New to nursing school

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 15, 2013

Hi dahood!!

Here are a few suggestion:

Starting NOW...don't ever ever EVER pay full price for a text book AGAIN. Go to sites like amazon and half.com to get your text books. It saves money for your "recommended" books-these books are usually resource books that licensed nurses use; you will get much not mileage out of those books than your text books once to begin you career. Feel free to rent textbooks that you may necessarily not need; check with your bookstore in terms of highlighting, etc. in rentals.

In the same vein as the "recommended" books, get a NANDA book; this will prepare you when you write care plans-the foundation of thinking like a nurse.

As far as apps that I used on my iPhone-also available on iPad (check with Android) : epocrates, Medscape, Lippinicott series of NCLEX review. I also have an assessment app for heart, lung, and bowel sounds; these were all FREE.

If anything else I can think of, I will add...

Congrats and best wishes! :up:

Sparrow91 · Sep 17, 2013

I can not answer the first few questions but here are some helpful tips/advice...

1) Get a good planner and USE IT!!! Look ahead in your syllabus and write down all the due dates for ALL of your assignments right from the get go. It is not uncommon for papers, quizes, clinicals, and exams to all happen/be due in the same week. So plan ahead!

2) Do not procrastinate on studying! Start studying from the time you are given the material, spend some time each day with the information.

3) Find some good study groups/support groups! Make the right friends early, even if you study best alone it is nice to get out once and a while and compare notes on your various classes, your class mates may have picked up on something that you may have missed and vice verse. Support and help each other, don't tear each other down, build each other up and cheer each other on your victories (even if you only passed a test by the skin of your teeth).

4) Buy lots and lots of pens! From the time you enter into the nursing profession you gain a pen gremlin. These are little creatures that follow you to your clinical sites, your exams, your study group, and even your own home and deplete you of every pen you own. They can never be satisfied or vanquished.

5) Talk you your friends and family, nursing school really takes a lot of your time and energy. Make sure they understand this commitment and will be supportive.

6) Buy a good stethoscope! All your other supplies can be bought cheap and in bulk on line (penlights, tape measures, bandage scissors ect....). I find that during clinicals nurses sometimes will grab you to listen to interesting sounds and if you have a cheap stethoscope it really is a lost opportunity.

7) Don't talk to upper class-men!!! I have heard war stories from upper class-men that could rival a POW. I am not sure why we seem to feel the need to impress on the lower class-men the full (and much exaggerated) experiences of nursing school, but none the less it happens everywhere.

8) Always have a positive attitude no matter where you are and what situation you are in. You never know when you may want a reference from a professor, or if your future employer may be watching/listening to you!

9) Lastly set aside some time each week for yourself that has absolutely nothing to do with school. You need some time to unwind and to keep yourself sane!

Good luck to you!

jolie_tasso · Sep 17, 2013

Definitely pay $4.99 for the GoodNotes app on your iPad. It's amazing, and I use it everyday for every class!

I second the advice about nursing books. I mostly buy an edition older, and I have never had problems with them. Just check with a classmates book to ensure chapters are the same, and, if not, figure out what the differences are to avoid confusion. This semester I paid $25 total on books. Seriously.

Find what works for you and fast. I spent too much time trying to figure out the best way I retain the material, but once I did figure it out, studying became a breeze (kinda lol). Try out several different studying strategies, and don't be afraid to seek out advice on how your classmates study, especially those doing well.

Don't consume yourself with nursing school. Take time for yourself. Sleep. Eat. Do things you enjoy. After school you will have to continue to so these things while your work, so start balancing your life now.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: don't be intimidated by all the horror stories and doom and gloom on this site, from other students, or anyone. You can do this, and it will be enjoyable. I'm a firm believer that life is what you make it, so go in with confidence and positivity and it will make a huge difference.

Let me know if you need anything else!

Good luck :)

i♥words · Sep 17, 2013

I just started nursing school this semester too. I love the Quizlet app. On Quizlet's website I type up flashcards (instead of handwriting them) and I can study them anywhere using the app on my phone.

Mandy0728 · Sep 17, 2013

Or go to Chegg.com. You can rent or buy them!