New MSN student tips & tricks

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Specializes in ICU.

Okay everyone,

I just learned this evening that I was ACCEPTED to start an Adult MSN program for the Fall! I'm thrilled, excited, and nervous to begin this three year process.

I will be working full time (three 12's) at my current position in the ICU, while going to school part-time.

I do not have children.

I was hoping everyone could offer some of their tips and tricks for NP school. Anything that you think would help, I would love to hear:yeah:

Thank you

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Telemetry, Oncology.

WOW!!

CONGRATULATIONS!! Where did you get accepted? This is a good question!

I just got accepted into TWU (Denton campus) FAMILY NP Program. I'm also going part-time (3 years). I work nights on a MED/TELE/ONC floor (three 12hr shifts) with no kids or spouse.

I would also like to here from CURRENT or FORMER NP students on new advice for beginning FNP students!

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As someone who has 66 days until graduation (but who's counting, right?) I can say that the single best piece of advice I can give you is this:

Don't get behind!!!!

Sounds simple, I know, but it can happen very quickly and before you know it you're trying to claw your way out a big old hole you've dug for yourself. Don't let it happen.

Have your calendar ready (one big enough to write lots of things down) and sit down with every syllabus each semester and enter the dates when assignments are due. Then use a highlighter to mark those that are biggies (tests, scholarly papers, etc.) so you can't possibly miss them. Personally I like to make a little square to the left of each calendar entry because I feel strangely satisfied by putting a check in the box for each item I accomplish!

Budget and guard your time. If you're going to work full-time (which no one I know can actually accomplish while also doing 30-hr wk of clinicals) you absolutely must be realistic with your time and expectations. Family & friends must know that you won't have much recreational time during the program and that you will strategically ignore/neglect them when deadlines dictate. Some of them will stick with you and some may fall away, but you just can't attend every single baby shower, birthday party, bridal lunch, church activity, or sports event that you did before you got started.

Boundaries are important and if you live with others they need to know that just because you're home, doesn't mean you're "off."

This whole deal has been a GREAT adventure! I've learned so many things that didn't have anything to do with nursing or medicine - and I hope the same for you, too.

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Just graduated May 7th, BEST ADVICE !!! Do not get behind!!! true...... No time (I worked fulltime through out) for friends or family.... (very little, I mean very little), but most will understand....... if not they really don't care about what is important to you,

Just my 2 cents!! good luck!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Telemetry, Oncology.

I was beginning to think about my class schedule. Now, of course, I'm going part-time, so I will be only taking about 6 or 7 hours at MOST each semester. I've heard HORROR STORIES of taking Adv.Patho & Adv.Pharm at the same time or either of these with Adv. Assessment.

Would anyone RECOMMEND, which classes work best with each other and which to ABSOLUTELY AVOID taking together?

I was thinking of taking theory & adv.assessment (1st semester), then research & adv. patho (2nd semester), and Adv.Pharm & Adv.Nursing Role (3rd semester). What do you think?

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Thanks for the advice!

missvictoriat, I am starting my 4th semester for FNP Monday, also going part-time. I took Advanced Pharm and Patho together Spring semester and it was tough! If I had it to do over, I definitely would've taken with an easier class like Role Development or Healthcare Policy. But I wanted to start clinicals this summer and needed to get both Pharm and Patho done first. Health Assessment is hard also, but I found it more interesting. I took it alone cause I had heard horror stories. Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych, Chem Dependency, Occ. Health.

I took Advanced Patho with Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice. I took Advanced Pharm with Health Care Policy. I would not advise taking them together. I'd take Patho first, once you understand ALL about receptors, it makes Pharm so much easier.

Sue

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Specializes in Critical Care.

CONGRATS!

I also graduate soon (in 2 months!!) and I wholeheartedly agree with the advice of not getting behind. I used google calendars to keep my assignments and due dates straight and I thought it worked great. It also helped me keep track of my clinical hours. I would sit with my syllabus each semester and enter the dates into the calendar. Very user friendly. Every morning it is the first thing I look at (it is set as my home page on my laptop).

A tip that I didn't do well but wish I had. Skim through lecture notes prior to listening or going to the actual lecture and then re-read those notes in the evening after that class. I didn't do it often but when I did, I felt that I retained the information better. I wish I had been more committed to doing this.

Find a good study place. If I am at home, there are a lot of distractions and my family thinks I am "available." Go to the library, Starbucks or my favorite, Panera :)

Don't stress too much (easier said than done. see my previous posts on my out of control stress in clinical rotations.:D) and enjoy the opportunity. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I was beginning to think about my class schedule. Now, of course, I'm going part-time, so I will be only taking about 6 or 7 hours at MOST each semester. I've heard HORROR STORIES of taking Adv.Patho & Adv.Pharm at the same time or either of these with Adv. Assessment.

Would anyone RECOMMEND, which classes work best with each other and which to ABSOLUTELY AVOID taking together?

I was thinking of taking theory & adv.assessment (1st semester), then research & adv. patho (2nd semester), and Adv.Pharm & Adv.Nursing Role (3rd semester). What do you think?

They all have there own challenges. I took Adv assessment, Theory, Patho and Pharm all together and did fine. It was hard but doable. Our pharm and patho was strictly lecture and exams so it was all studying. With the theory and nursing role classes, you have to write papers. In my opinion, they are worse. The truth is, in the long run, it won't really matter. Just dig in and get it done. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

Awesome tips so far! Let's keep 'em coming. I know there must be tons of new students out there about to begin or in their program that would love to hear some more!

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Thought of another one:

If you choose your own preceptors (as is customary with many distance programs) do your homework on your possibilities. If at all possible, do NOT be someone's first student to precept. Choose someone with precepting experience who will sit down with you and discuss what YOUR goals are for the rotation, as well as what you feel are your weaknesses and strengths going into the rotation.

Right now I'm working with someone who is a very experienced preceptor and it's going great. She's tough, but really keeps me on my toes and has high expectations...but not TOO high. I don't leave feeling discouraged at the end of the day, but I do walk out with a clear idea of what I need to brush up on prior to going into clinic the next day.

I had a preceptor in the past who had not had a student prior to me. NOT GOOD. Her expectations were not communicated clearly, they seemed unrealistic, she did not like having someone follow her around, and was not able to "give up" patients to me and let me see them by myself. Some people really need to control the visit and keep a tight grip on that, which is fine, but not great if they have a student. I feel discouraged each day I was there and cried myself home on more than one occasion.

Best of luck!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Telemetry, Oncology.
Thought of another one:

If you choose your own preceptors (as is customary with many distance programs) do your homework on your possibilities. If at all possible, do NOT be someone's first student to precept. Choose someone with precepting experience who will sit down with you and discuss what YOUR goals are for the rotation, as well as what you feel are your weaknesses and strengths going into the rotation.

Right now I'm working with someone who is a very experienced preceptor and it's going great. She's tough, but really keeps me on my toes and has high expectations...but not TOO high. I don't leave feeling discouraged at the end of the day, but I do walk out with a clear idea of what I need to brush up on prior to going into clinic the next day.

I had a preceptor in the past who had not had a student prior to me. NOT GOOD. Her expectations were not communicated clearly, they seemed unrealistic, she did not like having someone follow her around, and was not able to "give up" patients to me and let me see them by myself. Some people really need to control the visit and keep a tight grip on that, which is fine, but not great if they have a student. I feel discouraged each day I was there and cried myself home on more than one occasion.

Best of luck!!

WOW! GREAT ADVICE, MAMMAC5! How did you go about finding perceptors? Find previous students?

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