What should I expect & how should I prepare

Apollorn · Mar 14, 2008

Do you like coffee? You probably will by the end of the first week!

Sillynicunurse · Mar 14, 2008

Expect lots of studying. I had no idea the amount of time I would need to dedicate to studying to just keep a B average. All of that time was well spent. I would just suggest that you enjoy the time that you have off now read books for fun or whatever you like to do. Good luck to you. Nursing school is a wild ride so just hang on and enjoy.

drugstorecowgirl214 · Mar 14, 2008

I start nursing school this summer @ UT Health Science Center in Memphis, TN and I'm not sure what I should expect or how I should be preparing now. Any ideas?

I'm now in my 3rd term of nursing school, and I have to tell you that after our first orientation and the first 2-3 weeks I was totally overwhelmed, scared as h**l and wondering if I had really made the right decision. After it calmed down I knew I was in the right place.

Frankly, I have one day out of the week (Saturday) that I don't study. Unless it's before summaries or finals. I feel that I need that one day to have a clear head in order to prepare for the upcoming week.

Good luck to you, but i'm sure you really don't need it...you'll be fine!

Rianna1 · Mar 14, 2008

I do love coffee and will start NS next month, an accelerated BSN program. Does that mean I will start to need double shots?

I stopped working 4 weeks prior to the start of the program to give myself the "calm before the storm" and spend quality time with family. The first night I stopped working and realized I am starting NS very soon I had a dream about bowel movement and I kept waking up. There are some things I have to get used to!

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 15, 2008

Congratulations on being accepted.

There really isn't anything you can do to prepare. I think it's best to go with where your instructors lead you. My experience with trying to study ahead is that I spend a lot of time studying stuff that never comes up and I wasted my time.

One thing you could do is review your A&P. After this semester and dealing with neuro and endocrine, I wish I had paid more attention in class when I first learned them. I really didn't learn them at all and basically had to teach myself those things on top of learning the nursing stuff too. You might also review drug classes (beta blockers, cardiac glycosides, NSAIDS, antibiotics) rather than individual meds. That way when you have to learn a new med, as long as you know what CLASS of drug it is, it will be a huge shortcut in learning anything else about it.

Yes, embrace coffee. I'm married to my travel mug.

Jules A, MSN · Mar 15, 2008

Congratulations! If you have some time now I'd pick up an NCLEX book and start getting the hang of the style of questions that you will be seeing. Stay on top of your studies getting behind is the kiss of death. Wishing you all the best. Jules