When it comes to nursing, I've climbed the ladder. I received a nurse aide education from Baker Community College of Flint, Michigan. Years later, I received Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) training from St. Clair County Community College (SC4) in Michigan. Sometime after, I went to Charles Stewart Mott Community College of Flint, Michigan, to become a Registered Nurse. I have a bachelor of science and nursing (BSN) degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Believe
Before you sign up for your first class, you must find your confidence, determination, and focus and believe in them. Arrange the priorities in and around your life to strengthen them. I knew of students who reduced their position at work and moved back in with their parents until the program ended. Hopefully, you won't have to do this, but remember; it's only a temporary change if necessary. I paid off my car loan and credit cards early, so the only big thing I had to worry about was rent. Speaking of money, nursing school is a costly undertaking. It will be beneficial to interview multiple schools because not all schools charge the same. If you're trying to save money on books consider buying or renting one edition behind the edition that your school uses. There are a lot of social media groups for students from different schools. Do some research to see if someone created a group page for your school. Some of these groups are created for nursing students to network and buy books from each other at a price more affordable than the book store price.
Study Tips
I've done both study groups and studied alone. Studying alone works better for me because I can go at my own pace. Give study groups a few tries because a student may have a unique way of remembering things that may help you.
After reading a chapter on a topic (Ex: Kidney Disease) and listening to the lecture, I would often look it up on YouTube to listen and watch videos on it. Sometimes a YouTube video may explain it more clearly than what you absorbed during the lecture.
Make simple songs, poems, or mnemonics to help you remember content.
Questions, questions, and...
More questions!
Trust me. Do as many nursing practice questions as you can. I knew a student with a goal of at least over 100 practice questions daily. There are multiple apps, books, and programs with tons of questions.
Ask your instructor if they allow you to record the lecture during your theory classes. I did whenever a teacher allowed it. I would record and listen to lectures because (to me) many times when a teacher would go over a test, they would say, "I said that during the lecture."
Even if you do well on a test, meet with your teacher about the ones you got wrong ( if any). You might see that same question again during the final, but you will have the correct answer this time.
Hate "Select all that apply questions?" So do I. Treat each one like a "True or False" question.
Time for NCLEX
Dont delay. Sign up and get the paperwork done ASAP. When I took my LPN NCLEX, I waited five months. Afterward, I wish I had taken it sooner because I remember some of the test questions were topics I went over in class, but it was five months ago.
There are many study tools to help you pass NCLEX. The schools that I went to had study tools for the students. Check with your school. Some of these are online classes to help you pass, books, seminars, and more. For my LPN, I used a Kaplan LPN NCLEX review book. For my R.N., I used the resources my school offered me and did UWORLD. UWORLD is an online service that has a database with thousands of questions. You have to pay for this service.
I rented a hotel room about ten minutes from the testing site the day before my NCLEX exam. I did this so I didn't have to worry about accidents or drama on the road.
While taking the exam, remember you are on the clock but go through the questions carefully. Re-read the questions if you need to. I felt that with each question there was a secret message that they were trying get me to catch on, and I had to find it. I would break down the sentences and thourghly look at each word.
Getting Hired
Thoroughly do some research on the floor for which you are applying. What are some of the nursing tasks that are commonly done on this floor? What are the standard tests and procedures that are done on this floor? What kind of patients are usually on this floor? How strong is your knowledge base on the floor? My interviewer told me she uses a special list of questions for brand-new nurses.
After the questions, you may get a tour of the facility. When appropriate, speak to everyone you pass. The interviewer told me at the end that she liked seeing me interacting with the residents.
Thanks for listening
What do you think? Did I miss anything? comment below.
Comments