a little intimidated

MOMMY · Jan 28, 2003

Keep your head up. Do not worry those pre-reqs will help you develope those much needed study habits for the nursing courses. If you feel that you want to get your feet wet, get involved in a local candy striper, pink lady program. You may not get to do what nurses do but it will allow you to be in the hospital so that you can observe what goes on and you won't feel so much out of the loop. Good Luck and Study on!

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 28, 2003

you can do it! develop excellent study habits NOW....eat well,rest, make it your priority. You will do fine. Good luck.

FullMoonMadness · Jan 28, 2003

You can do it. Getting started is one of the harest parts and you have already accomplished that.You will have an imeasuable amount of reading to do,so its best to work at it every day if you can.Waiting until the last minute will pull you under. Set reasonable goals and when you trip,don't beat yourself up to much.Good luck

katscan · Jan 28, 2003

You can climb any mountain with enough determination! Study, study, and and ask for help if you need to. Rest, work,and have fun--balance it all. Utilize resources as needed and above all have a positive attitude.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2003

Hunker down.......

renerian

Momto3RN, RN · Jan 28, 2003

It also helps to keep pertinent textbooks instead of selling them back.

I kept my anatomy, peds, and gen nursing books fortunately. I could kick myself for selling back my lab values book.

Take it one day at a time!! Don't look too far ahead.

ALSO.... if you're not already, working as a CNA will be a big boost in your education and confidence, in my opinion. I went straight to nursing and I was totally overwhelmed. Even now, three years later, I'm still not totally comfortable transferring patients, or doing other basic CNA functions!!

Good luck!

shoelace · Jan 28, 2003

I agree with clairegates ... I started doing much better on tests

when I started recopying my notes. They talk so fast during lecture,

and you're writing so quickly that you can't absorb as much of the info

as you can when you are recopying notes later.

Good luck... you won't regret choosing nursing.

bethoney · Jan 30, 2003

Thank you everyone for your advice:) I feel so much better now, hearing all the encouragement.. I dont look forward to the "all nighters" but I sure cant wait to be able to pass the advice on to someone else! Thanks again...Also Im still looking at going LVN->RN...anyone think going straight through RN program would be better????

MarisaLeigh

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 30, 2003

If your goal is to be an RN, I would go straight for that. NO FLAMING PLEASE...I am NOT putting down LPNs. I knew my goal was to be an RN....no doubt. So I did not waste time going to LPN school, which is very differently prepared and studied. Often LPN and RN programs differ in that LPN training is technical-school based, with few things transferring to college/university-based RN training. If you are determined to do LPN-RN route, make sure you will have a smooth transition, not repeating what you don't need and make sure you have all prerequisite classes for RN school BEFORE you plan to apply there. You will need them. There are many more job opportunities in the area in which I live for RN's than LPNs...right or wrong that is how it is. In my speciality, OB, there are NO LPN's whatsoever working in any OB unit I know. You almost MUST be an RN to do many specialty areas. So think about what your goals are, what you want to do specifically and build on that. Good luck!

litepath · Jan 30, 2003

If your goal is to be an RN, I would go straight for that. NO FLAMING PLEASE...

Yep, It will take determination to do it, but put your focus wherever it is you wish to go. Then go!

jaxnRN · Jan 31, 2003

I did this 13 years ago, and I can remember EXACTLY the way you are feeling. It's almost like you cannot even picture yourself at the end of the road ( with the RN behind your name!) BUT:

1. Find and ATTACH yourself to someone in the program who you know is dedicated and tough, someone who is going to keep you going and you will keep her/him going.

2. Cut out ANY AND ALL unnecessary other stuff from your life. Some things are gonna have to wait!

3. Don't even let yourself THINK about another option. There IS no quitting, there IS NO putting it off 'til next year. DO NOT GIVE UP. It is so much harder to go back later, if you ever do it at all.

GOOD LUCK!!! The anxiety you are feeling is good and healthy, you are already boosted with that heightened sense of awareness.

~Jackie:eek:

Agnus · Jan 31, 2003

You have some GREAT suggestions here and I agree with them all.

The most helpful tip I received was "no matter what never ever give up." I kept that forefront in my mind all though school. It was the best thing a nurse could every say to me. It kept me going when things got really really rough.