Top Tips for starting Nursing!
1) Breathe. Your first week studying nursing will seem like a whirlwind. There’s so much information given about your course, about your timetable, assignments, and requirements on your first week, but trust me it all gets a little easier.
2) Don’t go out and buy every book on nursing that there ever was. I made this mistake in my first year and i totally regret it now. Most books you’ll maybe open once or twice, but you’re better off just checking out books from the library for when you need them! (Unless it’s mandatory you get them)
3) Use the library! Your college or university is very likely to have a library, so make sure you use it! There could be a great range of books related to your topic, be it an assignment or simply something you want to read up on. Libraries are a life saver during exam/essay time.
4) Do not leave your assignments to the last minute. Some people can pull this off and get 90% + after only starting it the day before, but trust me, start a few weeks in advance. This way its much less stressful and leaves you time to get good references and to proof read.
5) Don’t feel left out from other students. Enjoy freshers week, go out and have fun with other students. There will be times, such as during clinical placements, when you’re not able to do the same things as regular students, so enjoy your theory blocks!
6) Always ask for help. I know, this can be so daunting, but if you’re unsure about a topic, or are struggling with the course or assignment, get help! Lecturers and your tutors are always there to help and are usually nurses or ex-nurses themselves so they often offer the best advice.
7) Take care of yourself. When out on placement, you can feel drained, but always remember that you have the right to go to the bathroom, and get something to eat and drink. Always try to be hydrated and well fed for those long shifts, it’ll help.
8) Always always always have at least 3 pens on you during a shift. Because i can almost guarantee that you will lose at least one and get one stolen from another nurse or doctor who has ‘forgotten’ to return it to you.
9) Start studying common medications. This can be a bit easier if, like me, you’re specialising in a certain area and have less drugs to learn, but knowing what common drugs do what and the side effects/dosages will help you in the long run.
10) Comfy shoes will change your life. A good investment in comfortable shoes early on in your course will save your feet during those long gruelling shifts.
11) Take notes. There’s never enough time to write down an entire lecture’s powerpoints, but write down what you think is important. These notes will be helpful come assignment time.
12) Bring snacks to lectures and shifts. A little sugar rush can do a world of good for your energy levels. Be prepared to share, though.
13) Try and make friends. Hard for some, easy for others. But having fellow nursing friends can be so helpful, someone to talk to about assignments and placements, and someone to battle through your 3 years with.
14) If you’re being treated unfairly, report it!
15) Enjoy!!! Your three years will fly in. It may not seem like it when you’re sat in your very first lecture, but believe me, next thing you know, you’ll be starting your final placement before qualification. There will be times that you want to quit, times that you’ll laugh, times that you’ll cry, but at the end of it you’re going to have a whole new career waiting for you.
Welcome to the next 3 years of your journey, freshers!
