Nervous about starting school.

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While I am excited, I am kind of nervous. :confused: I've done well in high school but I'm not going to go into NS with a cocky attitude. I will have an open mind.

I'm nervous still. Anything that you wish someone would have said to you before you started, advice, things to keep in mind?

If you could, I'd greatly appreciate it. =)

If nursing is what you want, be prepared. See if you can buy those books earlier. Read early so you are not behind. Careplan probably is challenging but visit this web so we can help you. Be kind to your classmate because when you do clinical, you will relay on one of them to help you. Good luck.:)

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Hi,

I got so confused and discouraged from reading a lot of the negative posts. I made a decision that I am just going to go in with a good attitude. I am number 38 in the lottery for an ADN program, and they are taking 36. I just took the TEAS and passed, and find out in June if I get in. I think I may have a pretty good chance, I hope!

Anyway, to the OP, I am with you on being nervous. I know I have to be prepared and organized. My question to all of you, especially mawarputih (since you brought it up), is if there are any books that you suggest we get in the meantime? I really want to prepare before hand. I have been to Borders/Barnes, and there are a ton of books in the nursing section, but I don't want to start spending a bunch of money unless it's worth it. Are there any books that you would suggest we read prior to the first semester?

I find out June 1st if I am accepted, and want to start reading right away....only two months to prepare!

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Listen, it's normal to be nervous! My goodness. I agree with the other poster, do NOT read too many horror stories, it will make it worse!

I went into it knowing I was not going to know anything and I was super eager to learn. Knowing that NO ONE in the class knows anything more than me helped a lot. You have to go in knowing you are going to enjoy yourself along the way. And I agree with the other poster, be nice to everyone! don't get caught up in the cliche thing. it's tough enough.

My mum is also a nurse and I remember her coming home at night telling me (keeping patient anonymity of course) about saving a life, or convincing a doctor to change a med and it saved a life, or the bonds she created with her fellow nurses. Everything we do at school is about the global picture. Dwelling on the details of text book stuff is important but not the goal. I have to admit, the most daunting thing for me is facing years of night shifts. my mum did nights my entire life. it was hard...

Smile knowing you are going to get it. And go knowing you are going to make mistakes! it's part of the process, seriously. The world needs more nurses...

oh, and i am from canada and look amazing in my new scrubs. have you checked out scrublovers .com? It's a small company from Canada that makes the cutest stuff. Anyway, an aside.

JUST BREATH girl! You're going to rock it. Don't put so much pressure on yourself.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

i know how you feel, i was accepted into the accelerated program and start in august. i'm nervous as heck, too, but the excitement overrides the butterflies. :clown: i figure that since i've worked so hard just to get to this place, i can't let the negative feelings keep me worried, i plan on fully enjoying what i have left of my free time.

congratulations on your acceptance! this is your new start, go into it with an open mind, and be eager to learn. listen to your instructors, listen to what they teach you and the stories they have to tell. they (likely) have many years of experience, and there is a lot that you can learn from them, even when they don't intend to be teaching. don't be afraid to ask questions, and keep asking them until you understand. the instructors of my basic nursing skills class told us that you will earn more brownie points by asking questions than you will by pretending to know it all.

remember to make friends, not enemies. allies are important as you go through nursing school. having so many others to go to for support or study partners is going to help a ton. family and friends can definitely be helpful, but they won't understand what it really means to be a nursing student like a fellow nursing student will.

just remember some key points to all classes that will help you a ton:

  • take notes, and lots of them. even if you don't think it's relevant. use voice recorders to take notes whenever possible, and archive them and use them to double check anything you're not 100% sure on.

  • use the power point presentations that they use in class if available. they help you keep focused on important keys to study.
  • flashcards are always helpful. aside from self-quizzing back to back, get creative with them. make your own games or creative ways to help you learn them.
  • study partners are important, someone else may see an answer to a question or situation that you never considered. two minds are better than one, and more than two is just amazing.
  • write down questions you want to have answered the next day as they come to you, and if they aren't answered through your studies, make sure you get them answered the next day.

  • study time is important now more than ever. sure a&p and micro were difficult, but they are nothing compared to what you're up against now. make sure you set aside x amount of hours for study every day, and don't blow them off!
  • finally the last of the basics that will help you more than you know: stay hydrated, eat well, exercise regularly, and make sure to get as close to your preferred sleep hours as possible.

you can do it, you've come this far. you've studied and fulfilled your prerequisites, and put forth a ton of effort, so now it's all about you. stay positive, positive people learn far easier than negative people will, so use that to your advantage!

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