1. Turn off your mobile phone, if it absolutely must be on, let the lecturer know and keep it on the lowest possible volume or on silent (it is a rule at my school if your phone goes off you owe the lecturer chocolate or alcohol depending on the lecturers preference)
2. If you are a new student don't act like you know more than the students who have been there for longer (unless of course you do)
3. If the course has an online group and you can read previous questions, do not ask the same question again and again, the lecturer and other people will get sick of answering the same question 5 or 6 or even 7 times (you will be notified if the answer is different)
4. If you tell someone something it's bound to get around to other people so be careful what you tell people (Rumours spread extremely fast)
5. Be polite to your lecturers and respect them for who they are (They are the ones marking your assignments, and I'm afraid they know a lot more than you do presently)
6. If you have a story you are willing to share related to the current topic by all means share it but if it's not related forget it
7. Don't constantly complain about the number of hours you have to attend campus or how long it takes to do your assignments or how much study you need to do or how many readings you have, everyone is in the same boat and if you keep doing that you are likely to get offside with other students.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
my advice is to make sure you are aware of everything you need to get through your courses. keep better track of your scores, attendance, etc. than the instructor. listen a lot, talk a little.
cell phones are a no,no. but if you have children or its a must have, keep them on vibrate. every school i have ever went to has the cell phone rule.
study, study and study some more. this is not a profession for slacker, we do have peoples lives to consider. one wrong medication to the wrong patient and you may now have one dead patient.
if nursing isn't your thing and you are in it for the money, get out now!!!!
ok, i know i'm showing my age here, but i have to comment on the cell phones.
when i was in nursing school, we didn't have cell phones. people still got the necessary messages in emergencies.
while i can understand the "keep it on vibrate" advice, i don't necessarily agree with it.
i took a class last semester, and on one of the first nights, i had just left work and needed to leave my cell phone on because i was waiting on a radiology report. i left my cell on, but on the vibrate setting.
sure enough, 30 min into class, it started ringing. know what? the whole class could hear my back pack vibrating.
my point is: vibrate mode isn't necessarily non-disturbing. sure, it makes it more difficult to figure out who's backpack is ringing, but it doesn't keep the phone call from disturbing class.
after that, i turned the ringer off and just looked at my cell to see if anyone had called from time to time (when necessary).
i don't mean to tell those of you who feel as though you really need those cells to be on for emergencies not to do it.
i just wanted to point out that "vibrate mode" does not equal "no disturbance."
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
when i was in nursing school, we didn't have cell phones. people still got the necessary messages in emergencies.
while i can understand the "keep it on vibrate" advice, i don't necessarily agree with it.
for my school there really isn't an option for messages getting to students. the school is essentially closed while we are there. they may be some instructors in their offices but there's no guarantee so somebody would have to call every instructor number and still may not get anyone. the only time they could get through would be on clinicals. it's also not fair to assume that a student will get the message then either. i worked on a floor and somebody was calling for a student and it took forever for people to realize who the call was for. honestly when i worked on the floor i found it irritating to answer calls from husbands, kids, aunts, friends for the employees...i certainly didn't want to do it for the students either. put a cell phone in your pocket so that i can get my work done without answering your calls.
and you are absolutely right about the vibrate thing. some phones are more "violent" then others. i know my vibrate barely does anything...heck it goes off in my purse and i usually have no idea. i check it periodically while at school.
i think the problem is the people who don't know how to use their phone properly anger others who then want them banned.
we have 1 lady in the class and her phone goes off a lot. there's another guy who actually answered his phone and apparently had a small conversation. honestly i don't care because it's usually not very often and it's just not worth getting upset about it.
Keep em coming this is a great idea. Especially for someone like me thats about to start!
Sidenote- It doesn't matter if your in nursing lecture or regular gen. ed. classes, put your phone on VIBRATE! Also, STOP texting in class!!! I leave my cell in my truck, to many people see the cellphone as an extra hand cause their never without it.
Every syllabus has rules on the usage of cellphones in class now. So whatever the consequences are then you HAVE to abide by them. In Biology, we had a test everytime we came in, and if your cellphone went off ANYTIME during class you failed the test that day. No ones cellphone EVER went off, greatest idea ever.
I'm loving this thread too Cherish. Lots of great ideas. Frankly though I worked hard enough to get in (to begin August, 2007) that no way would I jeopardize my standing in class with my cell phone!
I watched in several gen ed classes others texting...thought it rude really.
Goodluck Immerklein,I too start in January and I am definitely looking forward to it
Hey Eagle...I start nursing school in August. I mention this because I notice that we're about the same age. I'll be 55 when I get the RN, then plan for the BSN (only because it makes the master more manageable they tell me) then on to the masters.
The joke is that I'll be needing my own services as a clinical nurse specialist in the geri-mental health field about the same time I get the necessary credentials! ROFL
Seriously though as one of the instructors us at spring orientation...when the very young director didn't know that some of us non-traditional students did not need the MMR vaccination..."Bring on the Grandma brigade!"
Oh, and they warned us...we might not like them (the instructors) very much once we're in the thick of school in the fall.\
I say as long as everyone maintains some semblence of a sense of humor, we'll be ok.
So what did you do in your previous life...I was in the insurance industry and look forward to something a little more satisfying...
Oh, and they warned us...we might not like them (the instructors) very much once we're in the thick of school in the fall.
It's true you might not like them much, but it's not required. If you like each other it's a bonus. But don't expect it.
So far I've only had one instructor that I didn't like. The way I deal with it is to make sure she's happy, but don't be a brown-noser. They really hate that.
If you find you don't get along with one of your instructors, try and figure out what it is the instructor wants and make sure you do it. For example, one instructor expected us to be proactive and be as independent as possible. Another instructor didn't want us making a move without her telling us first. So take some time and figure out their teaching style and then adapt to it. It will save you lots of conflict and frustration in the long run.
Overall I would say most instructors are happy if you are prepared, if you participate without over-sharing, and take responsibility for your failings. If you don't do well, don't blame the instructor - at least not to her face or to your classmates. Go back over the material that you didn't do well on and try and learn more. If that doesn't work go to the instructor and ASK what it is you need to work on. Suffering in silence and harboring resentment aren't the best use of your time. Speaking up, asking questions and figuring out how to correct the problem will get you through things so much faster. Then you can use your time and energy for better things like learning and practicing your clinical skills.
I would say that not liking your instructor is good practice for dealing with other people you won't like very much - doctors, co-workers, patients and patients' family members. There will be times when you can't stand being in the same room with them, but you have to work with them. Learning diplomacy and working hard on therapeutic communication will help you get along.
1. Try, try, try not to be the annoying person in class that when your classmates see you coming in their direction they scatter like roaches. Afterall you may need help from one of them somewhere along the line.
2. Don't lie about your grade. In the end you may wind up making yourself look look like a real horses @$$. If asked and you dont want to share just say politely that you are doing ok or just try to change the subject.
3. While at clinicals make yourself as busy as possible (or at least look like you are busy) this will keep the nurses that are less then thrilled about having a bunch of students running around off your back.
4. Don't be affraid to step up and try things you haven't done yet while in clinical. You never know when you might get another opportunity.
5. Have fun. While nursing school is very serious there is always time to have fun.
Good luck to everyone getting ready to start. Yes it is as bad as everyone says at times but it is very doable, remember to stay possitive, and that it isn't over until it is over.
I feel the same way about the whole asking people what they make thing. I don't mind if people ask me how I did because then I can simply reply "I did fine". I worked my butt off and scored nothing less than a 92 on tests. At the end of the semester right before finals one of the girls I sat with everyday at lunch asked me my average. Since we sort of had a friendly relationship I figured it would be okay and told her. Wrong!! While studying for finals her and one of the other girls I eat lunch with said "Some of us are actually going to have to struggle to finish with an A average" refering to my grade. I'm sorry, but I struggled all semester long to get my grade where it was at that point. So, my overall point...don't make rude comment to the people who have a higher grade than you and just don't tell ANYONE your grade. You'll pay in the end.
I'm trying to take that advice. I don't even know anyone in my program yet, but every day, in every class, whoever I sit next to asks "So, how'd you do on the last test?" We've had 4 exams so far, and I've scored 100, 100, 98, and 100. I always respond with "I did fine, how about you?" If they really press, I'll say I got an A, I'm really excited. No one but my husband and my mother knows my scores. It's weird. These people don't even know my name yet! Also, the ones that ask never got As. They're looking for someone else to commiserate with, maybe?
I like this thread. I tried to start one a while back.
If you copy peoples homework, and don't study, you will get an F.
If I give you a list of pages each homework question is on (to help you to find them and do it faster), and I miss my favorite show to do it, I will not be happy when I found out you didn't try to open the book, and got them from someone else.
Moving to a different school won't help if you won't study.
The student that did this flunked out of fundamentals after a month.
4. Please don't get this thread closed, I'm enoying it a lot.
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CritterLover, BSN, RN
929 Posts
ok, i know i'm showing my age here, but i have to comment on the cell phones.
when i was in nursing school, we didn't have cell phones. people still got the necessary messages in emergencies.
while i can understand the "keep it on vibrate" advice, i don't necessarily agree with it.
i took a class last semester, and on one of the first nights, i had just left work and needed to leave my cell phone on because i was waiting on a radiology report. i left my cell on, but on the vibrate setting.
sure enough, 30 min into class, it started ringing. know what? the whole class could hear my back pack vibrating.
my point is: vibrate mode isn't necessarily non-disturbing. sure, it makes it more difficult to figure out who's backpack is ringing, but it doesn't keep the phone call from disturbing class.
after that, i turned the ringer off and just looked at my cell to see if anyone had called from time to time (when necessary).
i don't mean to tell those of you who feel as though you really need those cells to be on for emergencies not to do it.
i just wanted to point out that "vibrate mode" does not equal "no disturbance."
just a thought.