New Nursing Student, Needs advice

Mossback · Dec 29, 2009

I started a BSN program in the CSU system last semester. At the time I harbored many of the same fears as you. Happily, most of them turned out to be unfounded.

Perusing your textbooks before the start of school can be daunting. Just remember that you won't have to learn this stuff on your own. You be able to digest it bit by bit during lectures, so it will become thoroughly understandable.

There's nothing in first semseter that's really difficult. The problem is that there is a huge volume of material to go through. It is imperative that you exercise good time management skills. Don't let yourself get behind. Many students find it useful to maintain either a paper calendar or a calendaring ap on a phone or laptop, in order to keep track of reading assignments, papers, skills checkoffs, quizzes and tests.

Be prepared to be tested all the time. In my program we had multiple quizzes per week, as well as frequent tests and regular skills checkoffs. In addition, you'll be under close scrutiny during your clinical hours. This may seem forbidding, but bear in mind that the material isn't that hard to master. There's just a lot of it.

As far as stress is concerned, it will be your companion during much of the semester. I'd suggest that you make friends within your class. Form study groups. Take online quizzes together if your program permits this. Share your frustrations. I tend to be a bit of a loner, but I found the fellowship of other students to be a huge comfort asnd source of support. I'd also recomend that you devote some time to exercise each day, which eases the stress level and can help keep the pounds off. Take care of yourself as much as possible, but resolve yourself to the idea that sleep will be a rarity. For some unfathomable reason, nursing classes at many schools start very early (I never had a day when classes started later than 8:00 AM, and I used to have to get up at 4:45 to get to clinical on time).

Getting along with your instructors isn't a problem if you regularly attend class and are well prepared for the lectures, labs, quizzes, tests and (especially) clinical sessions. Don't try to make excuses if things go badly, and don't ask for special consideration except in a true emergency. Some of the faculty at my school were downright scary at first, but all of them wanted to see their students succeed and worked hard to make that happen. However, because of the nature of the profession, they were insistent that students work hard, show organizational and time management skills, and demonstrate mastery of the material.

Plan on spending most of your time during the semester studying. A number of my classmates started the semester with jobs, but nearly all had quit before the middle of the term. Apply for financial aid or student loans if you must, but don't sabotage your chances by trying to work too may hours. If you have a spouse, significant other, or children, ask their indulgence during the semester.

A final note about Allnurses. This is a wonderful forum and has helped me immeasurably. However, it tends to paint a somewhat darker image of nursing school than is warranted. This is probably because people are more apt to use this sort of resource to air their frustrations than to relate how well things are going. The posts tend to be skewed a bit toward the negative.

To sum up, just work hard, show up on time, and pay attention. You'll do fine. Bear in mind that the atrrtition rate in CSU BSN programs tends to be low because the entrance requirements are quite high. If you did well in your pre-reqs, you can do well in nursing school.

Good luck!

comanda_d · Dec 29, 2009

Thank you so much for your input, you have no idea how much I appreciate it. I will keep in mind everything you said. thank you! good luck to you as well!

premie_nurse · Dec 29, 2009

Hello all,
Im so excited and privledged to be starting nursing school at San Jose State in late January. I am starting to feel very very nervous after looking through my books. Does anyone have any advice for me? How to handle the stress, not gain fifty pounds, and get along with my instructors(these are all things Ive heard to be challenging). any input would be nice, id love to read through them before I dive into my new nursing books. thank you
Alicia

Congrats! I am in my last semester, and it has been a long and rough road, but I am almost at the end of the tunnel!

First off, I might think about whether or not you will work during school... some people don't have a choice. I was under a lot of stress during my first semester because I also had a job, but it is doable. My main piece of advice would be to refrain from procrastination. There is so much to do that it will all just pile up on you if you try to wait until the last minute.

We have ALL gained weight since starting nursing school...lol. If you don't have a job, you should have some time to work out for about 30 minutes a few times a week and that should help. Nursing school is so stressful at times that its sometimes hard to find time to cook and eat full healthy meals, so you end up snacking and eating fast food, and coupled with inactivity, this packs on the pounds!

Ask questions in class and meet with your professors during office hours. This will help you to build relationships and they will in turn know your face and be more likely to do things to help you out in your future nursing career.

Lastly, study SMART, not hard! Learn what works best for you for each class...whether that be reading, flash cards, doing the questions on the CD that accompanies the book, study groups.

Let me know if you have any further questions!

comanda_d · Dec 30, 2009

Thank you, I do plan on working 20-25 hours a week. Hopefully I will be okay since its weekend nights only. I hadn't thought about visiting during office hours to build relationships with my instructors, thanks for the advice!

Alicia

Testa Rosa, RN · Jan 3, 2010

Just finished a CSU BSN program and yes I gained about 10lbs, but I'm older so hopefully it will be different for you.

Just resolve yourself to make school a priority and make sure you let everyone know that you will be in a rigorous nursing program and will be not able to see them as much.

Don't get anxious, it's very doable but it requires focus. Carve out a study area that can handle heavy books. Get lots of back up ink and paper for your printer. Get your favorite type of calendar and a good backpack. It starts out slow so you have time to gear up, as usually you don't have clinicals your first quarter/semester and the skills labs cover easier stuff.

Stay on top of your reading (not that I ever did as I do best by craming)