If you could "do over" one thing about nursing school, what would it be?

aachavez · Jul 14, 2013

I did pretty well, and am SO ready to graduate in September. Tho I would go back and be more organized, study more and procrastinate less. But then again I can't complain about a 3.8. I got on the bad side of one of my clinical instructors, and then got assigned to her group again in another semester which was hard cos she already had a very negative attitude towards me. I wish I could go back and kiss butt and not panic about how awful she was to me.

justjohn · Jul 14, 2013

I would love to do a BSN to start with but I can't even apply to one until fall '14 and if I don't make it, well then its another year of waiting. My plan is to try to complete it online after I finish the ADN program. I'm going to a satellite campus so there is only going to be 8 students. My plan is not to work but I'll have to see how that goes. I did get a scholarship for tuition and fees so thats going to help a lot. Thanks for the advice!!

justjohn · Jul 14, 2013

The school is going to provide us with some review software and the dean stated that in years past since the school purchases so much software each year that the company even donates some software to the students. I'm not sure what all it includes at this point. I've looked up some of the suggested study material on Amazon and I that's what I'm going to ask for at Christmas. This has been some great advice, thank you all so much. I can't wait for August 19th.

Enthused RN, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2013

4. Stay out of the limelight. Don't be a pain in the behind in class, don't be that high maintenance student instructors dread to see coming. Don't get involved in dramas. Be MINIMALLY social with classmates. At 33, seek out the other 30+ students and conduct yourselves like ninjas.

LOL, hey I'm not 30+ but I'm pretty mature and cool to hang out with! Yes, being minimally social will ensure that you have plenty of time to study but be sure you that you still have a support system (i.e. old friends, family, significant other) and that you take time to hang out with them and make new memories. This will go a long way in dealing with stress and there's a higher probability that people you know will show up at your graduation/pinning ceremony at the end of nursing school. :)

5. Don't buy the textbooks. Look at the syllabus, then rent or borrow the books from a classmate and photocopy the assigned pages. That's what I did. Saved a bundle and a lot of schleppage.

^Agree. If anything, you can just buy the older edition of the assigned book for a couple dollars on half.com or ebay or whatever. That way you can cite from it as needed on your papers and careplans. If you go this route, you need to buy a NCLEX content review book like the one by Mary Ann Hogan or Saunders. You need to study your content thoroughly and not just rely on lecture notes/Powerpoint slides from the teacher. Textbooks suck in terms of explaining content.

coolbreezegurl · Jul 17, 2013

I am starting my 4th and last semester of nursing in August. I can say my biggest regret is not minding my own business. I know you're a guy but nursing school can be a very "catty" environment full of gossip and mean-girls if you aren't careful. I noticed some of my friends turning into mean-girls, and telling everyone's business to anybody who would listen. I found the need to distance myself from these types of people last semester because I didn't want to be lumped in with their behavior. So I would say select your associates wisely, keep it strictly business, and mind your own business as much as possible. Keeping a low profile can be good when it comes to unwanted attention.

anashenwrath, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2013

I wish I had gone for a BSN instead of ASN. Even though I have a BS, and it bugs me to get another one, BSNs are definitely at an advantage in the job market.

I also wish I had been more.... aggressive... (wrong word) about clinical experiences. I had a prof who would take over for you if you even hesitated for a second, and a lot of times I just let her. Because I figured I'd still be learning. It wasn't until the end of that semester that I was like, "hold the phone. I graduate in no time. You need to let me do this."

Finally, I wish I had picked ER or something similar for my practicum. I did hospice, bcs that's where my interest lies, but you don't get to see as much as a hospice nurse. And you're probably not going to get hired as a new nurse in hospice anyway. So go for the practicum experience that lets you do as much as possible!