take it seriously?

[Medsport, LPN]

My gf, who also just started clinicals last week with me, gave me a good talking to last night. She says I need to take nursing school serously. I don't study near as much as she does, don't hardly take any notes, and usually get mid 80's on tests. She gets mid 90's and studies all the time. I guess I'm still not 100% sure this is what I want to do. I did'nt really research enough what nurses actually have to do, such as the NA stuff we have to do now. But there are alot of different areas I could go into once I get my LPN licence. I do tend to forget things easily and not understand some things. For instance, I could'nt seem to comprehend until recently that you cannot hear a radial pulse with a stetoscope. I thought you could when you put the BP cuff on. Anyway, should I take more notes than just the powerpoints we are given and any advice how to get more motivated to do good and not just get by? I also know I need to be more assertive and confident, since I never have been and need to study and read lecture material more. I just don't seem to have the time. I cut back from ft to pt at work, but still don't know where time goes...

[augigi, CNS]

How serious you get depends on how badly you want it. If you don't want it, do something you do want to.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

in my opinion (and I stress those words...no intentions to offend)

an excellent nurse is an avid learner who has an insatiable (sp?) appetite for knowledge...the more you know the more you grow as the old saying goes...you should never be satisfied with what you know and always strive to learn more

your grades are adequate and you may become a very good nurse...but it doesn't sound like a passion and it sounds like you are doing just enough to get by until you figure out what you really want to do. Or perhaps nursing is your niche and you just don't enjoy the classroom part of it...just hope there doesn't come a time where you need a valuable piece of info that you cannot recall from nursing school...just a thought

If you are going to do something give it your all or find something else. Best of Luck!

(oh and p.s. ....nursing school is already competitive enough so try not to buy into your gf comparing you and her...perhaps she is making you feel like you aren't giving it your all when you really are simply because that's how she 'perceives' the situation)