT advice and worth reading.

m

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Congrats! I'll be starting nursing 3 next month. I'll state the obvious.....read and don't stop! Good luck!! :)

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Specializes in MICU.
There is some great advice on this board. Grab a glass of wine and pour over the threads on this board.

The thread about "what do you wish you were told on the first day" is a great thread. Dig around and take some time to read through some of these. There really is some GREAT advice and worth reading.

m

Thanks! I'll check that thread out :)

Thanks, everyone!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Congratulations!

Here are some pieces of advice:

1. Enjoy your time off now because once school starts you will be really, really busy!! Generally nursing school = no social life. I have actually lost some friends through this but I have gained so many new ones in the process and the friends you will make in nursing school will become some of your best ones! And they will understand what you are going through.

1a. and by enjoying your time off I mean don't jump into books now and start reviewing nursing stuff. You won't really understand them until you start the program.

2. When it comes to buying books, try searching on amazon.com - you will save so much money that way!

3. Stock up on black clicky pens (because 1. you will learn that you can only chart in black pen! and 2. you don't have to worry about the caps!) and highlighters. If you're a notecard person, stock up on notecards!! Also post-it notes and binders. All of my classes either had us print out our notes or gave us a packet that we had to buy from the school - everything goes in a binder.

4. I have a clipboard that opens up so you can store stuff inside, such as extra pens, extra papers, etc. Mine is big enough to throw small pocket guides in them (such as the RNotes and the "Incredibly Easy" pocket guide books). Mine also has a calculator attached to the front which comes in handy for dosage calculations. I bought this at Walmart for around $10.

5. Invest in a good stethoscope in the beginning - don't buy a cheap one. I highly recommend the Littmann Classic II S.E. for nursing students to start off with. It's relatively affordable (around the $70-$90 depending on where you buy...I bought mine from Redding Medical supplies Littmann stethoscopes and Welch Allyn blood pressure units for $74 and some cents which included tax and S&H...cheaper than if I bought it in-store, which would have been close to $90). Also if you buy a Littmann, don't let it leave your sight! Those things get stolen so easily :(

6. Get a good coffee pot. and some ibuprofen.

7. When school starts, try to stock up on healthy foods. I would also look into getting a crock pot if you don't have one already - making things in the crock pot is really easy and really suits a nursing students' lifestyle (because I hardly have time to actually cook!)

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First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :yeah:

Secondly, the best piece of advice I can give you is to look at EVERYTHING you experience (good, bad, and everywhere in between) as something to learn from. You will make mistakes, we all do, but a mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn anything from it.

The best of luck to you!! Should you ever start to doubt yourself, remember, you were one of the small percentage chosen to begin your training for your future profession. You were chosen for a reason. It will be one of the hardest things you've ever done, but it will also be one of the most rewarding.

Congrtulations!!!

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First of all Congratulations!

I'm a senior nursing student. The best advice I could give you is to:

1) You are going to be extremely busy with school work. Use good time management for studying and the rest of your life.

I have 4 children and I am an honor student. The only way that would be possible is that I have good routines and I stick to them. I plan my menu for the week, I have an errand day, I have time for my kids, and time for exercise marked in my planner.

2) Join a study group. I spent most of the first year at the library, especially during Pharm and Patho. Study groups quickly uncover weaknesses in your understanding and gives you a chance to learn from each other.

3) Appreciate your instructors. I heard a lot on this board before I got into nursing school about how tough the instructors are. Yes that is true to some extent. However the reason they are so hard on you is that they really want you to grow and learn. Don't be defensive or feel put out if they correct you. My instructors had anywhere from 20-50 years of experience. They are great people and I feel you gain the most if you approach them as people who have a lot to teach you, rather than moan about how hard they are.

4) Do not procrastinate! Get a jump on all your school work, or it will sneak up on you and it will be PAINFUL to try to catch up!

5) Make some time for your social life! It really IS possible despite what you may read on this board. Once a week see a friend for lunch, or visit a family member. It is really important to make the time. You will need to plan for it though, and do your work early so you have some time to play.

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:nurse:Congratulations!!! I am etering my final semester in nursing school and Have plenty of advice.:yeah:

1) Do as much of the reading as you can. All of it tends to be impossible but it really does help.

2) Take breaks during your study sessions even if it is to fold some clothes while watching your fav 30 min show.

3) Notecards are great especially in your first semester.

4) Get a good recorder, you may miss something during the lecture. (or you can prove to your instructor they said the opposite in their lecture and that is why you missed the question +points )

5) Get in a good study group, hearing others helps things stick, or for some teaching others helps.

6) Practice vitals (blood pressure, respirations, pulses,....) on your family. You won't have a perfect assessment in the beginning.

7) Finally you will probably shed some tears, or feel like you can't do it. YOU CAN DO IT! It will all be worth it in the end. I suggest writing that down and posting it on a mirror, at your desk, on your clipboard.

Tell your friends and loved ones you are going to be a little crazy for a few years, but you don't mean anything you say and that you may need some encouragement along the way. I know this may seem scary but you have chosen a great career and it will all be worth it.

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