Things you wish you would have known or had prior to entering nursing school

krisiepoo · Nov 22, 2013

I was pretty well prepared because my step-mom went through the same program only a few years prior, however, I wish I would have known what a physical and mental toll it took on me. I knew I was going to have to buckle down but holy cow. I would have started a healthy routine BEFORE starting school so that it wasn't a struggle to get healthy again (made a menu with a shopping list, exercised over my lunch hour at work, etc).

I would have gotten the Saunders Comprehensive Review book from the get go

I would have prepared my friends/family better for my lack of involvement in their lives. This was really hard for many to accept that I wasn't going to things because I had to study/go to clinicals/SLEEP!

I would have changed my outlook from the start and instead of thinking "ugh I can't stand this anymore" I would have started with how I changed my thinking to "this is really exciting, I love learning" (sounds corny but rephrasing my thinking patterns changed my whole outlook and made me a happier person)

enjoy every experience. every single experience will help you along the way, no matter how trivial you think it is

nyandy · Nov 22, 2013

You can spend a ton of money on HELP books but try not too. I suggest a daily planner, a good drug book, a drug guide for smart phone (Davis is $$$ and Micromedex Drug is Free), a care plan book (I suggest Nursing Care Plans: Diagnoses, Interventions, and Outcomes, 8e by Gulanick & Myers), also the F.A. Davis SUCCESS Series is wonderful. FUNDAMENTALS SUCCESS is a great book for 1st semester students and really taught me how to take a nursing test. For the basics get a good printer, a case of paper, a crap load of black pens and highlighters. :)

My final suggestion is strap in and hang on because Nursing is a bit of a wild ride. Requires a ton of dedication and disciple. Good Luck.

nyandy · Nov 22, 2013

Ooo... NCLEX book... I use Davis's Q&A for the NCLEX-RN Examination. I like the rationales and a wonderful professor suggested the book.

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2013

Amen on the paper....... I went through two reams this semester. I've heard investing in a laser printer is wise, although I am not doing that until I have used all the ink from my cartridge refill kit. Which I have refilled three times this semester. I'd say one thing you can do ahead of time which I wish I had done, is to get good at dosage calculations using whichever form of math your school prefers. I am not that great at dimensional analysis, and naturally, that is what my school insists we use. Also, you can't really read ahead in nursing school but you CAN memorize your lab values early to save yourself some stress.

northmississippi · Nov 22, 2013

I like having two voice recorders to keep my lecture classes separated. Best books I found was clinical pharm made easy, and the hesi nclex examination, dont go overboard buying extra books, you wont read them...read your real book more. study daily, listen to your recordings on way to/from school. learn to nail the clinical by watching youtube videos on head to toe assessment, and learn to do care plans the right way. You didnt do an asessement unless you palpate abs and check feet (temp/pulses/pushpull), make sure you got microbio out of way before talking fundamentals, get to bed by 830, eat plenty of apples and milk to help you think, have you a check list of stuff to assess at clinicals and make sure you have at least two things you want to tell the teacher/nurse about the pt you saw in the morning, such as pain scale, condition of dressing, or loc. You really are in charge of the pt and dont assume the nurse knows all about them and make sure you have small talk while in the pt room, and ask if they will have support network once they are discharged such as living with son, etc. If you unclip an IV lock, be sure to clip it back or they will bleed out, get a good care plan book such as betty ackley's, and a book on assessment. Your time skills are just as important as your studies, the time skills may be the hardest part of nursing school.