Nursing School Starting Soon!!

StayOrthostatic · Aug 13, 2015

My LPN program begins soon, this week! Although I haven't started yet, I'm surrounded by nursing friends/coworkers, and the one thing I'm continuously told is time management. Putting things off = running out of time = more stress = mental breakdown.

They all say regular exercise helps with focus, and although your social life won't be as active, having one or two GOOD friends who understand will be invaluable. Eat well. Be upbuilding, helpful, and kind to your classmates. They are your one-of-a-kind support group. I keep a week by week planner, and that's always helped me.

It's all common sense, but I guess we all need reminders from time to time. Easier said than done. I also plan to record every lecture on my laptop so I'm not freaking out about missing anything, and I am DETERMINED to make time for myself! I refuse to allow nursing school to be a miserable experience. I am determined to work hard, and to have fun doing it. Hope all goes well for you!

missycrowell · Aug 13, 2015

Don't get caught up in the drama. It will eventually come out. Have fun, enjoy skills lab and sim labs. Study everyday, don't wait until two days before to start. Read the chapters including the boxes that we tend to skip over. Always smile on clinical and be professional, someone's always watching. Good luck! You got this!

noelly10 · Aug 13, 2015

Don't get caught up in the drama. It will eventually come out. Have fun, enjoy skills lab and sim labs. Study everyday, don't wait until two days before to start. Read the chapters including the boxes that we tend to skip over. Always smile on clinical and be professional, someone's always watching. Good luck! You got this!

I disagree on the study everyday thing. I think if you study every single day, you will wear yourself down.

If one day you are at that point where you feel anything you study won't stick and you feel like breaking down, DONT study. It's a waste of time to study when you don't feel you'll retain anything anyway. It is okay to take one day if you need it to collect yourself and your thoughts.

Also, don't just "study for the test". Because one day you'll be out of school and taking care of people on your own. Study for both the test, and your general knowledge. It will help you in the clinical setting if you get out of the mindset of just studying for your next test. If a teacher says "you don't need to know this for the test, its just for your general knowledge", don't focus hard on it, but familiarize yourself with it because they wouldn't present information to you if they didn't think you wouldn't use it in your career at some point.

Also, when you are both in the clinical setting and classroom setting, don't take anything anyone says personally. Patients will say things that may hurt your feelings, but don't let it. They are in the hospital and stressed and may not really mean what they say. Also, your classmates will be equally as stressed from school and may say and do rude things. Let it roll off your back though. Don't feed into the drama, it isn't worth it.

Don't study all hours of the night. Get some good sleep, you'll need it. If you deprive your body of sleep, you'll run down your immune system and you won't be able to think clearly. Even if someone says "I stayed up until 3am studying"... Don't let that make you feel you have to do it too.

Good luck!

missycrowell · Aug 13, 2015

I disagree on the study everyday thing. I think if you study every single day, you will wear yourself down.
If one day you are at that point where you feel anything you study won't stick and you feel like breaking down, DONT study. It's a waste of time to study when you don't feel you'll retain anything anyway. It is okay to take one day if you need it to collect yourself and your thoughts.
Also, don't just "study for the test". Because one day you'll be out of school and taking care of people on your own. Study for both the test, and your general knowledge. It will help you in the clinical setting if you get out of the mindset of just studying for your next test. If a teacher says "you don't need to know this for the test, its just for your general knowledge", don't focus hard on it, but familiarize yourself with it because they wouldn't present information to you if they didn't think you wouldn't use it in your career at some point.
Also, when you are both in the clinical setting and classroom setting, don't take anything anyone says personally. Patients will say things that may hurt your feelings, but don't let it. They are in the hospital and stressed and may not really mean what they say. Also, your classmates will be equally as stressed from school and may say and do rude things. Let it roll off your back though. Don't feed into the drama, it isn't worth it.
Don't study all hours of the night. Get some good sleep, you'll need it. If you deprive your body of sleep, you'll run down your immune system and you won't be able to think clearly. Even if someone says "I stayed up until 3am studying"... Don't let that make you feel you have to do it too.
Good luck!

I was really just saying don't wait till the last minute to study is all.

noelly10 · Aug 13, 2015

I was really just saying don't wait till the last minute to study is all.

Well then use those words instead of "study every day"

That's horrible advice compared to "don't wait till the last minute to study"