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
I have 27 days til orientation! Then I will go buy my scrubs, etc. We must sound so silly to those who are already in school, us being excited about buying shoes, stethoscope, and books!! But, whatever, I am excited to go buy BP cuff, penlight, shoes, scrubs, stethoscope, and all the rest of the stuff I will need!
1. index cards (if you know the questions from the outline before the semester even begins, you can fill out the front of the cards with the question). Cards are portable and you can color code the tops for the different chapters and make different piles of those you know, sort of know and don't know at all and watch as the 'know' pile gets bigger.
2. a nice recorder; I used an olympus about $130 on line and at the store who matched their online price (once they checked it). I recorded all classes, with the instructor's written permission, and listened it on the way home and to school (as I had a 30 minute drive).
3. Study group that met once a week every week for multiple hours. I was a study whore. I'd study with anyone, anywhere, at anytime.
4. I learned to say 'no' to friends, family and people from my children's schools. Before nursing school, I'd volunteer for anything to help my children. If I couldn't say no to a person, my spouse did it for me. It gets easier the more you do it....saying no.
I've heard some people say they breezed right through nursing school. For the vast majority that's not the case. The vast majority need to make changes in their personal lives in order to pass nursing school.
Anyone who lives in Rochester New York, there's this wonderful place called Rochester Works. They give grants to assist you in nursing school. You have to jump through a few hoops to get money from them, but who wouldn't jump through a few hoops for free money?
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I have 27 days til orientation! Then I will go buy my scrubs, etc. We must sound so silly to those who are already in school, us being excited about buying shoes, stethoscope, and books!! But, whatever, I am excited to go buy BP cuff, penlight, shoes, scrubs, stethoscope, and all the rest of the stuff I will need!
Not at all! We were there once too. I was beyond giddy. Enjoy this time before your head starts spinning.
i have 27 days til orientation! then i will go buy my scrubs, etc. we must sound so silly to those who are already in school, us being excited about buying shoes, stethoscope, and books!! but, whatever, i am excited to go buy bp cuff, penlight, shoes, scrubs, stethoscope, and all the rest of the stuff i will need!
not at all, we have all been there. i know it felt like my first day of school....lol i can so relate and i am on my fourth semester. i still try to buy even if it is a new pen or something like that.
fundamental of success was awesome. and those easy books too.
not at all, we have all been there. i know it felt like my first day of school....lol i can so relate and i am on my fourth semester. i still try to buy even if it is a new pen or something like that.
fundamental of success was awesome. and those easy books too.
i guess everybody is entitled to be excited; all of us worked hard to get where we are. is the fundamentals of success like saunders nclex review (i have saunders and it goes through cultural questions, etc., thought it had a lot of info)?
Not sure. I just got the Saunders book to help me with Med-Surge, but Fundamentals of Success come with a CD in which you can practice questions and our professor recommended the book highly.
Be persistant! There are a lot of ups and downs. Don't let self doubt control you. Never ever allow a bad clinical or experience to deter you - it happens. Commit 100% to nursing school, arrange your life around it.
I have always used library books and resources for class/clinical until I knew the book was going to help me for years instead of wasting money on textbooks that I will only use once off. They are expensive and out of date in a couple of years so only get what you know you will use long term.
The best way to study is to use the way you know works for you... some people need visual (I am bit of a reader then do-er). It really is possible to learn anything.
Find support from other students to get you through rough times.
If you are a visual learner, learn to mind map. It has transformed my note taking and my test studying from a linear dump of information into a linked doodle that remains in my brain. Not sure what a mind map is? Check out this video:
Just wanted to post so that I can continue to follow this thread. I have been accepted but will not know when I will begin until the end of June - my school has 4 start dates each year - August, October, January and March. Most likely I will start in January or March of 2011 but I am extremely anxious and have enjoyed reading everyone's posts. I am a planner and have already made notes on so much advice. Thanks to all of you!
Suggestion - any study books or study guides you buy that you either plan to keep or sell to someone in the next class once you take your NCLEX or complete that class, take them to Office Max or Office Depot and have them spiral bound if they're not already. Believe me - being able to fold that sucker back is a huge help. You can then study anywhere - you don't need a desk.
Sounds like a small thing (and it is) but I found it very useful. Costs about $5 a book. I even know folks that had a few of their textbooks done the same way - you can spiralbind some hardbacks. The folks at Office Depot or wherever you take it can help you out with that.
Also - if you're lucky enough to own an iPhone - there are HUNDREDS of useful apps on iTunes. Wish I'd had THAT when I was in school. And as an added bonus, if you download enough of them (ten seems reasonable), you can deduct the cost of the apps AND the cost of the iPhone as an educational expense!
Suggestion - any study books or study guides you buy that you either plan to keep or sell to someone in the next class once you take your NCLEX or complete that class, take them to Office Max or Office Depot and have them spiral bound if they're not already. Believe me - being able to fold that sucker back is a huge help. You can then study anywhere - you don't need a desk.
But, whatever, I am excited to go buy BP cuff, penlight, shoes, scrubs, stethoscope, and all the rest of the stuff I will need!
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studentinnursing
255 Posts
I have 27 days til orientation! Then I will go buy my scrubs, etc. We must sound so silly to those who are already in school, us being excited about buying shoes, stethoscope, and books!!
But, whatever, I am excited to go buy BP cuff, penlight, shoes, scrubs, stethoscope, and all the rest of the stuff I will need!