Tips on surviving through nursing school

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I am a new nursing student, and school starts in about a week and a half. I'm super excited about becoming anurse because it's something I wanted to do for a very very long time...I'm just wondering if any one has and tip on making it through nursing school. I've heard it can be rough so any suggestions would most definantly be appreciated!!!!! :-)

I've just completed my second week of nursing school. :)

Form your own opinions!!! Every person has their own experiences while going through school. The main thing is to be dedicated.

I do have to say the last two weeks have flown by and it will be done before we know it.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

Thanks everyone for yor feedback it helps alot. I'm not really that scared i know i can make it through, just figured there would be some good tips out there for making it through.

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Specializes in Med/surg, rural CCU.
I really liked the book "How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School" :)

This. No matter how busy you are, this is worth the read.

The biggest thing that helped me- study for boards- NOT your exam. Do not allow yourself to study the night before the test. That way you fully prepare yourself by REALLY learning the information and not cramming. Boards were easy for me, and I didn't stress about the exams because I knew I REALLY knew it.

Test taking tips...study during the day, review at night. LEarn new things when you're wide awake, work on reviewing and memorizing things right before bed.

Schedule study time and do NOT procrastinate- there's no time for it in nursing school when you're reading 9+ chapters a week.

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

Thank for all your helpful advice eveyone:)

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What worries me is no one talks about working up to full time equivalent :-(

That's ok, maybe I can get a good security job where I can study. Its just hard. I accept donations if anyone was wondering :-)

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Dont let the rumor mill get to you!

If you think about it, nursing is a predominately female profession and your class is probably teh same...which means there will be rumors, drama, etc...ignore it. its the only way to survive is to ignore hte BS nad realize you are there for school adn thats all :) good luck!

Oh and i agree with pretty much everything everyone else said too lol

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.
What worries me is no one talks about working up to full time equivalent :-(

That's ok, maybe I can get a good security job where I can study. Its just hard. I accept donations if anyone was wondering :-)

i actually work 30h a week

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I work a full-time job and I'm heading into the home-stretch here with my final semester.

I won't lie - it's hard. You will have a lot on your plate, but it's not impossible - it can be done. Most of the folks in my class work, and many of them work full-time. Sometimes, it's as if you have NO LIFE...but you keep the end goal in mind and stick with it.

My best advice when working and going to school is to make sure that you have a study schedule and do your best to stick to it. The most important part of that is to make sure you are current with your reading...you see it written in almost every thread asking for advice and it's so very true. Falling behind in reading can be detrimental to your success in school.

Other than that, just remember that this is something that you WANT!! If you aren't excited about it, you may be in the wrong place. Enjoy what you are learning & somehow it makes it seem less painful!

Hang in there newbie...you can do it!

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Specializes in OR.

I recommend recording the lectures, with your professor's permission of course. You'd be surprised how much information you miss while note taking. It's nice to have that back up and to listen to it over and over so it really sticks.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Specialty Infusions.

My youngest daughter just finisher her first semester.

She found out a lot of the questions for the test was on the CD that comes with your books.

She's a single mom of two. One a toddler. When learning her conversion rates she couldn't study because the 2 year old wouldn't leave her alone. So, she wrote all the conversions on his chest, tummy, and back. Every time he would go zooming by or climbing all over her or the couch....she was still learning.

:dncgbby:

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Specializes in operating room.

If you like to study with others, try forming a study group - sometimes you can break up the work or reading and share your summaries.

Most of all: manage your time!!! Take time to organize (even if that seems like it is cutting into the study time or reading) it pays off in the end. I recommend a calendar (paper or electronic), put in all of your assignment due dates, study time, clinic days, classes...and your other activities (family, fun time, etc.). Stick to your priorities and reward yourself for doing so.

I find the reading the most difficult to keep up on, learn to skim, reading the parts that you find you need more information about and skimming the stuff you already know. Do the assignments as early as possible, review before you turn them in to refresh your knowledge for tests.

Group projects can be a time suck: if the rest of the group is not pulling their weight, either do the work, or step back and wait - try to not worry, because this eats into your productivity at study - and they will either pick up their end or the whole group fails (keep your documentation of communication and what you did to show the instructor, maybe they will give partial credit, though group projects usually are trying to get you to work as a team, remember your classmates are typically like you, high achievers, though some may be high procrastinators as well, maybe they enjoy the high pressure deadline stress). My most successful project group was the one where I set out the goals early on in the quarter, ask for any suggestions from the rest; then we divided up the work and mostly did our parts on our own with a short session for posters...we were done weeks before the end of the quarter, leaving more time for studying before the final.

Don't fool yourself, it is hard work, but don't freak out (and give up) either. You can do it! If the stress is too much or the work is too much, talk to your instructors! They are there to support you and may have many strategies to help you! They want to see every student succeed! Also ask your family and friends to support you: explain how much this means to you, how much time you need to devote to this (2 years, or more), and that you need their support...it's amazing what they will do!

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:yeah:Congrats on starting nursing school--I just finished and I am about to take the NCLEX any day-I am ready! I loved nursing school--anyway-my best advice is to make friends and form study groups. Our facebook page for our class was a lifesaver. We shared all kinds of hints and web links (HUGE HELPERS!!!) and made study guides together--I never could have done it without my classmates. Good luck to you.

Oh and I should tell you that I am 51 and the oldest in my class and I was elected class rep but I was NOT the class "mom".

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