The single best piece of advice you've gotten/gave

Felicia327 · Jan 17, 2010

Today i was venting to a good friend of mines that i met along my nursing journey few years ago. As i open up my email i found all of the encouraging statements posted on all nurses that lift my spirits up instantly. I just would like to say thank you all and most of all many thanks to my good friend whom i love dearly.

You are the absolute sweetest!! You have been a wonderful friend to me as well... The hours of encouragement, knowledge and Wisdom you have shared with me, have been a great part of my success thus far. You will never know the true impact you've had on my outlook on Nursing...God's continued Blessings upon you.....Never Give Up!!! :redpinkhe

dannyc12 · Jan 17, 2010

Network, network, network.

Could not agree more. I found a new job the same way.

SAHMStudent · Jan 18, 2010

I cannot stick to just ONE, sorry.

1) Ditto for staying on top of the material. DO NOT fall behind. And if you can work ahead, do so. Make drug cards/charts, for the next semester if you have an idea of what is coming, etc....

2) Ditto again on staying organized...knowing what you need to know, and where that material is, when the next test is, and what you need to do to prepare for it is critical.

3) Spend your off time with family and friends. They are much more patient and willing to give you time/space to handle your nursing school business if you focus on them with the same interest and intensity as you do schoolwork.

4) Be genuine,and sincerely proactive- in clinicals ask what can I do, how can I help- to your nurse, your instructor, your classmates. You will not only see much more than if you were only with your assigned pt., but you will be remembered by those you helped and that is a free, easy way to network. ** caveat** do this only if you truly have the time; don't tick off your instructor/classmates by neglecting your pt to sniff out the "cool" procedures/pts. I learned and saw twice what I would have by helping out everyone I could- unit clerk, housekeeping, CNA's, PA's other nurses. They were more likely to ask me for an assist than my classmates. And I ran into a few nurses in different areas of the hospital, outside of my rotation, and they remembered me, and asked where I was interested in working. I need that opportunity to network during clinicals, because I can't work in a facility until I graduate (childcare costs), and I know that hurts me.

darn, that was way longer than I intended. GL!

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · Jan 20, 2010

Suck it up, learn what it is the profs want to hear, and tow the party line. While yes, there is alot of good stuff you need to learn in nursing school, the key is realizing that a huge chunk of surviving nursing school is realing that much of it is BS that you simply need to get through in order to graduate and be the kind of nurse you want to be.

czbsn · Jan 20, 2010

The best advice I ever received was to always ask questions. Would you rather look stupid to your professor or a doc OR hurt your patient? I'll take the first one, thanks. :cool:

melissaplexy · Jan 20, 2010

Practice NCLEX questions daily.

silverbat · Jan 20, 2010

nursing school is, at the same time, the most wonderful AND the most awful time period! Lean on your support system! Love them, for without your support system you will not make it! When you can, relax, take mental health weekends, a day or even a few hours, you will be refreshed and renewed. lean on your faith system to help as well. I know that without my guardian angels I would not have made it driving home asleep from too many hours awake between work and school. LEARN

DF-LPN · Jan 20, 2010

The best advice I got was, be willing to learn anything. If there is something going on that you have not seen or done before then ask if you can help or just watch, you can learn alot buy just holding up a wall LOL

Dee

randismom · Jan 20, 2010

I will be celebrating 37 yrs as a nurse this spring and have worked in a large variety of facilities/specialties and care models. Delegation is vital but must be done appropriately. And even today, I "Don't ask anyone to do something that I wouldn't do myself."

merrywhiterose · Jan 20, 2010

Plan on your whole life being put into the Nursing Program. You won't have time for anything else. READ AHEAD WHENEVER POSSIBLE!!! If you have a summer break, or any other break, start reading!!!

Cobweb · Jan 20, 2010

The very best piece of advice I got was to be a CNA for a while before going to nursing school. Not only did it give me critical basic skills, but it taught me how hard some of my team members have to work--and when they aren't...not to mention early training in how to work with patients. It was invaluable to me as a new nurse.

scrubcircrn · Jan 20, 2010

You dont have to get straight A's to be a terrific nurse. Give yourself a break.