question for all of you who made it

my advice:

1. make like-minded friends who you can count on for support.

2. organization, you'll find your own system once you begin

3. take it one day at a time. don't freak out. we had people throughout school that threw fits all of the time and it doesn't help anyone by throwing fits.

4. study

:studyowl:

Definately be prepared. There is nothing a clinical instructors hates to hear more than, "Ummmm,". Know your stuff! I also found that they like the paperwork to be nicely typed and presented. Turn everything in as if it was your application to nursing school!

1. you will make friends with fellow students who will love and support you, you will def. need them

2. you may lose friends you had before d/t the fact that you don't have time anymore. You will feel like you are on another planet when trying to converse with non- nursing student friends. They will not understand the stress you are under. They will say stupid things like "I bet it will be hard when you have to go to work all the time instead of just going to school" and you will be thinking, yeah.. compared to the 65 hours a week I put in with class/clinical/commuting/studying.. working 40 hours will be SUCH a challenge.. while you envision ripping their heads off and cramming it down their throats :)

3. you will have great instructors, and crappy instructors.

4. you will get so overwhelmed at times, you will bawl. You will make a difference in someone's life, and they will appreciate it, and it will make it all worth while

Take things one day, one test, one clinical at a time. If you think of all of the things you have to do in one semester, you will feel overwhelmed. Also, buy yourself a good NCLEX review book and start practicing questions from day one because nursing questions are so different from what you experienced in your prereqs. Know there will be an initial shock that first semester, but you will adjust if you stay on top of things! Best of luck!

I'm not quite a graduate yet, but I'm willing to share what I wish I had been told. Keep on your toes in clinicals and search out your chances to learn/gain experience, it's not always right in front of you. Instructors can't be with each student all day, tell your assigned nurses what you need and want to do...and be willing to learn. Those floor nurses will help you most if they see you are not afraid to learn. Fortunately, I realized this soon enough. Try to get as many clinical skills in as you can and above all never forget to have fun in your learning! Good luck to you! :)