WANTED: Nursing student tidbits of advice

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hey guys,

I start this fall in my nursing program and Im extremely anxious!!! Im looking for any advice that will help me in school. Whats the thing you can NOT live w/o during nursing school? What was the best study method for you? Index cards, recorders, palm pilots? What should I take to clinicals? I know you all were anxious when u started!!!

thanks guys

p.s. ....im hoping this will end up being a HUGE thread that other anxious students can read

Specializes in Med/Surg, Well-Baby Nursery, NICU.

I just graduated in May '09 with my BSN. Here's some tidbits that helped me survive nursing school..

Invest in a medical dictionary and a drug guide book. I probably wouldn't have survived school without those two resources! I have Taber's medical dictionary and Mosby's drug guide for nurses.

Get about 30-40 index cards and write important lab values. WBC, RBC, Platelet count, BUN, H&H, INR, PT, PTT, ABG values, etc. You will always need to know these values so it's good to MEMORIZE them now!

Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water. Get plenty of sleep (don't be a night owl like me!). Exercise..I do power yoga a few times a week. It helped/still helps me destress, stay fit, and clear my mind. It's addicting! I go running a lot too, which helped me in particularly in nursing school to burn off steam when I was annoyed at clinical instructors :angryfire

Oh and it's never too early to start doing nclex review questions! Invest(if you have the $) in a couple of nclex review books so you can do lots of review questions!

Good luck and enjoy the ride:smilecoffeecup:

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

CONGRATS meljo505!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And thanks to all of the new posters for your advice...VERY helpful

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Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

I'm loving this thread. I just got my acceptance letter for Spring 2010 and this thread has made me feel like I'm better prepared. THANKS for starting such an awesome thread!!!

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Great thread, very helpful.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

ur welcome guys and CONGRATS on getting onto NS!!!!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Bumping up this awesome thread. I read all 19 pages of this thread and I already feel better and have a list of what to do and what to get before I start class ~ in less than 30 days~. Thanks guys!

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

Hey guys i went to Walmart (btw, they are having an awesome sale ) and bought some of my school supplies today!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought pens, highlighters, pencils, markers and colored pencils (im also a visual learner), binders, notebooks, scissors, a hole puncher, and dividers. I know many people suggest put all of my notes in a binder but i know that personally i HATE writing on loose leaf paper. I have always preferred notebooks. But i realize things may change so i got a couple of binders just in case. Now i have to get the more expensive purchases such as a recorder, bookbag, stethoscope, nursing shoes...oh and i cant forget those 1000 books!

Seeing my impressive pile of brightly colored school supplies lying on my bookshelf is reminding me that I am REALLY a student....again, and a nursing student at that!

5 weeks until school starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets GO!

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Nurse Kitten, I am just today reading your post.I went hog wild with the saunders review..and I made over a thousand on the HESSI..800 was required to pass.I have been in these forums for the last 3 months studying and getting advise from folks..and THe saunders was amazing.I am nnow ready to take net..and spoke to my program director..who thinks she has a spot for me Jan 2010.So Ill take Pharm update in fall and ...man..its starting to seem real..I am really going to finish this:O)

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Hey guys i went to Walmart (btw, they are having an awesome sale ) and bought some of my school supplies today!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought pens, highlighters, pencils, markers and colored pencils (im also a visual learner), binders, notebooks, scissors, a hole puncher, and dividers. I know many people suggest put all of my notes in a binder but i know that personally i HATE writing on loose leaf paper. I have always preferred notebooks. But i realize things may change so i got a couple of binders just in case. Now i have to get the more expensive purchases such as a recorder, bookbag, stethoscope, nursing shoes...oh and i cant forget those 1000 books!

Seeing my impressive pile of brightly colored school supplies lying on my bookshelf is reminding me that I am REALLY a student....again, and a nursing student at that!

5 weeks until school starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets GO!

I did the same thing this week! Love walmart sales! About the paper, I am the same way. I prefer to write in notebooks. But we were told we must have a binder and loose leaf paper. I bought a few spiral bound notebooks with preferated pages so when I finish I can just tear and put it in my binder. Plus I paln on typing my notes when I get home, so its not really going to make that much of a difference. I got the coolest backpack at Officemax. Its a Jansport, white and aqua green and it was on sale for 34.00. I now feel like a student again. My Littman stethescope came today and I have been chasing my dog around the house with it listening to his heart.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

lol my littman came in a couple days ago and i chased my dog too and then i got my parents so I could take their blood pressure.

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Well congrats and good luck

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hey nursing friends, its me again! Sorry that im so needy, but, i was wondering what type of bookbag I should get? Roller bag? or backpack?

I think im so anxious to start school and be totally prepared that im REALLY stressin over EVERYthing ::SIGH::::icon_roll. Im just ready to start already!!!!!!!!!!!! Ill prolly be wishin I could be "free"again once I start tho....77 days until I start NS and counting!!!

Okay, so I haven't actually started NS yet - I start this Fall too. But I wound up purchasing a rolling crate with a lid. The ad said it would hold up to 150 lbs and they weren't lying. I have received all except for 1 of my 16 books and I can get all of them inside, along with other misc supplies, and I'm still able to close the lid & it rolls with ease. The true test will be if it can withstand the abuse I put it through. I got it from completek-12.com they call it a go-cart. I looked for rolling crates on ebay, but most looked kinda cheap and were mainly equipped for scrapbooking supplies. I came across this crate by accident. I bought their package that includes the cart, lid & a lunch bag too. The lunch bag is huge! It's a soft sided zippered lunch bag, but it can fit so much stuff in it - including a bunch of ice packs. My husband likes it so much I'm buying a separate lunch bag just for him... he doesn't need the rolling cart.:wink2:

I forgot to add that because the cart is so sturdy, with the lid on, it doubles as a seat (if and when you need it!).

Oh, and I saw on a different school supply post that someone recommended getting a clipboard that opens for storing smaller items and a calculator attached to the top. I found one made by Saunders for about 16$ on amazon. I can fit my stethoscope, pens & highlighters inside.

Good luck future nurse! :nurse:

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