What Advice Would You Give?

[Veromin]

Just as the title states, what advice would you give to someone considering becoming a nurse based on your experiences?

I'm going to take the Practical Nursing (LN everywhere else) next year and would love some input on what to prepare for, what to expect and whatever experience/advice you may have. TIA.

Hope you all are having a fabulous day.

[jtboy29]

When I first started my LVN program i had no clue what to expect so I reached out to another student who completed the same program that I was starting. Granted that, a LVN/LPN program is only one year you will be expected to do things at a faster pace as it is more condensed. You first week, you will probably feel "What did I get myself into?" and that's okay I'm sure many students have felt that way. I even felt that way however; I told myself that everything will be okay and it will be worth it at the end. Form study groups as soon as possible during the program because this will make studying so much easier, when you get your class syllabus keep that handy and even get a planner to write down important dates, to-do lists, etc. to help you stay on track. When studying, don't study for hours on day, break down study time in blocks that way your brain has a chance to recharge and retain information. When I started my program we had an exam pretty much every week however; as we moved on during the program we had an exam every two weeks. This is not the same for every program because it really depends on the instructor. When doing your clinical rotations, never say "NO" when asked to do something always be proactive in learning during clinicals. Every nurse you come in contact with has gone through clinicals just like you so hopefully they will be understanding however; some can be unhelpful so be prepared for that. I can honestly say, first week of clinicals were stressful for me because of the paperwork that needed to be done before the clinical day and helping with patient care can be nervewrecking but I went on I got used to it. When it comes to social life, it's okay to take a break when it's needed to spend time with friends and family so don't completely ignore them because that support will get you through school. Good luck in your program next year. If you have any questions, fellow nurses and nursing students on AllNurses are all available to provide any feedback and support.