Randy RN ASN

I hope people dont think that I would wear flip flops and shorts to clinical. After I read my OP, I can see how it might sound that way.

[quote=vintagemother;8946139) I study alone approx 30 hrs/wk. For those who are preparing for nursing school. This amount of study time is real! lol You will have to work hard and put in long hours of study no matter what. I hope my tips can give you a sense of direction for conquering this rewarding education!

Cecile9155, Glad you found out what works best for you! Cheers.

Glad to hear you attended a great University! As far as my education, the private school I attended has an avg acceptance GPA of 3.7, 20% acceptance rate when I applied, and is 60 years old with a decent 91% pass rate. I wouldn't consider my school easy or even the most prestigious but I applied myself, worked hard, and got the grade I earned. Our program prepares great nurses as well!

Thank you! It was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done but it was my goal so I stuck with it. And at our school we had to get at least a 93% to get an A (I think most schools are like that, I don't know maybe ours was different).

Good point about researching your professors before hand! I used Rate My Professors - Review Teachers and Professors, School Reviews, College Campus Ratings to see what other students said about a teacher before signing up for pre-nursing classes (ie Chem, A&P, Micro, etc). However, in our nursing program we didn't get to choose our instructors.

Congrats on getting into nursing school! What an accomplishment in and of itself! As far as reading the objectives and doing the quizzes in the book, I personally never did but if it works for you go for it! Especially if you enjoy using the textbook, then I think that will be a really good thing for you. I often used "quizlet.com" and Saunders online to practice NCLEX questions. It was more of a convenience factor for me. I didn't like taking my textbook (ok textbook on steroids) to the library so resources online were my best friend. It's about finding what works for you, I am just sharing what worked for me :) I think any study is better than no study, but I also think you should study smarter and not harder. You will get an idea of what works best for you during your first semester. Hope that helps!

No problem, thank you for sharing yours

To those reading the comments: Please share any advice you have for excelling in school so that students may benefit from your wisdom!

ICUman Yes you do. Your words speak for themselves. And as far as misguiding people and not being honest? Ha! I could say the same thing about you and it would actually be true. Have a good night. Peace.

Purple_roses Exactly! and thank you for trying to empathize rather than tear me down! I appreciate it :)

ICUman, Thanks for your opinions. Sorry you need to feel negative and hostile about it. I wasn't trying to make the school look bad. It was a great school and I learned so much there. There were just some silly rules (as I am sure most schools have) that I wanted to rant about.

Organized Chaos LVN, Sorry, I threw in the shorts and flip flops for the girls (my legs and feet are too white to want to do that!). But anyway, I think that if its 90 degrees outside, a girl should be able to wear something comfortable (this applies to all students there, not just nursing). I know my wife and other female students who brought this up which is why I am now.

ICUman, I didn't know about these specific rules before enrolling, just the main stuff like no girls sleeping over, no drinking, etc. My main problem was with the facial hair. I think that a little stubble or even a moderate amount of facial hair can still look professional. I ended up sticking with it because it made sense financially. Obviously I didn't make it clear that I am done with school there or you wouldn't be telling me to "suck it up" (I thought speaking in past-tense would be enough).

Agree with what exactly? Also, I understand the professionalism that comes with nursing. I'm not trying to sound ungrateful for my education, I was just trying to see if anyone empathized with me in this situation. I guess not. Sorry! :)

Hey, I already graduated. I knew about the rules, and I am venting now that I am done!

Eru, Excellent advice. Practicing NCLEX style questions throughout nursing school is an important thing to do. Not only will this help you pass nursing school, but you will also be better prepared for the nclex!

Heather, You're right, it's not rocket science, but nursing school can be overwhelming. Not all students have this knowledge you received in high school. My goal was to help students cope with the stress of school and realize that by following a few simple steps, they can be successful.

I think the best way to get along with a CNA (or any team member really) is to show them you care! (about your patients, your job, and about them as well). By posting about this topic, I can already see that you want to be a valuable team player. Just remember to be kind, sincere, and go above and beyond for everyone.

Getting a 4.0 in nursing school seems impossible right? Well it's not! Here are 4 tips for getting straight A's in nursing school. They worked for me, and I know they will work for you! 1. Participate in class!!!! This was the hardest thing for me, but so so so important. The more engaged you are, the more information you will retain. Don't be afraid to ask a "dumb question" because chances are that several other students have the same question but are afraid to ask. 2. Don't do all the reading!!! I wish someone would have told me this my first semester. If you do all the reading, you will get burnt out and you wont remember very much. If your school offers powerpoints, study guides, or recorded lectures, those resources should encompass the majority of your study time. Remember: Study smarter, not harder. If you do enjoy reading, make sure you focus on bold terms and the tables/charts in the book. 3. Take advantage of tutoring and/or professors!! This was the most important thing for me. Tutors are great because they have been in your shoes and often know what you need to know. Rather than reading 100 pages for homework, I would simply go to a tutor for an hour each day. If you don't have access to a tutor, meet often with your instructors outside of class. You will be surprised how much they will help if you just ask! 4. Find out what learning/study method works for you! Learning: I realized that I am a visual learner; I retain information better if I actually see it. This is why I like powerpoints and youtube videos. You can find out what method best fits your brain at What's Your Learning Style? 2 Questions. Study: Also, figure out early on whether or not you study well in groups. I personally study better alone because I am easily distracted in large groups. However, small groups (2 or 3) can be a great thing because you get insights from different people, without the major risk of getting distracted. Make sure the people you study with are "top students" because you can pick up really good study habits from them. I hope this helps! Remember, you are in control of your grades and your future. If you follow these tips and believe in yourself, you can get straight A's too. Good Luck!

At ********* we weren't allowed to wear flip flops, shorts, or even have facial hair! If I came to clinical with even a little stubble, I would have to shave or go home. Anyone else have rules in nursing school that you didn't agree with?

You could ask: 1. What are the nurse/patient ratios like? 2. How long is orientation? 3. What opportunities do you provide for nurses wanting to further their education? Hope that helps! :) You will do great, just be confident, be yourself, and reheorifice your answers with a friend before hand (But don't memorize word for word).

I did a research project for nursing school on the impacts of medical marijuana. I did well on this paper because I was actually interested in the topic. I think that is the key element: Find something that really interests you, and go for it!

Grumble88, thank you for the comment. You are correct about the psychosis predisposition.

1. The Endocannabinoid System Before giving a med in the hospital, it's important to understand what that med is and how it works on the body. That is why I believe every nurse should understand some fundamental concepts about marijuana, specifically in regards to the endocannabinoid system. Marijuana has dozens of cannabinoids, with THC (the chemical that promotes euphoria) and CBD (the chemical with the major medicinal benefits) being the most abundant. Within our bodies we have what is called the endocannabinoid system, which consists of receptors for these cannabinoids to bind too, as well as the endocannabinoids that our body makes naturally, e.g. anandamide. These receptors are found throughout the CNS, being most populated in areas of the brain such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum and spinal chord, which control appetite, memory, balance, and pain perception respectively (Volkow, 2013). 2. Side Effects: Short-term and Long-term If there are so many receptors on the brain, what does that mean about the potential side effects? That's an important question to consider, because according to the British Journal of Psychiatry, Cannabis use may lead to an acute functional psychosis, similar to an acute schizophreniform state.” If used in large amounts, Cannabis use may lead to a chronic psychosis, which persists after abstinence (Johns, 2001).” Furthermore, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has found that other side effects may include: Increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, muscle relaxation, red/dry eyes, slowed digestion, decreased peristalsis, feeling dizzy, altered memory, hallucinations, and paranoia (depending on the strain of cannabis). Also, symptoms of withdrawal are noted to be mild compared to opiates, but can include irritability, insomnia, restlessness, and hot flashes (Cannabis and Cannabinoids, 2014). Marijuana, like any other drug, has its potential for side effects, and long-term psychosis is a very serious and certainly important side effect to keep in mind when weighing the benefits and risks. 3. Benefits and Various Uses Some of these benefits, as mentioned by both the ANA and National Cancer Institute include, the ability to reduce inflammation, provide pain relief, slow and even kill certain cancer cells, stimulate appetite, decrease nausea and vomiting, decrease tremors in patients with MS, decrease intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma, as well as improve sleep and sense of well being (ANA, 2008 & Cannabis and Cannabinoids, 2014). These are just a few of the possible treatments that we know of right now. I imagine that many other uses will arise once it is properly regulated and studied. References ANA (American Nurses Association), Board of Directors (2008, December 12). Position Statement: In Support of Patients' Safe Access to Therapeutic Marijuana. Retrieved May 16, 2015, from American Nurses Association Cannabis and Cannabinoids. (2014, November 6). Retrieved May 5, 2015, from Bad Request Johns, A. (2001, February 1). Psychiatric effects of cannabis | The British Journal of Psychiatry. Retrieved May 5, 2015, from Psychiatric effects of cannabis | The British Journal of Psychiatry Volkow, N. (2013). How does marijuana produce its effects? Retrieved May 5, 2015, from How does marijuana produce its effects? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)