Tips of Nursing School Sucess

Glenna, LPN · Nov 20, 2011

Notecards will be your friends. If you learn best with study groups, I'd say friend people in class quickly. Classes will be moving by quickly and a lot of information will be thrown at you. What I did during school was keep my trusy highlighter out and would highlight the keep points the instructer goes over in class. Sometimes it is hard to read over the full chapter in depth because you will be asigned many chapters to read a night. But if you are a fast reader, go for it. This was what I learned to do the hard way later on. But everyone learns differently. If you are able to print out powerpoints, make sure you do that for your classes and write any notes from lecture onto those. I found that to be helpful.

As for clinicals, don't be afraid to ask questions. Even if you fear you might sound stupid for some, still ask because there are no stupid questions. I'd keep a clip board with you to hold notes you may need alone with a pocket sized notebook for quick notes. I hate talking on the phone in fear that I might word things weird. I quickly got over it because I was on the phone a lot. Also, when on site, listen closely to your instructor and pts.

As for NCLEX, I'm sure your school will provide you with an NCLEX book. It will also be your friend. More so the disc that comes with it. Go onto the part where it allows you to answer questions. I'd do it on study mode so that it will tell you why you got a questions right or not. I found that to be super helpful when I went to take my NCLEX. You get in the habit of answer questions there for when you take it, you aren't as fearful. Also, make sure you know your lab values and dosage calcuations.

That is my two cents for what it is worth.

Good luck. Welcome to nursing school. Good bye social life. Hello eduation.

Arianna727 · Nov 20, 2011

Invest in a tape recorder..the ones with USB adapters are great so you can upload lecture recordings straight to your computer. During lecture, esp. the very long 5 hour ones, there is SO MUCH info being thrown at you. I find it helpful to record the lecture so I can listen again to it later on. It helped me a lot this semester and I wish I thought of it last semester!

fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2011

the best advice i can give you is get a NCLEX review book asap, there should be one on your book list for school, and do 25-75 questions per day. they usually come with a disk of questions you can do on your computer.

even if you have no idea what the question is talking about, it will give you practice wit answering those type of questions. also- PLEASE read the first few pages of the nclex book. in those pages it tells you how to answer the questions, and if you use those tips you can answer a lot of questions without even knowing what the question is about. a lot of my classmates didn't realize those tips were there until recently... and we graduate in 3 weeks.

ETA: and when i say per day, i mean it. every day.

MammaNurse2Be · Nov 21, 2011

1. record lectures

2. rewrite your notes

3. write the objectives from each lecture

4. act professional, responsible and ethical

5. remember that you are interviewing for a job with every single person you meet from the teachers, lab teachers, janitors, CNAs, dietary, unit clerks, xray, lab techs, pharmacy. Introduce yourself by name and ask theirs. Try to call them by their name and thank them after each shift, lecture or class. If someone goes out of their way to provide teachable moments, thank them.

6. At clinical, offer your services whenever possible, "can I get those vitals for you? Can I help you with the bed bath? Anticipate how you can help your nurse and cna before they ask. If your patients are fine for the moment then offer to help your nurse with her other patients.

7. Never sit around saying there is nothing to be done at clinical. Find something. There is always something to do.

8. get a study group together. offer your notes and others will reciprocate.

9. don't gossip and help your classmates where you can. Offer encouragement and kind words to others even when they make mistakes. Point out the good you see. We all have had bad days and when the good is pointed out, it sure can make you feel good.

10. start studying for the test with the first lecture, don't wait or you will be overwhelmed

11.keep your papers organized. always print out extras of things you may need. why? there will always be a classmate that forgets theirs and it is nice to be able to help. then on that one day that you forget, you will have so many people willing to jump to help you because you bailed them out.

13. bring a good supply of healthy snacks for studying and clinical. all that brain work and concentration makes you so hungry. drink your water

14. exercise regularly, walk or run while listening to lecture, meet your class mates before or after class, go to the track, take your breaks and walk around the building. anything to keep your blood moving.

15. form study groups and go over lectures and nclex questions, talk out rationales and thoughts. listen to others opinions respectfully.

16. have fun!!! these are some of the best times of your life!! at least they are mine....

RKpianoman, APRN · Nov 21, 2011

On my first day, a third semester told me (and I quote), "Don't get eaten by a bear".

To this day, I have not gotten eaten by a bear, and I am still in nursing school. Was she talking about a literal bear, or was bear a metaphor for stress? You decide. But, I have not gotten eaten by any bear.

mollyj91 · Nov 22, 2011

I am currently in nursing school now, and only have one semester left. I can tell you that you will become married to your notecards. Also, you won't have a life in nursing school. Just study study study- and not just memorizing stuff either, really understand the patho behind things and it makes things A LOT easier. I study every chance I get and plan ahead, and I have been successful in ALL my classes so far. I don't know if your school uses ATI at all, but the books that you get each semester really help with certain areas since they condense the material and make it easier to understand. Nursing school is kind of like an investment, because you invest so much time, sleepless nights, anxiety attacks (at least for me), and tears. Best of luck to you!

JulieL · Nov 22, 2011

Congratulations on getting into nursing school. I am in my 2nd year of an associates RN program. As for pointers, it's a great idea, as mentioned above by MammaNurse2Be, to be extra helpful at clinicals. Don't wait around for the primary RN to delegate something to you, the student. They are super busy and some RNs aren't the friendliest to students and they don't have alot of time (or sometimes the inclination) to teach. Making the effort to make their day easier in any way is appreciated and you will be more likely to learn something that way too. No job is too small. Be quick and efficient. Be proactive and offer to help...with anything! And don't forget to smile.

And I used to get my patients mixed up...sometimes they have similar health issues, and they are the same age, same hair style ... and I would find myself charting something on one patient in another's patient's chart! Bad. Then I started addressing my patients by name. I would introduce myself to them at the beginning of my shift and then ask them what they would like me to call them. And then everytime I came into their room, or asked a question to the RN about their care, or even thought about them, I would use their name. it helped alot when I was hurrying and bringing up the electronic chart, to be able to click on the right patient the first time, it saved alot of time and avoided alot of confusion. And it was a more personable way to care for the patient too.

I also bought a book on pathology, even though it wasn't required by my school. It has filled in alot of the "blanks."

Good luck, and hang in there! Julie

mcruz211 · Nov 26, 2011

THANKS everyone for ALL the great tips I'm little scared, but excited!

Streamline2010 · Nov 26, 2011

If you don't already know how to cite an APA reference for a textbook, look it up and learn how to do an edited book and the other variations that apply to your particular textbooks. By 3rd term, or maybe even 1st or 2nd, you'll have to reference things and cite they properly.

People disagree on whether the NCLEX-RN review books are of value or not for a beginning student. I had the same adviser tell me get the Saunders, so I did, then later she turned right around and told me "Oh, that book is too advanced for first year. You are not there yet." Gee, thanks.

These two are recommended frequently:

1. Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students by Nugent and Vitale

2. Fundamentals Success: A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking, Second edition (Davis's Success): Two Books in One With Bonus CD-ROM by Nugent and Vitale

I've also read some people on here say they used the LPN PRN exam review books for their first year nursing, too.

If, by chance, you are using Potter and Perry Fundamentals, the study guide has no answers in it, but you can get them by registering your textbook at Elvier and downloading the answers from the Resources for that book.

Compared to regular college courses, and RN pre-requisites, the nursing courses are probably going to be about 3x that amount for work for only 3 or 4 credits. An enormous time commitment.