busby's mom

I love it cause it's so true! A fellow classmate and friend and I have discussed whether or not to speak "nurse" to our non-nursing friends and want to in order to use our new language, but hesitate because we're afraid they'll think we're showing off!

Thanks to everyone who posted comments. They were very encouraging and supportive which I needed so much! I try to explain this stuff to friends and family, but in all honesty, no one gets it unless they have either already been in the program or are currently in it. There's just so much to learn and comprehend! Oh, and super congrats to superramvette for getting an A! Woo Hoo!

You're absolutely right! These tests are like nothing I've ever taken before! I really thought that I understood that before I entered the program, but until you actually take the tests, you really have no clue! I will try to embrace the grades and will work more on the application. I thought taking practice tests would help me more though. Congrats to you and good luck as you progress! Thanks for your reply!

Thanks for what you said....all of it! I'm actually improving in the fact that this time I didn't cry after getting a B. LOL! So that's progress! I guess it's just hard because I feel like I understand it and put so much time into it that you would think I would get an A. It's probably going to be good for me to break free of the perfectionist mentality. And, you're right, I definitely learn from my mistakes when we have test reviews. I just want to be a great nurse, but I guess being a great test taker doesn't mean a hill of beans if I can't apply what I know and give good care to the client. Thanks again!

Hi! I was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions regarding studying for exams so that I can actually make an A. I make notecards, read, take practice exam after practice exam and even do some study groups (which sometimes help and other times I feel are more like chat sessions). I put so much time and effort into my studies (even giving up having a life!) all to get B's. Any thoughts? This is new for me and I must admit that I cried after my first test when I saw the B. It might sound silly to some, but I am VERY type A and have been my entire life so I strive for perfection and expect alot from myself. I know it's possible to get A's because people do, I just wish I could figure out what I'm not doing. Thanks for listening!

To KAR38: I feel for you because you're right, the program is overwhelming and we were told that no one else will understand the stress, etc. of the program except those who have been through or who are going through it now. Try to find a group that will let you join in. I would think someone would be nice enough to reach out to you once you make it known that you're alone right now. Good Luck! I hope you find a buddy!

I would definitely be interested in a study group! In case you don't know this, the Saunder's NCLEX study guide is a GREAT study tool. I read this several places and someone at orientation advised me to get it as well (this was after I already had bought it). You can go to the sections that you're studying and take tests and it gives you the rationales behind the right and wrong answers which further cements the information into your brain. I don't start until next week, but have read in many books that the more you take practice tests while studying, the better the information is retained. I don't know about anyone else, but if I understand the how's and why's of something, I remember it so much better! I also think that bouncing off different things with each other will be beneficial because we can give each other incite into the various areas. Great idea!

I make note cards in addition to my notes with answers on one side and the facts on the other and quiz myself. Also, alphabet cues work well or acronyms work well too. Another suggestion maybe try making a motto or phrase to help job your memory or mnemonics. Little pictures or rhymes help alot and when you remember it during your test, it makes you smile and helps relieve a little test anxiety!

I feel exactly the way peytonsmom says! We start a week from Sunday...yes, Sunday and I'm so excited and looking forward to it! To those who have to get up early, try having to get up at 4 and be on the road by 4:45 to drive 1 1/2 to main campus for labs so I totally understand! :zzzzz Now, I am an early bird, but more like getting up between 6 and 630. It's easy when the sun is up, but come fall and winter when the sun isn't up yet....I may need to get a rooster! And to the person who says they aren't good at studying, I think you'll find that since you want this so much, you will find the study-geek within! We will survive! That should be our mantra and theme song! We're all s.

To musiclovingpisces I am also a pisces so my advice is read all you can on this site and get on amazon and check out Saunder's Student Nurse Planner and Test Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students by Nugent and Vitale. I have been reading and studying these as well as reading "How to Succeed in Nursing School and Maybe Even Love it" and they have given me lots of advice, websites and tips as well as this site and other nursing students. Keep looking on here and those of us who start before you can offer you advice to help you through so look as starting later as a good thing (although I do understand your frustration!) Good luck to you!

Oh okay. You were the first person who started and had orientation on the same days so I thought we might be classmates. My school is in Tennessee.

oh my gosh, i feel the exact same way!! i used to hit up pre-nursing all the time, and now i spend nearly all my time on allnurses here "general nursing student" and i'm sooo excited!! orientation is aug. 26, and i start aug. 31, so nothing to report yet! are you going to motlow by any chance because those are the exact dates and events for me and that's where i'm going!

i am slightly younger than you and am changing careers. i have 2 classes left other than nursing classes, but i figure i can take them in the summer instead of with my nursing ones. i want to concentrate on those! like you, i have a family and am proud that i'm not letting age or anything get in the way of accomplishing my goals so i say way to go! it won't be easy, but we can do it! if your husband is anything like mine, you'll be okay! having a supportive family is half the battle and i definitely do so i hope you do as well! good luck to you!

I also purchased a voice recorder because I agree that you can never get everything they say. Plus, some days I have an hour and a half commute so that will be time well spent listening to the lectures again. I bought a Saunder's student planner which I have been looking through and reading and I highly recommend getting one! It has much more than calendars and day planners. There are clinical tips, websites, etc. I got it on Amazon. I also purchased Test Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students and have been reading and taking notes from it as well. It was part of our recommended list and I decided to buy it after reading the reviews on Amazon. To the person who said they read ahead, that's exactly what this book suggests. That way, you have a grasp on what the instructor is saying and it's not all brand new. I have even read to make sure to schedule "me" time or "family" time along with your school stuff so you remember that taking care of you is just as important. That one is going to be a hard one for me cause I'm a perfectionist and tend to neglect "fun" time so I'm going to make it a point to relax once in awhile so I don't get burnt out. Just think, pretty soon, we'll be on here celebrating passing the NCLEX and offering advice to new nursing students! Just think of our little journey as our yellow brick road and the Oz in this case is a RN position at a great facility whichever one we chose! Christina

First of all, congrats to all who are beginning this exciting new journey! I, too, am a new nursing student this fall and don't start until August 31st although on the calendar it has us scheduled to do some things that Sunday before so we'll see! We had our first orientation back in May and have another one next week. We have our syllabus and calendar for this semester though so I know what you're saying about how huge it is! Very overwhelming! I alternate between being excited and scared and I think the scaryness comes from the unknown just like when you start a new job or you move to a new state. Please keep me posted as your days progress since you started so much sooner and I will make sure to do the same. Good luck! Think happy, positive thoughts! This will be us soon!

I really like the websites she lists in there and the tips on surviving....lol! I've been scared out of my mind and excited to start all at the same time! Is that possible? Maybe I'm bi-polar...anyway, it's definitely true that misery loves company and hearing that everyone feels overwhelmed and scared helps some. I keep telling myself over and over that other people have survived and I will too...let's hope that's true!

Thanks for responding. I have heard pros and cons to buying them. I agree that there's so much to read already and actually purchased a Saunders NCLEX study guide as I heard it's a helpful study tool for tests. Thanks again! Christina aka busby's mom

To all who have taken the time to give me such great advice....thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am reading "How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School" and have seen where we really become family during this time and you have proven that and you don't even know me! :heartbeat Congrats to all who have already made it through and keep up the good work to those still in the program! Christina aka busby's mom

Thanks so much chicookie! That's what I was afraid of happening and there are several recommended books.

Hello! I am starting my first year of nursing at Motlow this fall (woo hoo!)and was wondering if there are any second year students out there that would be willing to mentor me through this first year. I would treat you to lunch or dinner in exchange for your time or do whatever would be most helpful to you as I would greatly appreciate the advice and wisdom of a "big brother" or "big sister" through this first year. Thanks so much! Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July to all! I am starting my first year of nursing school this fall and was wondering whether it is wise to purchase the recommended books in addition to the required books. I have purchased one of the recommended books under the advice of the school's librarian as she indicated that the instructors take alot of information from that particular books on exams. I am currently reading "How to Survive and maybe even love Nursing School" and have come to that chapter and their are conflicting opinions to this. One person said she didn't bother with them while another said they read everything and found that on the tests the information in the recommended books was often on them. Please help! I am more than willing to do the reading, but don't want to waste money on books that aren't necessary. Thanks so much!

Thanks! It's so great meeting fellow Motlow nursing students! I met a couple that live in my area at orientation and was surprised since I live in Nashville. They told us at orientation that the friends we meet in school will become live-long friends and I'm really looking forward to that! Congrats on being 2nd year! That's a great accomplishment from what I've heard about the program. Good luck next year!

Thanks for the info! I have heard over and over how intense the program is and have already started having stress dreams! LOL That was one thing I was wondering about the recommended books as there are already so many to read, I wondered if they really helped or if there would be time to read them. I have the fundamentals book so I'll just stick with that. I will be on the Smyrna campus thank goodness cause that drive to Tullahoma is monstrous from Nashville area! Good luck in your 2nd year and thanks again!

in response to what maggiofliore posted....I never implied or said that if your "book smart" that automatically meant you were not common sense smart and never did I use common sense in my post. I was merely stating that some people have to work harder than others and still only make C's, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart and their tests scores may not reflect their ability to apply their knowledge. I don't understand why things like this always get turned around and are replied to with nasty postings. People could have learning disabilities like dyslexia that causes them to have a harder time taking written tests, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to be as good of a nurse as someone who has no trouble taking tests.

:yeah:For you nursing student 19! I thought what you had to say was very well-written and necessary. Grades don't measure the type of nurse you will be, it simply shows that you have excellent test-taking skills. I used to work in the legal field and am now changing careers and begin my first year of nursing this fall. Anyway, I knew an attorney who had excellent grades, but wasn't able to apply that knowledge and everyone talked about it. Being book smart is one thing, applying it is the important part. I have a 4.0 gpa going into the nursing program, but I have talked to friends who study their butts off and sometimes gets A's and other times not. I am fully aware that the tests are completely different than just regurgitating facts so I'm just hoping to do well. My focus is understanding the material and being able to apply it whether I get straight A's or not. I think it's mean to put others down if they don't get straight A's. the program is stressful enough and to add the pressure of perfection is an unfair and unreasonable label. So to everyone out there in the program kudos to you for working so hard and doing your best. :up:Don't let anyone make you feel like you're less of a nurse just b/c you don't have all A's. I'm striving to do MY best and if that means graduating with a C well, so be it. I will know in my heart that I did my best and no one can take that away from you. Good luck to everyone!:loveya: