Nursing School Essentials

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Specializes in EMS.
Nursing School Essentials

Hello all. So I'm starting the ASN program at Rasmussen university February 9th! I'm so excited and nervous. Those that are already knee deep in the trenches that is nursing school (and/or have already finished) any advice on how to be successful? What essentials should I be getting?

background on me: I started out as a CNA back in 2012, eventually went for my emt ,911 medic and and medical assistant currently working for a mobile urgent care. Hoping that some of that experience will help me but I've been told nursing is a whole different monster so whatever advice you have will be greatly appreciated. TIA

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Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

Mostly its things that are easy to understand but hard to do.

1. app blockers for phones, to prevent urge for social media (like this).

2. read one of the excellent reads on memory techniques, lots of books on amazon, many say the same or similar things. most are great!

3. avoid drama, which you probably understand since you have worked a real job which many have not.

4. be humble and know your limitations

4.5. don't brag or pat yourself on the back

5. find some good study tunes (without words, instrumental preferred)

6. I wouldn't really study in groups, after going through nursing school, NP school, and medical school, I've found that group study sessions are usually pointless

7. start NCLEX questions early. It is never too early to start. questions should be used to learn and guide your performance, not just the latter.

8. find a good Youtube channel for nursing stuff. There was one dude who like makes videos but I forgot his name

9. exercise, doesn't matter what

10. get enough sleep. Some people say that can function on little or no sleep or that allnighters are good. This is just not true. The all nighter people fall into the same crowd as #6, the data just does not back it up.

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Specializes in EMS.
54 minutes ago, Tegridy said:

Mostly its things that are easy to understand but hard to do.

1. app blockers for phones, to prevent urge for social media (like this).

2. read one of the excellent reads on memory techniques, lots of books on amazon, many say the same or similar things. most are great!

3. avoid drama, which you probably understand since you have worked a real job which many have not.

4. be humble and know your limitations

4.5. don't brag or pat yourself on the back

5. find some good study tunes (without words, instrumental preferred)

6. I wouldn't really study in groups, after going through nursing school, NP school, and medical school, I've found that group study sessions are usually pointless

7. start NCLEX questions early. It is never too early to start. questions should be used to learn and guide your performance, not just the latter.

8. find a good Youtube channel for nursing stuff. There was one dude who like makes videos but I forgot his name

9. exercise, doesn't matter what

10. get enough sleep. Some people say that can function on little or no sleep or that allnighters are good. This is just not true. The all nighter people fall into the same crowd as #6, the data just does not back it up.

THANK YOU! I hated the study groups lowkey even back in paramedic school. didn't seem useful imo. I appreciate the tips!

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9 hours ago, ToshaAnn4 said:

Hello all. So I’m starting the ASN program at Rasmussen university February 9th! I’m so excited and nervous. Those that are already knee deep in the trenches that is nursing school (and/or have already finished) any advice on how to be successful? What essentials should I be getting?

background on me: I started out as a CNA back in 2012, eventually went for my emt ,911 medic and and medical assistant currently working for a mobile urgent care. Hoping that some of that experience will help me but I’ve been told nursing is a whole different monster so whatever advice you have will be greatly appreciated. TIA

The technology stuff - Make sure you have a good laptop (with updated programs) so when you have to upload documents you aren't waiting for hours to submit a document, a printer, a good efficient cell phone, your own pulse ox for clinical..

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Specializes in CNA.

Start studying and practicing math dosage calculations right now! Don't wait, if you get less than a 90% or in some schools less than 100% your kicked out. 

On 1/7/2022 at 2:51 PM, ToshaAnn4 said:

THANK YOU! I hated the study groups lowkey even back in paramedic school. didn't seem useful imo. I appreciate the tips!

agree they are just time wasters, and the wrong information tends to get passed around and the majority always wins even though they are wrong. Hard pass

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Specializes in ICU.

1. Stethoscope, I recommend Littman classic or lightweight, affordable and reliable.

2. Good computer

3. Good shoes

4. Scissors, 4 color pen, highlighter of choice, fine tip sharpie, regular sharpie. This is what is on me every shift as an ICU nurse along with my stethoscope.

5. Good attitude and study habits. 
 

Everything else is secondary and are things you’ll find a way to deal with as you go along.

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42 minutes ago, 0.9%NormalSarah said:

1. Stethoscope, I recommend Littman classic or lightweight, affordable and reliable.

2. Good computer

3. Good shoes

4. Scissors, 4 color pen, highlighter of choice, fine tip sharpie, regular sharpie. This is what is on me every shift as an ICU nurse along with my stethoscope.

5. Good attitude and study habits. 
 

Everything else is secondary and are things you’ll find a way to deal with as you go along.

Yes good shoes are important! may I recommend one? I swear by these, Nike Air Force 1's, my feet NEVER hurt after a 12 1/2 hour shift ever since I started wearing these. All the girls with the clogs complain of pain. 

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Specializes in EMS.

Thank you guys!!! I appreciate all the tips

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Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

Personally I feel like for most things the 20-30 dollar stethoscopes work just as well as the expensive ones, excluding electronic ones which seem to be good, but honestly not worth to get one even for providers.

Partly d/t stethoscope essentially just being a wheeze detector nowadays. Occasionally helpful for murmurs but what we hear doesn’t always line up well at all with what we find on tte.

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Specializes in Nursing student.

How did you like the program? I'm thinking about transferring to it.

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
On 1/14/2022 at 9:32 PM, Tegridy said:

Personally I feel like for most things the 20-30 dollar stethoscopes work just as well as the expensive ones, excluding electronic ones which seem to be good, but honestly not worth to get one even for providers.

Partly d/t stethoscope essentially just being a wheeze detector nowadays. Occasionally helpful for murmurs but what we hear doesn’t always line up well at all with what we find on tte.

YMMV.  I bought the eko (electric stethoscope) and it's been a godsend.  24 years of sirens and loud noises, I simply cannot hear bowel sounds or heart tones without it.

I don't use it for lung sounds though, it sounds very different from what my ears are used to assessing for the last 20+ years. 

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