advice for first semester?

U.S.A. Tennessee

Published

I'm starting nursing school next week, after finally completing pre-reqs and being accepted! Any advice for making it through the first semester and doing well? Tips on time management? and is Pathophysiology as difficult as everyone says?! My mom was a nurse (now retired) and told me don't let any of the instructors get you down. Looking for some positive advice and encouragement here.

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Don't fall behind on your reading.

Don't be late for anything, ever.

The instructors will possibly resemble drill sergeants more than teachers. Just go with it.

And good luck, and congratulations!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I'm sure you've heard plenty of tips before even coming here, so I am not going to bore you with study tips, etc.

My advice: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF...and take on nursing school ONE day at a time.

I can't tell you how stressed out and overwhelmed I let myself get when I would worry about everything that had to be done within one week, let alone one month or one semester.....so I finally just started focusing on one day and one task at a time, "Okay...today I just need to go to class and study when I get home." Instead of freaking out, "I have class this morning, then I need to study, then I need to read ahead for next week, and then I have to start on my careplan for next week, then I need to write my paper that's due in two weeks, and I still have computer time that needs to be completed before the semester is over....aaaaaaahhhhh!" It is just too much to constantly worry about at one time. Make short term goals, get what needs to be done first done (ah prioritizing!), and then take time to do something non-nursing related (for fun...not the laundry)

And speaking of laundry, household duties, etc....DELEGATE! If you don't get to it, then you don't get to it. Do not feel guilty. There is only so much of you to go around. Your family will reap the benefits in the long run.

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Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.

Dr. Jane Norman, one of my faculty at TSU in the 90's had this advice for our very stressed-out class.

Make a chart with 24 hours per day. Schedule in your sleep time, class time, work, studying, etc. Make sure you schedule some "play" time for yourself. This way, you know what you should be doing & when you take your free time, you won't feel anxious about classwork or guilt-ridden for having taken this time for having fun.

She was right. It helped reduce so much stress. I even scheduled in time to play with my cat.

I also learned to break everything down into smaller bits. Okay, so I have an assignment due on x/xx/xx. Okay, what needs to be done & when. Write down the dates & make the tasks part of your daily work, rather than letting them pile up.

Keep communicating with those you love. Don't clam up or get so absorbed by nursing school that you don't talk to your friends & family. Nursing school is hard but it is temporary. I promise.

In my 12 years since I finished nursing school & began working as an RN, I have found these tips to be invaluable in getting through a shift & in dealing with multiple priorities (work, volunteering, parenting, etc).

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.

As eltrip said above....its is very important to take time out for yourself not r/t nursing school. Go out to dinner...movies...

And don't get too discouraged when you get that one grouch of a teacher...there's at least one in every nursing school.

You'll do great! It will go by really fast; I promise!

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