This is the best day of my life! I'm still in shock! BUT I'm nervous about the reality of nursing school.
Yes, I know I won't have a life.
Yes, I know how time consuming it is.
Yes, I know how stressful it can be.
Yes, I know I won't get much sleep.
I'm a hands-on learner though. I can't read a book and ace a test the next day. I'm worried that I won't survive the first semester of nursing school.
I've been a CNA for over a year now and I feel it's helped me on my confidence by communicating to patients.
Can someone please give me the best advice they have?? Like how to prepare, what to buy that may help, what to really expect, etc.
The program I'm in is 15 months. I'll have my RN after that assuming I pass the NCLEX.
Obviously it's accelerated which makes me more nervous. They only accept 50 students and 75% graduate. That scares me because I don't want to be in that 25% that doesn't.
And the Success Series-there are books that are for each subject/curriculum that have questions and rationales as to what would be the best questions when answering NCLEX-style questions; which will be a part of your education; also get a comprehensive NCLEX review book as well.
I also suggest getting PharmPhlash cards and/or search for Pharmacology cards and there are cards that were made by a member her that have been very useful to posters and other members as well.
What helped me in nursing school was identifying the action words when looking at test questions, as well as used guided imagery when reading the test questions.
Also, be open to other learning styles; I learned to utilize auditory learning by taping lectures, giving me additional information to the information.
Great job!, in life nothing is easy. This is the first step to your lovely career. It's not going to be easy, i am still working my way up to become a RN and it's not easy. Good luck anyway. :-)
I started nursing school in Jan. I haven't been overwhelmed yet and I get plenty of sleep. Although, I'm just taking Fundamentals right now, it ends in 3 weeks and then I start Adult 1. I'm sure that class will be harder. Good luck to you! I'm remember how excited I was when I got accepted! :)
Congrats! My program was 20 months and in about to be finishing it up in May! Don't stress too much, nursing school isn't "hard" it's just hard work! You will have a life, it will just be different. You will be able to get sleep so don't stress yourself out worrying about it. Just get your work done and you WILL pass. It will be fun!
That's one of the best replies I have seen on this board. I agree with everything you said.
OP, I would just enjoy your free time before you start and don't sweat it. You'll be fine.
My program was 5 semesters. I have 81 days until pinning. It is tough and it's hard for me to read a book too....this is what I have done. First, I told myself that failure wasn't an option. I listen to the lecture with my book, highlighting the information that my teacher says. When I get home, I re-listen to the lecture with PowerPoint and write down what the teacher has said that isn't on the PowerPoints, or any charts that she may have referenced. I make flash cards and look at them whenever I'm not at home and have a few minutes. I also downloaded lectures to my phone and listen to them via Bluetooth in my car when I'm driving. I have headphones and listen to lectures whenever I am not home. I would say that I study for 30 hours per week when I am not in class, and this has helped me. So far, I have been able to maintain a 4.0, and I am hoping and praying that I can make it through one more class with an A to graduate.
There will be so much time to stress when you start school- take a second and really savor this victory! You EARNED it! Worry about the stress of school when it starts, work with others who may have better studying strategies, TALK to your professors and ask for help organizing/studying/managing time. The people who are there to teach you want you to succeed, so go do it!!! Yeehaw!
My program was 5 semesters. I have 81 days until pinning. It is tough and it's hard for me to read a book too....this is what I have done. First, I told myself that failure wasn't an option. I listen to the lecture with my book, highlighting the information that my teacher says. When I get home, I re-listen to the lecture with PowerPoint and write down what the teacher has said that isn't on the PowerPoints, or any charts that she may have referenced. I make flash cards and look at them whenever I'm not at home and have a few minutes. I also downloaded lectures to my phone and listen to them via Bluetooth in my car when I'm driving. I have headphones and listen to lectures whenever I am not home. I would say that I study for 30 hours per week when I am not in class, and this has helped me. So far, I have been able to maintain a 4.0, and I am hoping and praying that I can make it through one more class with an A to graduate.
This is exactly how I have to study. My friends and family feel I'm being extreme. These extreme study habits are what got me into Nursing School!! Congrats on that 4.0!
First of all congratulations!!! Just to be excepted is a huge honor and I completely understand how you feel. I framed my acceptance letter lol. I am out three semesters from graduation and nursing school is without a doubt the toughest thing I have ever done in my entire life and I have four children. I have the same expectations you did when I first started but nothing prepares you for the difficulty level to come. However I have never experienced something more rewarding in my entire life except for maybe when my kids tell me they love me. I love everything about nursing and I continue to be amazed at how much nursing makes me happy. If you feel the same way you will dig deep and you can make it happen for yourself as well. Good luck to you and don't give up although giving up can be tempting.
Oh and PS are you Siri a lot and sometime she doesn't understand exactly what I say... So the grammar errors are all Siri's fault. And the best advice I can give you is to buy an NCLEX book right now. All nursing tests are testing the knowledge to prepare you to take the NCLEX. You would be surprised how many questions you will see that are almost identical to questions in the NCLEX book that you will see on your test. It has helped me tremendously to narrow down the huge amount of information you have to read as a nursing student. The book Will take the fluff and filler that your textbooks give you and give you only the very pertinent info; you know the need to know stuff. Every new nursing school student should buy an NCLEX book to begin with. Bar none that has helped me more than Any thing else in nursing school.
xoemmylouox, ASN, RN
3,150 Posts
Congrats!!!!