kdbean530

Graduating at the end of May which is also my birthday!!! Best present to myself ever! It's been a long journey, but also fast at the same time. Very rewarding. Already had so many memorable patients and experiences. I'm anxious about finding and getting a job (live in california) but I can't wait to finally be a nurse!

I was always a solo studier until half way through first semester. First of all be flexible. Not just in your hours, but your study partners. I found that it was not working with my first partner, and got adopted by another. I've never looked back. My new partner is perfect. You have to find someone who goes your own pace, learns the same way you do, and compliments you nicely. Meaning we read the same stuff, write notes, and compare notes. She usually has different stuff written down then me. We combine information and get good grades. Sometimes we study with another person who also adds another dimension. One very KEY POINT, do not study with too many people!!! In my opinion 3 is max. Any more people and you get distracted, and nothing done. Also, we don't study together until everyone has done the reading and finished taking their notes. This is a time where you come to share what you've learned, not teach someone what they should have learned. Keep your study groups on task, study in a comfortable setting, and have fun with it! We like to make weird stories to help us remember things. Plus laughing is very therapeutic in nursing school =)

I just finished my first year. We only went over the syllabus for half a day. We had clinical 2 days a week from 0650 to 1400. We had lecture one day a week from 0800 to 1400. I always carry my syllabus in the car, lots of pens, something to write on, and snacks. When not on campus I was studying with my new study partners at restaurants such as panera, dennys or barnes and noble because they had coffee and long hours. =) I literally studied every hour of every day. Do de-stress I went to work lol. But lucky for me I'm a dance teacher and only teach 6 hours a week. If my mind is truly overloaded I stop and either veg out on tv or use that time to take a shower. Your hygiene will suffer, you may gain weight, possible pressure ulcers for sitting for long hours jk lol. There were periods I tried to eat healthier by packing my own lunch etc. and by taking out time to work out, but that ended up taking too much time away from studying. I lived with my parents to save money and eliminate some financial stress. It's only two years of your life and very do-able! Not easy. Exhausting. Totally worth every single bit of time you don't spend on yourself.

I am willing to move anywhere that will hire new grads! So please share where I could go! Illinois sure sounds good!

For me, flash cards were a waste of time. By the time I was done writing them it was time to take the exam. I don't make drug cards either for the same reason. There's just no time for that kind of stuff! So what I do after we have our lecture or sometimes before is go through the power points while doing ALL of the assigned reading and add any information right there on the paper. That way you have one source to study, you know it's accurate information, and it's right there easy to access.

Where do you live k-girl?

I started the ADN route as well. In California they will still hire us, but it may take 6 months to a year. It's a lot easier to get a job as an RN if you already work in the hospital. My original goal was to get my ADN, work as an RN for a year or so, and then go for my bachelors. However, I went to talk to a nursing recruiter at the VA and she pretty much said dream on. Told me to come back when I had my bachelors. So now I'm starting to regret going the ADN route. But I don't think there's much time difference in going the bridge route compared to going straight through.

Thank you so much!

I'm starting to write my resume, and am not sure what needs to go on there, and what doesn't. I.E. I've done a lot of volunteering in my life, does all that go on there? Do I write skills I've learned in nursing? Good qualities that I posess? I'm just so confused. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have experienced both. But here's how it works. If you go into clinicals knowing what you're doing, totally confident, appreciate the staff, get to know them, don't act intimidated, speak up, ask smart questions (not ones you already know the answer to because you're trying to kiss ass), and are very helpful, you will be respected and they will love you. If you are timid, disrespectful, don't ask questions, don't help them, etc. they will not like you and you will not be respected. They like students that take a stand for themselves and who are not intimidated. Some nurses just have a grudge though and hate nursing students. Most of them are older, been there too long, and need to retire. OR they have had a bad experience with a student. You need to be that student to change how they feel and stick up for the rest of us students!

My school doesn't require it either, but it's incorporated into our program as is pharm. So it is rather difficult to pile that learning on top of the usual med surg stuff. So it's pretty much up to us to learn it. Are there any suggestions for a pharm book?

I'm keeping all of my books. Because you never know what you'll need in the future, and I would hate to have to buy them again. My grandma kept all of her books and I'm happy she did. It's interesting to look through them and see how much has/hasn't changed. I'm hoping my kids will get to do the same.

Wow there's alot of L&D! I on the other hand totally hated that rotation. I like more action and to be constantly running around, with little breaks. Makes time go faster, and it's a good weight loss strategy! Lol. I'm thinking along the lines of OR/ER/TELE/TRAVELING NURSE. Eventually I will get my MSN. But I'm pretty flexible. Here in Cali I'll be happy to get any job!

Hahha that's funny.

One thing I'm learning is that nurses can drink! They talk about drinking their entire shift, and then go out for drinks after. But I can't blame them! Nursing is a very stressful job. I heard addiction is a problem with nurses. What's your take?

You can calculate it out, but they take either 40 or 60 students a semester based on budget. So since we've had some budget cuts they'll probably be taking 40 for quite a while. You're looking at a 4 semester wait. In the meantime start taking classes for your bachelors/transfer classes.

I start in two weeks with OB first and then med surg. Woot! So excited, but I know it's one of those semesters where alot of people fail. Enjoying my break while I have one and also pre studying some med surg.

Ya that will be an amazing experience for you to be on the other side of things! It's good to hear that you got the care you deserve. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did =)

Great stories everyone! I'm so jealous of those who get an actual OR rotation! We used to have it but took it out =( It was a life changing experience for me and it could make other nursing students want to be an OR nurse. I know now that is definitely what I want to be....am going to be! It takes a certain sick individual to be an OR nurse. I knew I was meant to be when I actually liked/enjoyed the smell of burning flesh! So gross to most people. Blood didn't even phase me, and neither did the organs being removed. Plus you don't have to deal with annoying pts!

Mag28. How come you do not want to be an OR nurse?

I just graduated from first semester and I have already seen and exploratory abdominal procedure. It was the best experience of my life! So I was wondering, have any of you students been in on a procedure?

I enjoy it so much that I even study while on break between semesters!!!! Never had one day where I hated it.

Yes buy your books off of amazon. It will save you like $600 Book store is a rip off. If you guys ever have questions ask anyone from second semester. We are all super nice =) Start reading now!

What classes do you still need? I suggest ---- for Micro, and ------ for anatomy and phys

1. Get all your immunizations etc done asap so you can start reading! Read, and be organized. Start reading Taylor's only! Vital signs chapter and fluid and electrolytes. You will be practicing vital signs the first 2 days of lab. 2. Know your powerpoints like there is no tomorrow. Memorize them word for word. 3. The teachers are awesome and will help you with anything. 4. Be comfortable with math. Dosage calculation, conversions. 5.Make friends. Don't be surprised when you start crying a lot and feel lonely. Spend time with your friends/families now! 6. You will be studying every day and every hour with no breaks, or free time. 7. Clinical is a cool experience. You will have your good days and bad. Some pt's/nurses will not like you. Do your thing and just get out of their way.