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!!!!! :-)

Specializes in Emergency Room, Specialty Infusions.

Good advice from all.

I agree with forming friendships.....with EVERYBODY in class. They will be your family for the next 2 years.

I just remembered a study idea my class would do after a test. Each one of us were expected to remember 3-5 questions. After the test and out in the hall we would write it down to remember and use as a study guide for the final. We would each give the others what questions we remembered so there would abe a comlete set.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Medical/Oncology.

I just graduated in May from an ADRN program. I was an older student (44 when I went back to school). Nursing school is not easy, that is true - but if you want it bad enough, you can do it. Here are the things that helped me get through school, I hope that they help you and others! I am going to put them in order of importance:

#1 - If you don't know Jesus Christ as you personal savior, I pray that you will. I couldn't have made it without Him. Pray daily for his help and guidance and He will be with you every step of the way. I can think of many times when the only explanation for a good grade that I got on a test or the fact that I made it through a clinical day when I had been up until 2 AM working on paper work and I had to be at my clinical site at 6 am - was because God was with me.

#2 - The difference between students who retain the information during the semester and don't freak out when finals come is to READ, READ and READ what they tell you to READ. I don't know how many of the people that I went to school with did not open a book and were proud to announce the fact that they never opened their books. These same people were the ones that struggled big time when finals came. I don't know about your program, but for mine, it didn't matter if you had a 100% going into the final or not, if you didn't get above a 75% on the final, you flunked the course. I am not saying that you can't get a passing grade on the tests by studying your notes, power points, etc., but actually reading the material really builds your knowledge base, which is SO important. Even now, in my job as a nurse, I feel that all the reading that I did is really helping me because the information is in my long term memory because of reading it over and over throughout school. There is too much information by the end of the semester, to try and re-cram everything back into your brain. Besides, all of those books cost alot of money, so use them!

#3 - Here is my suggestion for test Days. I don't know if you have test anxiety or not, but if you do, this is especially important. If you don't have an iPod, I highly suggest that you get one. Put music on it that is relaxing to you. Put your iPod in your ears before you get out of your car. Get to class at least 30 minutes before class starts. (I lived in a major metropolitan city and had to drive into the heart of the city. On regular days I would leave my house an hour before class and on test days I would leave an hour and a half before class. I don't know how many times that this saved my butt because of traffic. If you are late, that will just add to your stress, so take that out of the equation.) Get out your pencil, glasses, gum or whatever else you are going to need during the test and set them on the desk. Leave the room and find a quiet place to just sit and listen to music. Do not try and cram at this time. If you don't know it by then, you don't know it. Cramming at this point is just going to fry your brain and you will forget the stuff that you did know. If you allow your mind to relax and you think positive thoughts, pray, etc. - this will do more for you than all of the cramming in the world. Oh yeah, and the iPod serves another reason -you can't hear everyone else freaking out about how much they don't know and about how hard the test is going to be. This negative talk will start making you doubt what you know. If you are one that really likes to visit before class and has alot of friends, this will be hard for you. But if you start this right up front and just tell everyone that this is what you have to do to relax on test days, then your friends will understand!

#4 - For me, wasting hours upon hours making flash cards did not work for me. I know alot of people who used them, but I did not. I started out using them and quickly tired of all of the time that it took. Instead, this is what I did. I took my laptop to class and took notes on everything that the teacher said that was not on the powerpoints. I printed the powerpoints out before class (I hope your school does this, some don't) and I only typed the stuff that was not on them. When I got home after class, I would go through and fix all of the typos and make it look better, then I would print these off and put them with the corresponding powerpoints in my notebook. When it came time to study for the test, they were all in order. Also, (and now you are going to think I am really OCD, and you would be right!) - I typed up important stuff from the readings that were not in the notes or the powerpoints and also studied them. If you don't have time for this, just make sure that at the very least you READ the material, just in case your teachers decide to put a few questions that are only from the readings on the test (our teachers did that all the time!).

#5 - Make a schedule for studying, but be flexible - life happens. Put everything in a Day Planner (Clinicals, Labs, Tests, Project Due dates, study group times, etc..). I always had a priority list for the week and I would start at the top and work down. I also tried to work on short term and long term stuff as I went along. There is so much that at times, it will be very overwhelming, but if you sit down and break it down by weeks, it will go alot better for you. Like I said, do remember the long term stuff (projects, papers, etc..) and don't wait until the last minute to do them. We had alot of group presentations that we always had to be working on and it went alot better when our group started working on them early and did a little each week.

#6 - Realize right up front, that your life is about to change. Talk to your family and friends and tell them how important this is to you and that for the next couple of years things are going to be different. There will be weeks when you have more time than other weeks, so be sure and get away from studying and spend time alone, with friends or family - not thinking about school or nursing stuff, but just accept the fact and have the mind set that you will have to make this sacrifice to get what you want. I remember during orientation, one of our teachers talked to us about this very thing and I remember thinking - yeah, yeah, they are just trying to scare us. Well, looking back now, no - they were not trying to scare us, they were just trying to prepare us for what was to come. Listen to them and take their advice.

I'm sure I could think of lots of other things, but then this would be a book and it almost is now. Feel free to ask me any questions that you want to, I would be glad to help. I wouldn't trade my experiences the last couple of years for anything. The stress, sleepless nights, hours of studying - all of it was so worth it. If being a nurse is your calling, like it has always been mine - then you'll do fine. I am proud to say that I am and RN and I know that you will too someday. Hang in there and remember to READ!

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Having taught nursing for more than 10 years, here's my advise:

1. Negativity and fear spread like wildfire. Listen to your teachers not your peers (believe it or not, your teachers have more experience than your classmates). 2. Do not ask "will this be on the test?" Ask yourself, "will I be able to understand and react to this if I have a patient with this?" 3. Remember, your teachers actually want you to succeed. You will get out of it what you put into it so don't blow off what you think is the easy stuff - the easy stuff is the foundation for what is yet to come. :nurse:

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Red bull!! Lol

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

COFFEE!!! :)

I'm just kidding.. kinda. Try and keep up on sleep! Yes we have a billion readings to do... but getting sick is not worth it. Take care of yourself, eat properly, get some exercise, sleep... and try to keep the stress level down.

I also found that it was easier to take one thing at a time. For example if I had a paper, an exam, and a project all due in 2 weeks, I would address the one that would take me the most time first, finish that, and move on.

Also, leave yourself some time with friends and family... or you will start to feel like you are living under a rock :)

And most of all.. this is a time where you get to experience and learn new and exciting things! Be a sponge, soak it all up.. and enjoy!

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

Everyone thanks for all the great advice... I already broken down my work into the first five weeks...the teamster is only fifteen, and since theirs so much reading, i've actually started the reading, and i just found out that one of my teachers put the nu101 syllabus up so i know whay going on with that and the first weeks power points to so i've been reading and studying also taking it easy and school doesn't start until next week!!! I'm so excited...and thanks for all the great advice it really does mean so much...just to know that their is light at the end of the tunnel...i one day wil be able to proudly call my self an RN!!! :-) I'll also make sure i find a moment during ths semster to post ho it's going!!

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Specializes in Too early.

Jenafezz is right...seriously great book.

I can only answer you from my perspective. It required a commitment to study. Is it hard? Well, no. Does it require all your time. Yes. A lot. You'll need to study like you've never studied before. Learning how to critical think. Learning manifestations backwards and forwards. Learning care plans and interventions and tying things together. But, it you stay organized and have a plan - and let yourself have a day off every now and then, nothing should stop you.

Be aware, the prerequisites are generally easier than the nursing course. I had straight A's and ran into "Med Surge" - whole different animal. And you'll hit that. I can't tell you how many of us had straight A's and after the first hard-core nursing test, looked at each other and said, "HUH!!????!" LOL!

But you'll do fine. Just make sure that you're committed and avoid distractions at all costs!

Best!

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thank you samanthaeh76. i will be starting my 1st semester(practical nursing) in a few weeks.

i was told that the math is pretty difficult (not a huge math fan). thanks for the tips. i will apply them. all the best as you move forward.

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first of all i would definitely suggest staying out of any drama! in a class where you are with the same people day in and day out, there is bound to be some conflict. my suggestion is to stay away from the cliques and try to bite your tongue. there will be many days when you will hate some of your classmates and even your teachers. But you have to remember this, you have worked so hard to get into the program, this is 2 years of your life that you dont want to be miserable. You are the one that has to pass the tests and the nclex. Im not saying dont try to make any friends, I am still great friends with some of my nursing collegues. What I am saying is avoid the drama, avoid hanging out with people that are negative, because the teachers will definitely think you are the same. Study study study! This is a profession where you definitely have to know the material in order to practice it. Dont be afraid to ask questions, its better to ask how to do something than try to fix a mistake. You will feel overwhelmed, you will feel as if you are not cut out for nursing. But even as a working you are learning everyday. Make friends with the CNAs during your clinicals. I noticed in my class some girls treating them poorly because they were "lowly" CNAs, these people are your greatest asset. Not only will they help you with your patients, but they will also let the nurse know how you have treated them. Last thing, have fun! Its hard to manage studying, clinicals, homework, and family, but definitely take one day or even one hour to have for yourself. Nursing school was one of the hardest things I have done, but I also had a great time and met great people. And remember the nurses who you deal with during your clinicals will definitely remember you, so make a great impression. Who knows, they may be your coworker in a few years!

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I am a new grad just starting orientation at my first job. Here are my tips:

-I had a new definition of what "studying" was every semester, even all the way up to NCLEX. Hey, you really need to READ the chapters! Even highlight and maybe read again!?!?! Also STUDY GROUPS are what it's all about if you really wanna get a grip on the info before a test.

-And don't let people tell you "It will take over your life!" You will always have time for a social life. Just keep your priorities straight.

It's such a great profession, it deserves hard work, but WORTH it once it's all behind you. Good luck! :)

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

Thanks....i had my freshman orientation today...a little discouraging but i don't give up easily...at least all the teachers seem very nice.

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Specializes in ER.

Ahh, a topic that comes up again and again!

You probably have decent study habits or you would not have the marks to allow you to get this far.

My best advice is to focus on the intangibles - comradery, teamwork, getting along and finding a super-duper stress reliever.

I posted an answer like this before and had some negative feedback - "how dare you advise someone to go out and have alcohol as a stress reliever" kind of comments.

My cohorts formed a group - bent on not only SURVIVING but THRIVING - and we, almost weekly, met after the last clinical day each week. We ate, drank and let off the steam that, unvented, was a risk of boiling us alive.

Dont even think of the NCLEX now. Work as hard as you can on doing well and finding your groove and down the road you can begin to worry about the big kahuna.

Our social gatherings did more to fuel my success than improving study habits, review CDs, online resources or sitting around in a circle asking each other questions.

School will force you to study. Only you can find the best way to carve out down time. Our lunch club still has an annual gathering only now we vent and laugh about being RNs and not SNs!

Best wishes to you!

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