New NP Student Tips...Please help!!

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 24, 2015

I am really sorry but didn't it occur to you that on grad level 50+% of studies are expected to happen independently?

It is very unfortunately if you BSN program did not give you opportunities to master learning skills such as time management, independent study habits without mandatory "study group", constant self-testing, searching for and using study resources and regular self-assignments on the level necessary for being successful in graduate school. As things are, you will have to get to this level now and face very steep learning curve.

Remember that as an NP you will be at least partially independent as a provider and so, in plain English, be all alone on the wind, being it warm or cold. Because of this, you will have to study a whole lot and alone, and so a habit of being part of study group is something you'd better part with now. My program specially warned my class against forming such groups, for this very reason.

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Oct 24, 2015

KatieMI is right, study at the MSN level is very different than what you have experienced before. We have many people that know each other and we do not study together. I would recommend giving it some time as far as the friendship thing goes. With your first group project you will make more contacts. Good luck!

MayMSN · Oct 24, 2015

Thank your advice, I really appreciate it. I do know that I to step it up in terms of the time management. I do know know a lot of the students are in groups in my cohort so that is why being alone is hard to take. I guess each institution is different. I guess my vision of graduate school was this supportive environment but all I am seeing it is mostly people try to get ahead. I am confident that I will find my path and niche. I will remember your insight of doing things more independently. Thank you

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 24, 2015

Each institution may be different but what you all are going to do after that is not. Advanced practice nursing is where all the babble about teamwork comes to its end. You are not going anymore to gather a team to push that 600+lbs. body up in bed. You either know what to do with his Afib/RVR and why his AST is climbing up or you do not, in which case your job is simply to find someone who does and watch how he works things up. Meanwhile, you open your Harrison's and read everything you can about Afib/RVR and so forth, because next time that knowledgeable guy may not be around. Repeat as needed.

I got "Principles of pharmacotherapeutics" (a basic text for PharmDs) a few months ago and decided to read it to see if I am ready to grad school level pharm. Now when I am in class, pharm is a walk in the park while eating piece of cake but on my job pharmacists make sour faces because they feel that I kinda know about as much as they do. They do not know yet that I am reading med school level physiology and it is just cool:speechless: :bookworm:

MayMSN · Oct 24, 2015

Nice you are taking the initiative in getting ahead in your studies! Definitely will use this advice before I take pharm next year. Thanks again!

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2015

I guess this is one aspect I am glad that I am doing my classes online. Also, nothing is worse when there are people who were in my undergrad that I do not remember!

LucyLou88, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 25, 2015

I don't think the negative, shaming comments you have gotten from this post are helpful to you. I guess you are getting a taste of how nasty nurses can be to one another. It's ironic that the same people who tell you to grow up and stop whining (the gist of the reply I reference here) are in the business of helping people. Ignore them, they are miserable people who want to share that misery.

So...I am about 1/4 into my FNP program. It is not a social experience, that's for sure. I am often surprised at the competitive, cut throat nature of the students, and the general unfriendliness of people in the program. My school is seriously disorganized and zero help with anything. I have no idea how I will ever set up a preceptor situation for clinicals.

How do I handle this? First, I throw all of my prior expectations out of the window. Bam. I take each day, each assignment, and each interaction with others in the program, be it students, instructors, or administration as it comes. I spend an incredible amount of time doing research, and even the group or team projects are really just each of us doing research alone, and then submitting it to one another. I am a social creature lie most humans, and appreciate a kind and collaborative environment. Some of that is cultural too. If you were raised in a comfortable, happy home in the suburbs, or come from a highly educated background and family, your expectation of people and your trust level is very different from some of the people you encounter in nursing. There are some angry people who approach life with a serious chip on their should in this line of work, especially if you are in a big city.

So, all of that said: I suggest you create a nice network of people around you, and they do not need to be nurses or people in your program. You needs support. Make some new friends, and find one good mentor in your community. Join your local NP associations as a student member. There will be someone who fits your style and will love to mentor you unofficially at least. Maybe that will turn into a preceptor situation later.

If your program is a train wreck (like mine) send emails to those in charge asking for what you need. You may not get it, but you will have an electronic trail of trying to get your needs met. Keep asking, and CC the director of your program now and then. Everyone answers to someone. Keep that in mind.

Graduate school is strange. It is more like working at a job that you are unprepared for with no pay, and rude, unhelpful people all around you. I have learned to see it as a challenge, and I refuse to let anyone defeat me in my endeavor to become an FNP. I have been through hell with my school. Horrendous "coaches" they have hired to help the instructors, advisors not returning emails and jacking up my schedule, threats to block my registration because of a paperwork error, having to be revaccinated to the point of near death because of negative titers, and nobody will help us find NP's for preceptors. I get it. It's not fun. It's never going to be fun. Luckily, it's temporary, and you have a goal. Do what you have to do for two years, and never look back. Each day, visualize yourself as an NP, in a practice you love, happy, healthy, and living the life you want to live.

Time management? Well, you have to let everything go. Your house will have to be messy, and you may have to start eating a lot of sandwiches and salads (easy/no cook meals). You may need to cut back your hours at work. Time management is a skill, but there are only 24 hours you have to work with at a time. You may have to let people and things go who are sucking your time away...FB, online chats, phone conversations...you have to shut the door to much of your old life to get this done.

Hope this helps...My best to you.

BirkieGirl · Oct 25, 2015

i agree with the above. i am about 2/3 done and the program is hybrid, half online and half on campus. it is TOUGH. i too feel like i am only given half the info and have to spend time i don't have seeking out the rest...

time mgt in grad school can be especially difficult because for ME, i am in a very different place in life. as an undergrad i was single, lived with my parents, and only had to go to school and my little part time student job. as a grad student i am a wife with two needy kids and working full time as a RN. i actually left a job that i loved to be able to pull this off.

i too approached classmates about a study group and was met with no love. turns out MANY of my classmates did their BSN together and they are one big group with no room to let anybody else in.

that said, my house is a wreck, i basically work, study sleep. repeat. no room for just about anything else. when i first started i only took one class a semester but now that i'm actually into the FNP classes i am barely keeping up.

hang in there and know it will all be worth it. meet with your profs on a regular basis (if online program Skype with them) and state your concerns. let them know you are doing your best. i don't know about your program, but mine requires a specific GPA in every class to be welcomed back the next semester. added stress...

MayMSN · Oct 25, 2015

Thank you so much LucyLou. Your insight and advice have been a tremendous help. I'm hopefulthat school will get better. It's nice somebody was able understand what I was conveying in my post. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I wish you well in your nursing journey as well :)

MayMSN · Oct 25, 2015

Thank you so much Birkie Girl for taking the time to reply. Your advice is very helpful. I'm glad I'm not the only one who went through not being able to find a group during the program. :)

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

Also, I read through here and sometimes people post interesting books. I bought a patho book, a pharm book, and a lab book that may be useful. Bigwords is useful for looking for school books.