Nurses/Nursing Students:What advice would you give someone starting Nursing School?

U.S.A. New Jersey

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Specializes in ER, Family Practice, Free Clinics.

HAVE FUN! You *do* have to study, and nursing school is hard, but don't buy into the hype that its hell, or like bootcamp, or that you don't see your family for two years. You have to MAKE time for yourself and not listen to all your classmates freaking out.

My best advice- listen to headphones from the parking lot all the way to your seat on exam days so you don't hear all the anxiety attacks.

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Thanks!

the best thing is to love what you do, to do what you love. that is a saying in arabic

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Specializes in PCICU.

The best advice i got was from a nurse on my 2nd clinical rotation...just get through school. What you will learn in school and what applies in real life are 2 different things, so just figure out how to graduate. Don't sweat the small stuff...school will teach how to be a critical thinker, the rest works itself out.

The advice i will give to you is to just hang in there. There was a lot of stress and anxiety and lots of tears (i was in a night program and most people worked F/T and/or had kids, so everyone was stressed to the max...so this was true for us). Just get through it. I think the beginning may seem overwhelming because you have so much to learn, whereas the later part of nursing school, you will build on the knowledge you have (however, its still stressful). Prioritize. Don't be a follower, but know when to lay low (especially with evil instructors/professors...) Don't be afraid to make mistakes, BUT ALWAYS ASK or/and do your research. Be prepared. When things get tough, have a drink, a good cry, and get back to work ;).

And, however said to clean your place now cause it wont happen for a few years...SO TRUE! lol...

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Get a nurse tech job at a hospital. You will learn more there than at clinicals. You only need to work 1 shift a week, but it will help.

I cannot agree with you because it is depends on the hospital.

You can only do nurse tech after passing the first semester and most hospitals only use you as CNA. You will only master the basic nursing skills.

I think after completing the first year, and externship would be better.

I learn more in clinicals than been a nurse tech.

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No man is an island, form relationships with trustowrhty classmates. Remember that nurses eat their young, so trust your gut for those teachers that are all about making you feel stupid :devil: ; then try to stay away from them. Stock up on groceries and the earlier post about cleaning your house was dead on. I started an accel. program in January and I haven't seen the floor or my child since (perhaps the floor ate her :rotfl: ). Tell those around you this will be the most selfish time of your life and if they love you they will understand. I have never had so much support in my life and I have never needed it. Good luck.

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Give your house a good, thorough cleaning, because it'll be two years before you clean it again.

LOL! Too true! My husband did laundry for the first time in I don't know how long last night b/c I had my nose in a book all week studying!

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Specializes in SICU.

Study the why of things, not just rote memorization. Get an nclex review book, even from the beginning. It can be used (cheap), but make sure that it covers the different content areas and is not just a random test. Learning how to answer nursing questions comes with practice and is one of the biggest shocks to most first semester nursing students. Welcome to nursing.

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Specializes in Emergency.
.. Remember that nurses eat their young, so trust your gut for those teachers that are all about making you feel stupid :devil: ;...

I keep hearing this and have a problem with it. It's a gross generalization that I believe is based on a minority of nurses who are burnt out and highly cynical. My experience through a CNA course, 2 semesters of clinicals and my externship (in progress) is that most nurses love what they do, are happy to teach and want you to succeed. This is especially true with the instructors at my school. Maybe it's different at other schools and in other hospitals than the 3 I have (limited) experience in, but I'd like to think not.

I don't mind being questioned on the spot by instructors/preceptors (what's this drug do?, what's that lab value mean?, what's the biggest concern with this pt?, what do you do first in this situation?, etc.). I know my stuff and I also have no problem saying, "I don't know".

JMHO

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If questions like those were the comments I was reffering to, then I would have no problems either. I also know my stuff and I enjoy such questions, preparing for them is what helps you to learn your trade and perfect your craft. Try not to be offended by an age old saying that has been passed down from generation to generation, it's not directed at you and yours or anyone else to whom it does not apply. However, the saying has withstood the test of time for a reason. Nurses that abuse and misteat new nurses are not as few and far between as you might think and I am glad that you have not run into any during your time and study.

The comment was made to address specfically the nurses that will call you stupid for little things that have nothing to do with your nursing knowledge or ability and everything to do with your inexperience. Those questions you mentioned can all be answered from a book save one, the one about certain situations and those questions tend to be the ones when you can find yourself in a tight spot. Only experience can teach you that and only patience will allow you room to make mistakes. Not every nurse was born to teach and those that "eat their young" may just be good nurses and very poor teachers.

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pray pray and pray some more, Nahhhh its all good I think the very first post explained it the best. tears, highs , lows excitement, celebtations, tiredness, late nights and study study study, if you want it bad enough you'll do it!!!!!! all the best

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SCHEDULE your time!!! Don't listen to people who say you'll have no life in nursing school. Make time for everything. Set aside certain hours for study, then make sure you STOP when it's done. Set aside other hours for PLAY, WORK, SIGNIFICANT OTHER, SOCIALIZING, whatever. The key is to stay well rounded.

Do PRACTICE QUESTIONS!!!! That was the single best advice someone gave me going into nursing school. See if anyone you know has CD's full of questions, and burn yourself a copy. Mosby is great, and Saunders. You can break the questions down by category.

DO get a tech job or Nurses aid at a hospital. The experience is invaluable, and will look impressive on a resume. Search hospital websites for openings.

And remember, there is no reality, only perception. :D

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Specializes in Hospice, ER.

Learn how to answer NCLEX questions.

Get up and put one foot in front of the other, because some days you will be tired.

Expect to cry. It's therapeutic.

You don't have to like your teachers or classmates, but do your best to get along with them. Some would try the patience of a saint.

Find a study technique that works and stick with it.

It's ok to buy used textbooks. The college bookstore is expensive. Just be careful who you buy them from.

Stock up on index cards, folders, binders, paper, pads, pens, pencils - the best sales are in late August.

Good luck!

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