I want to do well in nursing school...any advice

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 19, 2013

1. Be aware that nursing school is one of the most unfair experiences there is out there in this world. You will be at the mercy of nursing professors and clinical instructors whose word is pretty much law if you want to pass the course. You will be overburdened with work. You will be frustrated with having to do lots of little things that seem mundane and pointless to you but will matter in the long run (trust me on this). You will have to meet standards that are raised higher than what you're used to...you know how the 80 used to be a B? Not anymore--most schools have it as a C and minimum passing grade, so be prepared for your GPA to take a hit. Can't understand why anything less than a 100% on a drug dosage calculation test is a failure? Because dosage calc errors can kill patients, and there's no "retest" when that happens.

Not saying I agree with all of this, but it is what it is. So better you start accepting this now.

2. Read the textbook. Seriously.

3. Study daily. Seriously. Even just 30 minutes a day will go a lot further than waiting until the last minute and then trying to cram a few weeks' worth of work into 1-2 nights.

4. Remember that nursing school exams and the NCLEX do not test on "real world" nursing. Instead it's "ivory tower" nursing...you know, that perfect little world where you have only one patient to care for, all the time in the world, all the resources you need at your fingertips, and patients respond fairly predictably to your interventions. That world doesn't exist once you pass the NCLEX. But the NCLEX tests on it, so keep that in mind.

5. Don't read too much into test questions. If you find yourself asking "But what if..." as you look at a test question, you're reading too much into the test question.

6. Never change a test answer. More often than not, you will change it from right to wrong.

7. There may be several "right" answers to a test question--your mission is to pick the "best" one of them.

8. "Select all that apply" (SATA) test questions are the bane of all evil. Especially once you discover that SATA questions don't always have to have more than one answer. If you really see only one correct answer for a SATA, then it may only have one answer. Don't try to force two answers just because you can.

And the most important piece of advice I can give you is:

9. Sometimes the blue box is blue.

Let me explain.

Nursing school is going to teach you the art of critical thinking. Lovely skill, vital to success in nursing and really handy outside of it as well.

Unfortunately, critical thinking can tend to cause a test-taker to overanalyze situations, to read into the situation things that aren't there, and to try to address problems that the test question may not be concerned with. Sometimes you need to accept the test question for what it is, to take it at face value.

For example, if a test question states that the patient is on O2 at 2L/min but doesn't elaborate, take that for what it is: the patient is on O2 at 2L/min. Don't assume that they're currently having dyspnea or pneumonia, or that they have a history of COPD. Just accept that they are on O2 at 2L/min and you don't know exactly why (or that the "why" may not pertinent right now), and see what the question is asking.

Best of luck with nursing school.

loveSBK · May 19, 2013

Thank you so much Meriwhen. This helps me a lot, and I already know what you mean about unfairness and being at the mercy of my instructors, Ive met a couple of then and they are the rudest people I have ever met. I appreciate your response and I will keep everything in mind. Im scared but super excited about starting and I just hope I do well.

Strive2Survive · May 19, 2013

Meriwhen thank you for that!

murberry · May 19, 2013

1. Be aware that nursing school is one of the most unfair experiences there is out there in this world. You will be at the mercy of nursing professors and clinical instructors whose word is pretty much law if you want to pass the course. You will be overburdened with work. You will be frustrated with having to do lots of little things that seem mundane and pointless to you but will matter in the long run (trust me on this). You will have to meet standards that are raised higher than what you're used to...you know how the 80 used to be a B? Not anymore--most schools have it as a C and minimum passing grade, so be prepared for your GPA to take a hit. Can't understand why anything less than a 100% on a drug dosage calculation test is a failure? Because dosage calc errors can kill patients, and there's no "retest" when that happens.
Not saying I agree with all of this, but it is what it is. So better you start accepting this now.
2. Read the textbook. Seriously.
3. Study daily. Seriously. Even just 30 minutes a day will go a lot further than waiting until the last minute and then trying to cram a few weeks' worth of work into 1-2 nights.
4. Remember that nursing school exams and the NCLEX do not test on "real world" nursing. Instead it's "ivory tower" nursing...you know, that perfect little world where you have only one patient to care for, all the time in the world, all the resources you need at your fingertips, and patients respond fairly predictably to your interventions. That world doesn't exist once you pass the NCLEX. But the NCLEX tests on it, so keep that in mind.
5. Don't read too much into test questions. If you find yourself asking "But what if..." as you look at a test question, you're reading too much into the test question.
6. Never change a test answer. More often than not, you will change it from right to wrong.
7. There may be several "right" answers to a test question--your mission is to pick the "best" one of them.
8. "Select all that apply" (SATA) test questions are the bane of all evil. Especially once you discover that SATA questions don't always have to have more than one answer. If you really see only one correct answer for a SATA, then it may only have one answer. Don't try to force two answers just because you can.
And the most important piece of advice I can give you is:
9. Sometimes the blue box is blue.
Let me explain.
Nursing school is going to teach you the art of critical thinking. Lovely skill, vital to success in nursing and really handy outside of it as well.
Unfortunately, critical thinking can tend to cause a test-taker to overanalyze situations, to read into the situation things that aren't there, and to try to address problems that the test question may not be concerned with. Sometimes you need to accept the test question for what it is, to take it at face value.
For example, if a test question states that the patient is on O2 at 2L/min but doesn't elaborate, take that for what it is: the patient is on O2 at 2L/min. Don't assume that they're currently having dyspnea or pneumonia, or that they have a history of COPD. Just accept that they are on O2 at 2L/min and you don't know exactly why (or that the "why" may not pertinent right now), and see what the question is asking.
Best of luck with nursing school.

Thanks for this advice! I will be taking my pre-reqs and entering the masters program! You're absolutely right on " do not over analyze." I tend to do that a lot!!! Sometimes it's easier than it seems. Thanks for sharing the tips! Take care. :)

murberry · May 19, 2013

Hello everyone. I will be starting ABSN in about a week I still have not ordered any of my books but I have been trying to research articles that will help me do well in nursing school. I am terrified as it is a hard career and I hear horror stories all the time. I would like advice on how to excel in nursing school, what you guys did to do well, study tips etc..[/quote']
I'm taking my pre-reqs to enter the MN program. I find watching YouTube and finding other resources outside of your textbooks work well for me. Prepare yourself by researching and asking questions. Also, setup informational interviews with Nursing students and ask about their experience. Socialize among your peers and get to know them so you can have study buddies and help each other out. Basically connect with everyone and increase your network. :)

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2013

Lose the words "terrified," "freaking out," "afraid," "horror/horrified," and the like. You'll see them a lot on AN but they are grossly overused. They will not serve you well and, frankly, there's nothing in nursing school to make you that frightened except perhaps the size of your loans. You're a grown-up now getting ready to enter a real grown-up profession. If you don't think you can act like one, the old advice, "Fake it until you make it" comes into play. Look around you. Many people have come before you down this road. You can do it too.

Have fun! Do well! We need you out here!

loveSBK · May 20, 2013

Thank you everyone for your response. I feel more confident now, I am so glad I found this website because it gives you the opportunity to learn from those who have already done it or may be going thru the same situation. :yes:

blackvans1234 · May 20, 2013

Keep calm and study on.

kalevra, BSN, RN · May 20, 2013

Nursing school is easier than you think it is.

Apply common sense and great thing will happen. Most of nursing is being able to understand content and then applying logic to solve the problem. You will be surprised as how often you can think through a question with critical thinking. It is semester 1. Its the introductory semester. Relax.

BTW, do not worry about nursing articles now. Since you do not have the basics down yet to fully understand the articles. When all else fails remember this mantra KISS...Keep It Simple Stupid.

Sometimes the best thing to do is the simplest thing to do.

realmaninuniform · May 20, 2013

See if you can transfer into an RT, OT, or PT program. Seriously. You'll make TONS more money, not have to know half as much, and probably won't suffer a life crisis in the process. I remember when I first went to CNA school, I was unsure whether I wanted to be an RN or a PT. Well sure enough, I got a job as a CNA, loved it, and loved the people I took care of. Then they started to die. Which made me cry. And a nurse came up to me and said this is what you were born to do, and the pt would want you to go on. So I did it for them. So, it really depends on your priorities, if you're just another one of those "I'm gonna be a nurse, cuz they make good money!" I hope you fail miserably and end up slinging burgers the rest of your life, seriously. However, if you truly love others and enjoy taking care of people, then you better be prepared to give your entire life to nursing for the next 2-4... Only advice I can give you is take it seriously, and don't slack off. This isn't interior design. It's peoples lives.

realmaninuniform · May 20, 2013

Nursing school is easier than you think it is.

Spoken like someone who has never been. Guarantee this troll isn't licensed for anything. Nursing school is easy, tell that to the 26 people in my freshman class that didn't make it. You're quite obviously a non-healthcare worker, or someone who went through a nurse-mill, and can't pass boards.

I don't want to sound overly condescending, but I'm a nurse, and I know A LOT of nurses, none of which has ever said nursing school was easy. It's not easy, at all. Even if mommy and daddy are footing the bill while you're off having the time of your life at college. I worked full-time as a CNA when I went to nursing school, also full-time, it's no picnic.