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

[dorkypanda]

Do you think buying an NCLEX review book while still in school is very helpful?

which one do you recommend?

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

An nclex book is only as helpful if you use it. Having one can help speed up understanding of topics quickly cause they focus on main points tested. I had 3 nclex books Saunders, and mosbys never used them. The third one I liked was Illustrated study guide for nclex, it comes in ebook format from pageburst/evole i used it cause it has a better layout in my opinion and visual aids. Med surg success book is great source for practice questions for medsurg class

[MurseJJ]

Do you think buying an NCLEX review book while still in school is very helpful?

which one do you recommend?

I think an NCLEX book may help after the first semester (I'm considering buying the Saunders one). I think the individual subject review books (with questions), such as the Pearsons Reviews and Rationales series or the "Success" series, are better options at this point in your education. You can get individual review books that cover fundamentals, pathophysiology, pharmacology, med/surg, maternity, peds, psych, etc.

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

Hi can you share the new way of studying? Thanks

Hi Sterling4466 I also would like to know as well. Thanks :)

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

The third one I liked was Illustrated study guide for nclex, it comes in ebook format from pageburst/evole

What's the name of the book?

Thank you.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Good day:

What's the name of the book?

Thank you.

Its called "Illustrated Study guide for NCLEX RN" 8th edition by JoAnn Zerwekh preview it on amazon. But buy it instant download from evolve pageburst.

Its not a book everyone likes but i like it for my learning style wich is visual and auditory. And with pageburst ebooks it can read to you. I used ivona reader voices for my pc cause it way better than microsoft sam.

[Just_keep_swimming]

I start in less than 2 weeks, thanks for all these tips!!

[meetcindyrella]

Great advice, kind of scary! Start 1st semester in the summer!

[missnurse792]

The first semester at my school was honestly pretty easy . Only thing is getting adjusted to the work load because it's nothing compared to prerequisites. If you can manage your time and stay focus you will be just fine .

[MissKrys87]

Ahhhh! I start in August and this is helpful. Although I think my anxiety just sky rocketed even more than before reading this- uh oh!!!

[SKay226]

"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."

I'm so happy to read this here - I do not learn by reading...I have a Bachelors and Masters and never read a single text book and ended up with 3.8 GPA (yes even A&P etc.). I've been terrified to start nursing school next year because I know many talk about reading their books and then reading more. I always sit in the very front of classes and absorb as much as possible...I don't usually take notes but I plan on for nursing school.

Any other auditory/visual learners have any tips? I'm hoping that professors will let me record lectures and I also like the OPs idea of reading notes outloud rather than reading the book. I'm guessing that only helps if the professors makes exams from their lectures vs. textbooks.

I'd love to hear anyone's experience! Thanks :)

[missnurse792]

I personally never really liked reading . Until I had no choice but to read . I became organize for my classes and got a bunch of post its and a separate book for each class and a bunch of loose leaf paper and a stapler lol . When I started reading , I followed exactly what the syllabus wanted us to know . It's impossible to read all those books up and down (especially if you were full time like me who ended up taking 5 classes every semester ). I would write down notes on the loose leaf paper for each topic from the textbooks. When the teacher went over topics in class I would take those down in the notebook for that class . When it was time for testing (if your blessed to get a blueprint ) you will notice it coincides with the syllabus most of the time . If your lucky enough all you would have to study is your notes and the class notes . As long as u stay on top of your reading you can't go wrong.