Some advice to student nurses

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I am a recent graduate of a BSN program and a new RN (took boards and passed first time!! :))

I am writing to give a few pieces of advice, some that I discovered and some that I wish someone had told me along the way.

First: study along the way, it's so much easier to look over you notes every day than to study a lot the night before (I was a chronic procrastinator, and always waited until the night before, luckily that worked well for me but still it put A LOT of unnecessaryu stress on me.

Second: BUY A FEW NCLEX BOOKS!!! (a lot cheaper if purchased through amazon or ebay/half) and do questions along the way, MANY nursing programs are great at teaching content but never show how to think critically. MOST of the NCLEX exam is critical thinking. By doing these questions along the way (maybe when prepping for an exam) you will find you feel much more prepaired for actual boards.

Third: Get an externship or get a nursing assistant job, in a hopsital. This will make you getting a job MUCH easier. Most of my friends aren't getting jobs, but I passed my boards last tuesday and got a job offer Monday for one of the highest paid hospitals in my area.

Fourth: ask questions!!! ask your nursing instructors questions!! that's what they're there for!! This is YOUR time and YOUR DIME!! so ask questions- learn as much as you can!! After all you've chosen this career and you're paying to be there!

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thanks for the advice! :)

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Specializes in Oncology.

Great post.

As a procrastinator, I'm watching my cram sessions fail me in the long-term because I don't retain as much information. I've started recording lectures and reviewing them as I go, and man it's so much easier!

Good luck with your new title, RN!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Thanks for the advice and wishing you the best at your new job.

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Of course, I feel we nurses need to help our 'young' as many nurses often eat them :)

Nursing young INCLUDES nursing students... I've found many younger nurses try and eat their immediate young... IE newest grads and nursing students

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.
Of course, I feel we nurses need to help our 'young' as many nurses often eat them :)

Oh, I always thought that saying went towards new nurses, so in this case you would be the 'young' as you are a new nurse and will be among seasoned nurses.

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the young are also considered nursing students, in my exp. (worked in a hospital 5-6 years) the younger nurses are a lot more b*tchy to the nursing students and fellow young nurses, it's a catty competition thing.

I know all the nurses I will be working with, and I have been an extern for 2 years which in my work I do everything (yes EVERYTHING) the nurse does

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I am a recent graduate of a BSN program and a new RN (took boards and passed first time!! :))

...Second: BUY A FEW NCLEX BOOKS!!! (a lot cheaper if purchased through amazon or ebay/half) and do questions along the way, MANY nursing programs are great at teaching content but never show how to think critically. MOST of the NCLEX exam is critical thinking. By doing these questions along the way (maybe when prepping for an exam) you will find you feel much more prepaired for actual boards.

Congrats on the new job!

Luckily our teachers use NCLEX style questions on their own exams, so most of the people who complete the program pass the NCLEX on their first try. Regardless, I'd still like to get a good prep book; do you have any personal recommendations? I'm sure there are lots of threads out there on this topic but since you mentioned it I figured I'd ask your opinion. :)

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great post! thanks for the advice! congrats on the new job much success to you!!!

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Specializes in Orthopaedics, Med/Surg Acute Care.

Congrats!! I agree with your advice to fellow students. I give the same advice, especially working as a CNA in a hospital. You will see things you never will in a nursing home. Great experience!! Also I had some great nurses that I worked with teach me skills while working. Now I am the teacher while I work in the hospital.

Students - you can do it! keep studying! good luck!

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