paynck

I love computer games too! I used to play WoW for a few years but I stopped for nursing school. but I still play other games that take up less time, and I make sure to catch up on all my favorite TV shows. You HAVE to have "me time", or else you will get burnt out. I definitely need to relax and make time for doing things I enjoy.

Usually in a semester I get about 1 or 2 A's and the rest B's. From my experience, grades do not matter as much as experience and leadership roles. If you are finding that you are killing yourself studying trying to make A's, I would advice you relax a bit and be happy with a B or two.

Hey!! First, thank you so much for this thread!! And please don't feel embarrassed!! My classmates and I are ALL struggling with this! I've been practicing like crazy - part 1 of our mastery is to take vital signs on 50 people and I promise you, by person #10 you start hearing better and better. At first I couldn't hear the BP sounds AT ALL. I thought I had hearing problems! Even my instructor told our class "I thought I had to drop out of nursing school because I couldn't hear blood pressure sounds." So you are definitely NOT ALONE and don't let all the people who tell you that it's easy discourage you. My helpful hints. Make sure your earplugs are very properly sealed. My instructor told us to turn the plugs outward (imagine making a "nose") and form it into the shape of a V. Of course, take it in the quietest room possible. Some people have strong pulses, some do not. I know that you are supposed to press "semi-hard" to really feel the pulse, however, pressing TOO hard can occlude the pulse. I find it easier to press just hard enough so I can feel it. I agree with the poster who said that looking at the secondhand watch is a bit distracting, so I look away too. I stare at my arm so that the watch is in my peripheral vision. Another tip is to be sure that you are pressing very firmly on the diaphragm of your stethoscpe. I have a Littman Light and if we press too "lightly", then we are activating the bell! So have a firm grip with two or three fingers before you begin the pumping. I have a quick pulse rate question that's very beginner-ish. On some people's pulse, it feels like it is beating two times very quickly. Hard to describe, but it sounds kind of like "bump-bump". That counts as 2 beats, correct? Best of luck...you'll get it with practice! If I can do it, you definitely can! (I heard NOTHING the first time I put on a stethoscope) Also...I am a first semester clinical nursing student so if I accidently gave any false/faulty info, please correct me!

I feel your pain. To keep myself awake, I take frequent "moving" breaks where I would get up, walk around, maybe talk to someone (out loud) - anything that requires movement! Sometimes when I have hours and hours of studying ahead of me, I'll make sure to include a gym break in between swimming and jogging always wakes me up. Just be sure you don't exhaust yourself with an intense workout, make it a light, short jog. (I'm usually there for 30 minutes only.) I always focus better when I come home.

I hope you feel better soon!!! Remember to take breaks - everyone's minds wander away from the reading if they're staring at tiny print for 2 hours straight. (And if yours doesn't, can I has your brain? ) If you don't have time to read everything, definitely at least try to scan the chapters, look at bold words, look at chapter summaries, quiz yourself at the end of chapter questions. Every nursing instructor that I've had so far has given us a list of "Objectives" that they make up. What I find helpful is to go over them in class while they are lecturing because that is most likely what they will choose to put on tests.

I'm going to have to agree on what everyone is saying. It isn't fair for the OP either, her husband's family smokes together, so is she going to have to avoid family gatherings? Smoking cigarettes isn't illegal, so at one time or another everyone is going to have traces of secondhand smoke in their hair...

Another thing to remember is of course everyone complains about the hard work, the stress, the professors, etc, but there's all sorts of good things that outweigh the bad! I'm sure everyone here agrees, or else they wouldn't be in nursing school! For example, the other day I learned how to move/turn/bathe a patient - I'm a first year clinical student, and I was expecting myself to be uncomfortable with touching one of my classmates, but in actuality, it felt so natural and comfortable. Even though it was just pretend, I could really feel the rewards of what I am doing. And I'm just helping someone sit up! Imagine when I learn more. :) Anyway, as long as you keep your mind on the goal - it totally becomes all worth it. Best wishes to you, keep us updated!

I had A&P II with a nice older lady a few semesters ago. She was wonderful and she was so easygoing, even cracking jokes with us younger folks about the instructor's jokes and the material. She was also one of the smartest people in our class. Best of luck to you! You will do great!

Nice and definitely helpful, but super tough. My skills lab professor also told us about the socks!! On the first day of lab!! She did it in a very nice way though and explained to us the reasoning behind it (which is solid, of course.) Luckily, I haven't had an unfair or nasty professor...yet. Sometimes they are intimidating but I find that always being positive with them (smiling, listening attentively in class) helps a lot.

It sounds like a tough situation. I hope everything goes well for you. Usually at the start of nursing school, the professors give you a chain of command to "go to" if someone gives you an unsatisfactory answer. I would recommend trying that. Also, start documenting everything. Perhaps some classmates could vouch for your dedication and hard work during clincals. Talk to other teachers, ones you are on good terms with. Explain your situation to them and don't make excuses for your behavior and don't bring others into your situation. Don't point the finger and you will look better in their eyes. Good luck

You're not alone! I have the same problem!!! What I try to do is I don't eat/snack right before bedtime, and I do not study right before. Studying right before bed leads me to thinking about my notes in bed. I either take a shower (be careful with this, showers wake some people up, unfortunately it's the opposite for me) or I read a non-school-related book. Do not watch TV or use the computer an hour before bed because the bright lights can keep you awake. Also, I find what helps a lot is that I think about when I will have time to get my to do list done, for example if I'm worrying about studying I'll think "Ok, 2 hours of study time after school, break, work, study after work and all day Thurs" etc, etc. good luck!

This is a wonderful thread and I want to thank everyone for their replies and tips! Contributing my two cents, as far as working out I find that swimming is more relaxing and less tiring to me. This is perfect because you tone your entire body and you're not TOO tired afterwards to hit the books. It's also my form of relaxation. Even jogging or walking up and down the pool lanes are a good form of exercise. Youtube has great short, 5 min or less workout and yoga videos. One thing that I plan to do this year is to take exercise study breaks, such as go for a walk with my notecards. Remember, studying is more effective when you allow yourself study breaks and focus on another activity. As far as diet, I like packing snacks like pretzels or veggie chips. Unfortunately, I'm ingesting so much caffeine and sugar in the form of coffee, energy drinks and soda so I try to limit my snacking. Eating SMALL meals/snacks 5-6 times a day is better than stuffing yourself 3 times a day. Good luck! I have a lot of trouble finding the time to commit myself to an exercise plan as well.

I start tomorrow and I've already got my books and notebooks together! I'm pretty excited, and super nervous. This is also my first post and I'm very happy to be here :)