AmandaM2013

My best friend is a semester ahead of me in the nursing program. She will be graduating in just a few weeks and I am at a loss of what to get her for a graduation gift. As my roommate, nursing classmate, and truly my best friend-I don't know where I would be without her. I do not want to give her money or buy her a nice watch or stethoscope. I want to give her something meaningful and unique. The best idea I have come up with so far, is to have an RN graduate or nursing poem/quote printed and framed, and at the bottom say "Her name, RN" However, I have been searching for the last 2 months for the right poem and cannot find anything I like. Does anyone know of a meaningful poem/quote/saying about a nurse, (possibly from a nurse to a nurse) or about a graduating nurse? Or maybe you can share a really cool, unique graduation gift you received! I appreciate the help!! Thanks :)

Your feelings are totally normal!! I am starting my 4th semester now, and I can remember my first week of 1st semester like it was yesterday! I don't want to sugar-coat anything because nursing school is just plain HARD! However, it was my experience our professors scared the crap out of us the first week of ONLY the first semester. Nursing school isn't like anything else that you have every done. So looking back on it, I'm thankful to the professors who made me literally question myself if this was something I could do and made the program sound next to impossible to complete. I'm thankful because having the crap scared out of my like that.....better prepared me of what to expect (Even thankful to the professors who made me cry for a week straigh :). Anyone can tell you, "This program is tough, be prepared to spend a lot of time on school work" Well a "tough" course means something different to everyone. It is hard, but not impossible. Also for me, most of the time I enjoy and find interesting what I am learning, I just feel rushed. It is very fast pased. Previous posts have some really good tips, most of which I have also tried and help me tremendously. You mentioned in your post, "nobody gets it" and I think it's a really good thing you realize that already!! Like I said, I am in my 4th semester and I just joined this site last month! I wish I would have joined my first semester!! Because the truth is, nobody gets it and nobody will ever get it (unless they are a nurse!) I struggled a lot in the beginning with my friends, family and my fiance and it wore on me because I was not receiving the right support. My fiance would say, "I know it's hard but I know you can do it, you'll be great, and on a side note what are we having for supper tonight and what do you want to do this weekend?" Obviously he didn't know how hard it was because he had never been in my shoes, and CLEARLY he had no understanding of the time I needed to dedicate to school! Which only lead to more frustration, and the list goes.....I've lost one of my best friends because I didn't have enough time for, missed out on family events, etc. Point-being- I'm glad you have joined this site because you can receive support from people who ARE going through exactly what you are! It truly is very important to have a really good support system! My last tip, that I wish someone would have told me my 1st semester, is to stay organized!!!! I color code each syllabus, binder, clinical folder, etc. Also, the first week of class I use to (because now I do it on my ipad w/ the "Awesome Calendar") go through each syllabus and in a calendar I would write down each quiz date, exam date, assignment due date, etc. I didn't write every detail, such as "Exam 3, chapters 10, 11, 13, 15, 20" I would just write "Exam 3" This way you can look at an entire month and know sort of what is coming up, because there is always something random due or a random lab day and it's impossible to remember it all. In my class there were students who didn't show up to things because they forgot about it and it was on page 15 of the syllabus! Organization is key to not losing your mind :) Sorry, I know I rambled!!! Hang in there and don't them intimidate you!! You can do this!!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!

Thanks for your feed-back! I also like that the answers are in the back of the book! At least you know where you stand on your math skills! I think powerpoints would be extremely helpful! I would be very great-full if you could send me some copies of your powerpoints!! Thank you so much for your help!!

I am in a 4-year RN program that does not offer/require a dosage-calc course as a prerequisite or as a nursing course. Instead, our first semester they required us to purchase the text "Dosage Calculations A Ratio-Proportion Approach" by Gloria D. Pickar, and said this would be a continuous, self-study subject that we would be tested on every semester. In the past I have done really well in my math and algebra classes, with the help of decent textbooks and really good "teaching" professors. However, when it comes to teaching myself something I feel like it's next to impossible! Regardless the amount of studying I do I just can't seem to make it click for me. I am also not a huge fan of the textbook we were required to purchase. I am wondering if anyone has any helpful tips in regards to teaching oneself, helpful online teaching tools, or recommendations on a REALLY GOOD dosage-calc book? Thanks for the help :)