New Nursing Student

[alexandria25]

I start nursing school in a couple of weeks and I'm nervous! That's normal, right? I am really excited to start this chapter in my life, but I am also really nervous. Any advice you can give me about school, studying, necessities I might need? Thank you!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Congratulations! I moved your thread to the General Nursing Student forum to ensure best response.

My advice: do not procrastinate! I have previously elevated procrastination to an art form, but in grad school I have forced myself to abandon that bad habit. Trust me, it's a much better experience if you aren't racing a deadline. :)

[k.janks]

Congratulations on nursing school! I just posted to another user's thread who had a very similar topic, so yes, it is normal!!! I just graduated from a BSN program and I too remember sharing these nervous feelings when I started. My piece of advice to the other poster was to try to get as prepared as possible when you begin each semester--to do this I made a color coded calendar based on each courses syllabus (the syllabus in our program was posted 1-week prior to the course start date electronically). Each course received its own color and I entered information such as course readings that were due, test dates, projects/papers that were due etc. I then reviewed the syllabus and any paper/projects rubrics and jotted down any questions I had so I could get clarification when the syllabus was reviewed in class. I made my calendar just using a word template calendar and this helped to make changes easy--expect changes! Making the calendar can just help you feel a little more prepared, a little more like you have a plan. It helped me to visual the semester--but expect that there will be changes to it, because it is nursing school and things change all of the time, which is why having a calendar is mighty handy.

Necessities: The first semester of nursing school I found having a sheet that guided me through a head-to-toe assessment very handy, you can find many of these on the internet, you just need to find the format that works for you. Highlighters, pens, pencils. I always had a mini-bound notebook with me to jot things down during clinicals--we had to do electronic charting on a simulated electronic chart at home which is why this was handy for me. If you choose to use the mini-bound notebook I cut-up my assessment guide and pasted it into the first couple pages of notebook. Honestly though, the necessities you will find by trial and error, and they will be necessities to you because they will help you work safely, smartly, and efficiently--it is really what works best for you! You will see nurses on the floor and like their style and may "take" a piece of it with you. Stethoscope--I originally got the Littman Cardiology Stethoscope (it was a gift when I started school), but I could never hear right on it. Midway through school I ordered the Littman II S.E. and I am so glad I did, I can hear so much better on it and it was much cheaper, which is why I am telling you.

All the best to you and congratulations on starting nursing school!

[srush]

Thank you!!! K.Janks...I two is starting next week nursing school and the tips that you post..help me a lot thank you and I'm looking forward also starting a new chapter in my life..

[k.janks]

Srush,

Glad the tips were helpful! Best of luck in nursing school!