What helped you in your first year / semester of nursing school?

Nursing Students General Students

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I start my first semester this fall woo! So excited for this, I was just wondering in general what had helped you your first semester? What did you expect? what you didnt expect? Any advice or tips? Did you have fun or just any general discussion about your first semester. :D

Specializes in Peds, Float, Ambulatory, Telemetry (new).

Stay on top of your studying!!! Do not procrastinate. Buy a schedule book so you could write down due dates and exam dates. Good luck!

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Get the "Test Success" book. You may have seen an adage along the lines of "All of the answers are right but which one is MOST right?" It's very true. 1) Get tips on test taking 2)use workbooks, CD roms, helpful websites, case studies -that come with the textbooks 3) Get a good organizational system going (color code, binders) 4) learn how to say no - no, you can't help your friend move this weekend; no, you can't go to your niece's dance recital the night before a mid term; no, laundry will have to wait - and don't feel bad about it! 5) figure out what kind of learner you are (your learning style) auditory, visual, mechanical... this helped me greatly. Draw pictures, watch videos on youtube, record the lecture, go to every class and be attentive.

Buckle down and keep your goal in your sights. It will be so worth it in the end! Best of luck!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

One thing that has been a huge help to me is volunteering at the local level 1 trauma ED as a student nurse. I can't get vitals and technically cannot do patient care (kinda tricky to not do that sometimes) but most of the nurses I have been paired with are great. They quiz me, let me shadow them, and challenge my critical thinking. I have seen more volunteering than I have a clinical. I have seen an MI patient come in, no HR, so they did chest compressions, ventilation, NG tube, foley catheter, PICC line. I have seen an in and out cath done up close and personel. I have helped set pumps for IV, watch IV's being started, nurses have allowed me to be hands on with learning which has just been absolutely AWESOME!!! Needless to say, I strongly recommend it.. Good luck :)

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Prepare for culture shock!

Realize nursing school is paramilitary- so you WILL be bossed around and expected to do without question.

I think most programs are especially harsh in the beginning- in my opinion they ARE weeding out the ones they feel aren't serious enought to go the distance.

If you survive the first semester, the they treat you more like an adult after that. It gets better. You have proven yourself.

Don't look too far ahead that first semester. It will only stress you out if you see how much more you will expected to accomplish in the future.

Know that everything you succeed at will lay a foundation for future study. You will learn that you are capable. The material gets harder, but your grow in experience and are ready to tackle it when the time comes.

Stay caught up- study on a regular basis.

Memorize some lab standard. Learn the procedural steps.

You may have to push your former life aside if you are to survive. But, try to find a better balance of the two after that first semester.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Become a CNA and get your foot in the door somewhere NOW.

Don't invest too much in your first semester friends- many ppl have to repeat classes and its your job to not be one of them because you didn't put yourself first. In other words, take care of YOU FIRST when it comes to studying.

It's okay to not know the answers. That's why you're in school. It's much, much, MUCH better to admit you don't know and figure out the answer rather than make a mistake that may harm a patient or cost you your spot in the program.

Try to have fun and enjoy your learning experience!

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I'm halfway through my first quarter right now and this is such great advice! I have to remember to put myself and my studying first.

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Specializes in Tele.

This may sound cold hearted but as you start your first semester, look around you because about 50% if not more of those other students will not be there after that first semester. There's various reason for it but mostly that people just realize they're not cut of for nursing. I'm not saying this to scare you, just to prepare you. You have to be positive, saying that you WILL be one of those that makes it through. Study hard, ask questions, and read!! Be active at your clinical sites and not afraid of what you might need to do. Do not let it get to you when someone you know drops out or does not make it. It sucks but it is going to happen.

I wish you luck!

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Never miss class. It really puts you behind! I can honestly say I've missed like 2 lectures in 2 semesters and I'm ok, but there are some who missed on a regular basis and now have to repeat.

Take notes. I know lots of people who just print the power points and follow along, but I learn so much more if I listen and take notes.

Face book groups for your class, really helpful when you have a question the night before an exam or something.

Take baby steps. Only look at the next week or two. Otherwise you get overwhelmed and wanna quit!

Good luck, you can do it!

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Specializes in ICU.

There is a lot of really good advice in here. :)

I agree with the go ahead and get a job as a CNA part - you will see and learn a lot, not to mention you will get your time management down very quickly! After your first skills class you are eligible to be a CNA I (at least that's how it works here) so go ahead and get your certification as soon as you pass that class while your skills are still fresh and get a job. At least do an externship in the summer between your junior and senior years if you can't get a job as a CNA. Honestly, no clinical has ever prepared me as well as working/having an externship up until my capstone experience... that was the only clinical that was worth anything at all as far as my learning was concerned. Your experiences may vary.

REMEMBER YOUR LAB VALUES! I cannot overstate how important this is. Your fluids/electrolytes/ABGs numbers will come back every semester in every class and in fact I had at least some of that content on every test. Make flashcards with these NOW, and study them before EVERY TEST YOU EVER HAVE. You cannot judge how a patient is doing if you can't read their labs. Period. They can look fine for the moment but your lab values could let you know that they are getting ready to decompensate and code... and it is really frustrating to have to go back and re-learn these before each test because you forgot them since the last test. I know there were some times I wanted to pull my hair out for not remembering these.

If you type faster than you write by hand, bring your laptop to take notes on. I always had my computer with me and I honestly don't know how anyone who was writing things down by hand got all of the notes. I type about 80 wpm and there were lectures where I had about 17 pages of notes in bullet format for a three hour lecture and hand cramps when I was done because my fingers were going the whole time with no breaks. I have 139 pages of typed notes from my med-surg class alone - try keeping up with all of that if it's on paper and you were writing so fast you couldn't read your handwriting when you got out of class! I can't even imagine how people managed with pen and paper...

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- focus, remember that you are here to learn so that you may use the knowledge and skills to save lives someday

- study groups are very helpful!

- make sure your professor knows you by going to their office hours, don't be afraid to ask for help

- stay on top and don't get behind, time management is key

- study, A LOT and make sure you understand the lectures not just memorize them because you will use them someday when you become a nurse

- have fun! nursing school was the best time of my college career where I've made some life long friends

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All of this advice and comments about previous experiences has been so helpful, I'm so glad everyone took the time to comment, I think many people will find this very helpful everyone had such good things to say. This was very helpful and I will take in what everyone says and when the time comes in fall figure out what works for me. Thanks everyone! :)

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Get a crockpot. Seriously get a crockpot & use it:yes:

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