WANTED: Nursing student tidbits of advice

Nursing Students General Students

Published

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

a good massage at least once a month. no school, no kids, no hubby, def hard to think about anything else for that wonderful hour. a bottle of ibuprofen in your bag, i was the most popular girl in clinical, everyone knew they were welcome to go into the "pink bag" labelled essentials-it contains a stash of ibuprofen, tampons, a bottle of liquid bandage, a couple of new toothbrushes/toothpaste, mints, pepto-bismal tablets, tums, barrettes, ponytail holders, hairclips, a brush, and yes--hairspray.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

your welcome crunchy mama and congrats!!!!

:bow:Thanks for all your input guys...i hope this thread can help a lot of people..

anybody hear about teh new smartpen? It records the lecture as u take notes! If you tap your paper on a specifc spot it will replay that portion of lecture..amazing..but its costs like 300 :crying2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.
Go to Pet Smart and have the smaller tags engraved with your name and phone number, to attach to your stethescope and scissors. That's how mine have come back to me many times.

OMG!!!!!! That is a wonderful idea!!!!!! genius actually...:yeah::yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If I were you, I'd really enjoy the summer. Take lots of time to relax and unwind before you start the program.

I second the notion that you really need a planner. You schedule will be crazy, and you need to have everything written down in one easy place.

I don't like coffee either, and got through without every touching it. Though I did rely heavily on caffeine mints when I got stuck doing my practicum on the 7pm-7am shift. Thanks heaven that only lasted a month!

Keep a hobby outside of school, preferably something active. You need something beside school to look forward to, keep you fit, and keep you sane! Working out, a dance class, something you enjoy to do at least weekly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
so guys....what about digital recorders

Wait until school starts and ask your teachers if they allow taping during lecture before investing. My first semester I didn't bother getting one because one of my teachers didn't allow it and the other wasn't very good, so I didn't want to tape those lectures anyway. The next semester I did buy one because all my teachers were cool with taping. Don't know about a PDA, lots of people like them but I've never used one or felt I needed it. I just carry a good drug book to clinicals. To each his/her own though...you may find it useful.:D I'm sure there is already a thread in the archives about different types and how people like them. Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Go to Pet Smart and have the smaller tags engraved with your name and phone number, to attach to your stethescope and scissors. That's how mine have come back to me many times.

I went a step further and got my stethoscope engraved (I've seen it on the top of the bell, but I got mine engraved on one of the metal pieces that the ear cushions are connected to.) I was just worried that any kind of tag could either fall off or be taken off. It's tough to get around the fact that my name and e-mail address are engraved into the dang thing.

Oh and the company I ordered it from online did the engraving for me.

Peace,

CuriousMe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
your welcome crunchy mama and congrats!!!!

:bow:Thanks for all your input guys...i hope this thread can help a lot of people..

anybody hear about teh new smartpen? It records the lecture as u take notes! If you tap your paper on a specifc spot it will replay that portion of lecture..amazing..but its costs like 300 :crying2:

I went another way for the same effect. I have a tablet convertible laptop. So, it's just like a regular laptop, except when it's open, you can spin the screen around and then lay it flat (so the screen is facing up and the back of the screen is lying on the keyboard) and then use a stylus that comes with it.

This lets me write directly on my Prof.'s powerpoint slides to take notes. I can also record with the laptop, and it synchronizes what I write with the recording. So, inevitably, when I'm reading my notes later and have NO idea what I meant when I scribbled that nonsense down, I can press a play button right next to what I wrote and it will pay back the recording starting 5 seconds before I started writing that section. It's really incredibly useful :-D

And yes, do be sure to ask permission before recording, some schools let you and others don't, some Prof.'s let you and others don't.

Peace,

CuriousMe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.

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!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.
I went another way for the same effect. I have a tablet convertible laptop. So, it's just like a regular laptop, except when it's open, you can spin the screen around and then lay it flat (so the screen is facing up and the back of the screen is lying on the keyboard) and then use a stylus that comes with it.

This lets me write directly on my Prof.'s powerpoint slides to take notes. I can also record with the laptop, and it synchronizes what I write with the recording. So, inevitably, when I'm reading my notes later and have NO idea what I meant when I scribbled that nonsense down, I can press a play button right next to what I wrote and it will pay back the recording starting 5 seconds before I started writing that section. It's really incredibly useful :-D

And yes, do be sure to ask permission before recording, some schools let you and others don't, some Prof.'s let you and others don't.

Peace,

CuriousMe

wow, curiousone, neat laptop!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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!!!

Personally, I don't like roller bags. In order to survive the heavy load of books, the wheel structure has to be pretty substantial and I find them so dang heavy empty. Once I fill it up, it's just to heavy and even though it has wheels, I know on our campus you need to pick up the thing at least a couple times a day. I find it easier to just use a good quality, very large backpack (padded straps, waist belt, etc A good bag). Once it's on my back, it's not that heavy and I try to only put it on waist high things when it's full....so I don't have to bend down (using good body mechanics of course :) ) to pick up the thing when it's loaded.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello, I just started NS last month, I was called to start the day before classes started. I had to quit my job, move 2 hours away and get mentally prepared for nursing school all within a weeks notice. I am just getting use to everything and meeting new friends which will hopefully keep me from coming home every weekend. I would say that even though you are anxious try to enjoy your summer. I wasnt suppose to start until September which was a plus because I had a few trips planned for the summer to relax but low and behold school came calling. I carry a backpack that has cushioned straps and it works well for me, the teachers usually recommend leaving your books at school but your folder and calendar/planner are something I live by. Tape lectures if thats how you usually study but if you haven't used it before then it won't make a difference, but that doesnt go without saying you can explore different studying options but dont get too carried away because you might use a new technique to prepare for a class and end up not passing the test because that method doesnt work for you. All the supplies you can think of highlighters, tape, stapler etc. What I do is try to read and study a chapter a day, my first class we have quizzes every week so I study really hard for those then when its test week I basically review to brush up. So far I've got a 8/10 & 10/10 on my quizzes

Up Vote Up Vote ×

and 84% on my test, highest score was 88%...Ok its getting long, let me know if I can give anymore advice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment