shaking in my boots about starting nursing school ..help

Coriander, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2010

First of all, congratulations! :)

I'm halfway through my first semester right now, and I can tell you that it's a lot of reading and studying and hard work. My first clinicals were last week, and I was scared to pieces going into them. I'm still nervous for my second day (Monday) but am more confident. Meeting the patients is the hardest part, I think! :)

Labs are so much fun; you work together and the instructor helps you with any clarification.

I am having problems with pathophysiology, but a lot of us are, and we're working together to learn the material. The instructor isn't marvelous, but we're making sure that we get through it as a class.

If you do the best you can, you'll be just fine. Already we're able to see who's not going to make it with us next semester - and it's usually the people who always talk about going to parties and drinking. I'm not saying not to have fun, because it's SO important to have some fun, but I think you'll figure out your own balance.

All the best!

Tarabara · Mar 20, 2010

Honestly, I was terrified before I started too, but now I wonder why I was so scared lol. Nursing school is hard, but its definitely do-able, and its not all bad there are a lot of fun times too :) Plus, I'm assuming that your teachers, like mine, are all former nurses so they were in your shoes at one point too. They are there to help you every step of the way. And all your classmates are in the same boat as you, its new to all of you. It is a different style of learning, it will be more difficult, and require a lot of your time but I think its all worth it :)

onarom · Mar 20, 2010

Don't focus on the what ifs...you'll have a CVA (stroke)

Here are a few tips off the top of my head:

-Just know that this is one of the most challenging things that you are going to put yourself through and prepare to study like you have never studied before.

-still leave a little time (usually very little time) for yourself to unwind

-don't wait to the last minute to study (I'm still bad about this)

-make as many friends as you can in RN school

-get comfortable shoes!

-don't make assumptions

-the class is only as good as the teacher- you will have good and bad classes!

-sleep, diet and exercise is still important

-limit your study groups to no more that 3 other people. maybe less.

-don't argue with your instructor

-do practice NCLEX questions often!

-have fun while you learn. Try to realize your strengths and what field of nursing you want to do.

-you will not really make a bed the way that they teach you, but that is still how you have to do it while your in school. This is only one of many examples of how school differs from real world nursing, but while your in school, you will do it their way. It's not worth complaining about.

- last but not least- wash your hands!

anurseatlast · Mar 20, 2010

Remember, most people DO make it through nursing school. Don't psyche yourself out about it. It is time consuming and some of the material is difficult but you made it through the pre-reqs. If you are done with all your pre-reqs and just bidding time until you start nursing school, you could consider doing a little studying on whatever topics you think will be challenging for you. Right now I am using Fluids and Electrolytes made Incredibly Easy for a review (yeah, I am out of school but I don't use this often in my job and I tend to forget some of the details if I don't review once in a while). I think this is one of a series on a variety of topics. They will review what you learned in A&P. Don't try to memorize it - just see if it makes sense to you. They have great illustrations that make it easy to understand and studying a couple will give you more confidence in your ability. then you can use them for references while you are in school. I am sure others on this board can recommend books that can give you some basics while you wait to start. Congrats on getting accepted!