Tips for Surviving the 1st Semester of Nursing School

[ArrowRN]

I can't believe I made it through finals week and my first semester of nursing school is done. I was totally exhausted with several days of 3 hours of sleep and 5 straight exams. Anyways I'm like a straight B student, that's not bad considering I have a family and lots of distractions at home...for me that not where I usually am, so I wanted to offer up some tips on how to survive the first semester of nursing school.

1. READ your books.

This is probably the most annoying thing especially for those like me who learn visually or auditory, so I ended up having to rewrite my notes ( because highlighting does not work for me), and reading out loud.

2. Buy an NCLEX book and start using it now!

Some might not like this idea, but nursing questions suck because all the answers are viable and getting an NCLEX book in your first semester will help you get past the shock phase of those crazy critical thinking questions for those who are more fact-based learners like myself.

3. Be outspoken.

I think it's no secret by now that almost all nursing instructors highly favor students who are extroverts and who talk a lot. Being an introvert did not help me out much. My clinical instructors said I'm too shy to be a nurse when I really have no problem talking in front crowds, I'm just quiet and that's how God made me. If you are quiet like me, make it a point to be extra loud and outspoken especially to your clinical instructor and always volunteer to be the first to try new skills...just trust me on this.

4. Get a good calendar.

Be it an online calendar or old fashioned one, it is needed cause you won't be able to remember all the dates and commitment you have for assignment deadlines.

5. Start projects early.

Go into each class schedule on the first day of class and find all your big papers and start drafting them. Do a little each week so you won't be overwhelmed especially with the time-consuming task of finding evidence-based research.

6. Nursing students Don't get sick.

Ok apparently nursing students are not allowed to get sick, I had a long sick weekend and missed a few assignment deadlines one week and missed 1 day of class for being sick...next thing I'm being called into the nursing office as they question my motives for being a nurse. Anyways...as long as you not in a casket...drag yourself to school, it's better for them to send you home than to call in sick.

7. Say goodbye to life as you know it.

The boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, dog, cat and pet rats will need to understand that you are in nursing school. This means you basically don't have a life and won't be seeing much of them...ok they won't understand but they will try to. Just be patient with the transition of the school life, it is not easy and many relationships do not survive this test.

Finally good luck to those who will be entering their first semester in summer and Fall. I know it's an exciting time. Got some tips of your own? Please add them to this post, I need all the help I can get as I move into semester 2.

Get youtextbookok early and start reading

[meeep, BSN, RN]

The best advice I can give besides what is already mentioned is DON'T SLACK OFF AND DON'T CRAM!! There is just too much material to keep putting studying off, before you know it you will have an avalanche of information that you will have to learn. We lost a lot of people first semester because of this. I don't care how smart you are, nobody will make it through nursing school if they study everything at the last minute.

As a blanket statement, I disagree. For fundamentals and health assessment, I never studied until a day or two before the exam and made an A in the course. Quite honestly, so far, there has yet to be a single thing that I found academically challenging. Large volume of material? Most definitely. But no truly confusing concepts that are very time-intensive to learn, in my opinion. Of course, your mileage may vary. I have classmates who study 30 hours+ per week and barely pass. It's all dependent on what kind of learner you are and your ability to critically think. The latter skill seems to be one that a lot of nursing students (in my short experience with them) have issues with.

[imbatz, BSN, RN]

Another one - scan copies of all immunizations, BLS cards, etc. Admin will lose it. Even if (and when) they do lose it, it will be you that ends up missing a clinical day. Having a scanned copy on the cloud, you can just go to any computer and provide them another copy.

[imbatz, BSN, RN]

*Don't try to recreate the wheel. Seriously. Save your care plans, and recycle the information. Trust me, you will have tons of patients on the same beta blocker or respiratory stimulant - especially the combo drugs like Advair. That drug card information will not change.

*Learn how to read those multiple choice questions. I was never madder at myself than when I missed a dosage calc problem because I didn't convert the ml to tsps.

*Select All that Apply - ask yourself if the answers are true or false.

*Get really familiar with NANDA diagnosis - care plans are so much easier once you have these down.

*NCLEX study guides from the very beginning. There is advice on how to take the ATIs, HESIs, etc. as well as the NCLEX. And read the RATIONALES! Understanding why the answer is right or wrong is more important than the answer itself.

*Get a DVR - regular television viewing is a thing of the past. DVR your favs. Ask your classmates to not discuss it. They'll comply because they are DVRing shows of their own. We even discussed having a "Walking Dead" marathon after finals since so many of us were DVRing it.

[x0xerika]

What is expected out of the first semester of nursing school? I believe I am accepted into the BSN program and would be starting my program in April! I know there are different subjects; psych, ob, etc., but what was a typical day of class? Say you're in psych.. what exactly do you learn about?

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

What is expected out of the first semester of nursing school? I believe I am accepted into the BSN program and would be starting my program in April! I know there are different subjects; psych, ob, etc., but what was a typical day of class? Say you're in psych.. what exactly do you learn about?

First semester typically prepares you with the basics. Therefore you will probably start with roles of nurse, health assessment and nursing fundamentals. In these classes you learn about what is the normal findings in a healthy patient. The clinicals typically start off at nursing homes because they are slower paced and you get involved in total patient care, doing the job of both tech/CNA and nurse. It really depends on your program. If you are in BSN program community clinicals are also typically in the first semester and this can be a really fun time. Its lots of information coming at you and it is often the semester where most students decide if they can make it or drop out. That decision can be premature because honestly the clinicals can be a bore because its not a hospital setting. I was not a fan of nursing home care, but I really enjoyed community health.

[x0xerika]

That's exactly what I'm starting out with; Fund of Nurs and Hlth Assmnt for BSN. I just want to know what to expect! I understand it is going to be a lot of information, which is why I want to get a head start. I already have two NCLEX books and a drug guide, so should I start looking through those and gather information to help me get through the classes? I'm excited for clinicals! I'm a MA currently, so I understand patient care and I love working with them.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Its up to you, but medications was tough for me so if you want to start looking up basic categories until your pharmacology class comes up which we did not have until 3rd semester, but there will be some you need to know at the begining. Getting the hang of nclex questions can be difficult so starting an nclex book will also be useful. Doing chapters on fundamentals should give you a head start. I usually recommend the Review and Rationales series, but really any book will do.

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Eat a lot of protein, too. You will crash if you just rely on carbs :)

[kalmolil]

I used Saunders NCLEX review guide (got it on Amazon) and it proved invaluable for studying for Adult Health. The biggest tip I can give is to get used to the testing style. It's unlike anything you've ever encountered and mastering critical thinking is what will help you succeed. In order to develop that skill, practice makes perfect! The more practice questions you can do (and rationales you can read) the better you will do! Above all else do not forget to just breathe sometimes! You have to take a mental break at some point or you will exhaust yourself very early on. I just wrapped up my first semester and it was a doozy!

[sterling4466]

I am In my last semester in nursing school and have found that cramming for tests does not do it. I learned a new way to study through a Tudor that did not include taking time to make flash cards . Most students in my class also did well by studying along with books. Ati site study guides and practice tests.

[GodIs082010, ASN, RN]

I am In my last semester in nursing school and have found that cramming for tests does not do it. I learned a new way to study through a Tudor that did not include taking time to make flash cards . Most students in my class also did well by studying along with books. Ati site study guides and practice tests.

Hi can you share the new way of studying? Thanks

[theladyemma17]

I am considering nursing school. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of nursing school? What is the workload like? What would you have liked someone to tell you when you started nursing school?

Thank you!