How'>http://www.wikihow.com/Succeed-in-Nursing-School">How to Succeed in Nursing Schoolfrom wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Congratulations on being accepted to a nursing education program! Like many other aspects of life and education, the more you put into nursing school, the more you'll get out of it. Here's how to make the most of your investment:

Steps

1. Come to class. Yes, it's college and not high school, so the attendance policy may be a little lax, if it exists at all. However, the reason no attendance policy exists is that you are in class of your own free will and you've paid a lot of money to be there. So why wouldn't you show up? Besides, if you're not in class, you often miss key material that shows up on the test later.
2. Take notes. If a teacher stresses a point frequently, consider it something important, both in terms of your nursing practice, and in terms of what will be on the test. Also, if you take notes, you are more likely to retain the information. Essentially, you learn the material three times: once when you hear it, once when you write it down, and once again later when you read your own notes to study.
3. Complete the assigned reading and (if you have time) the suggested reading. The best way to deal with reading is to follow the syllabus and read the material before that specific class. If you have questions as you're reading, write them down so you can ask in class. Which brings us to...
4. Participate. Ask questions of the teacher and answer the questions your teacher poses to you. The more engaged you are in the class, the more you'll get out of it.
5. Study for tests. Find a method of studying that works for you. Go through your notes (once immediately following class, and again before the test); if you are a highlighter, go through your highlighted textbook; if you are a social animal, go for some collective study sessions (just make sure they don't turn into gossip sessions).
6. Show up for clinical. In the Army, the saying goes: "right time, right place, right uniform, right attitude." The same holds true for clinical. Although class may not have a strict attendance policy, you can bet that clinical will. Therefore, if you show up late (without a good excuse, that is), it marks you as unprofessional and will invariably hurt your grade. Also, make sure you know where you're supposed to meet. Hospitals are confusing places, so showing up early on the first day is a good idea. Make sure that your uniform is ironed, fits properly, and is clean. Lastly, join clinical in the right spirit. Clinical is where the rubber meets the road and you implement everything you learn in class. So, seek out new opportunities and don't be afraid to try new skills. Look up your patients' labs and meds, which will familiarize you with them for tests and the NCLEX-RN.
7. Listen to your instructors. Although you will get frustrated with some of them, bear in mind that they have been nurses for a long time and really do know what they are talking about. Also, a good nursing instructor will also want you to succeed. The biggest frustration for nursing instructors is when students do not seek them out when they are having trouble. Therefore, if you are struggling with anything, talk to your nursing instructor about it. Bear in mind, they are trained to listen and to help others. Trust them.
8. Volunteer or work as an aide during breaks or over the summer. Not only does this look great on a resume, it gives you valuable experience in the healthcare setting.

Tips

• Make up mnenomics and associations to help you learn material, particularly anything that has to be memorized. For example, to remember right versus left-sided CHF, think L-eft = L-ungs. Therefore, if the patient has left-sided CHF, blood backs up into the lungs (e.g., you'll hear crackles, they'll have respiratory distress,&c.). They both start with L. You can use devices that already exist (such as that one), but they'll stick better if you make them up yourself, particularly if they are outlandish, vivid, or dirty.
• Take the lead in clinical. If your teacher asks for a "charge nurse", volunteer. It marks you out as a leader and gives you the opportunity to learn a lot.
• Coffee is a xanthine-derived stimulant that you should absolutely make friends with. You should be as alert as possible in class and especially in clinical.
• Invest in a good:
  • Drug book: the newer the better. A good drug book will have the generic name, brand name, class, indications, dosages, side effects, contraindications, precautions, interactions, incompatabilities, administration, duration, antidotes, and nursing teaching for each drug. A really good drug book will have herbal and dietary interactions.
  • Lab test book: again, the newer the better. A good lab book will have what the test is for, how to do it, what form is necessary (e.g., is it a special or invasive procedure that needs special permission from the patient?), what the normal values are (sub-divided by age and sex if necessary), and what increased or decreased values indicate.
  • Little nursing flip book, like http://www.amazon.com/Rnotes-Nurses-Clinical-Pocket-Guide/dp/0803613350/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-2097188-1386863?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189008814&sr=1-2" rel="nofollow">RNotes. This is a helpful and convenient reference in clinical, say if you want to quickly look up lab values or how to give an IM injection. Because no one remembers everything.
  • Stethoscope: when you're new to nursing and health assessment, you're going to have a hard enough time listening to subtle differences in heart and lung sounds without having to strain through the earpieces of a crappy stethoscope. Besides, you'll be using it plenty after you graduate.
  • Mode of transportation: whether it's your car or someone else's, make sure that you have a reliable way to get to clinical on time.
  • Pair of shoes: you will be on your feet a lot in clinical (and in your career), so make sure you have shoes that give you good ankle and arch support.
  • Watch: Ultimately, the type of watch you choose will come down to personal preference; however, it must have a way to count seconds. It is also helpful to have a digital watch that you can set to military time, because that is how you will be documenting.
  • NCLEX-RN review book: it is never too early to start studying for this test, and it will help you out on nursing school exams as well. A good NCLEX-RN review book will have a section broken down into topics (i.e., Maternal/Child, Med-Surg, Pediatrics, Psych), as well as a set of comprehensive tests. The advantage of the topic sections is that you can use them for that particular class.
  • http://www.amazon.com/Publication-Manual-American-Psychological-Association/dp/1557987912/ref=pd_bbs_1/105-2097188-1386863?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189008696&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">APA manual. You will probably be writing care plans and papers in APA style, so take the time to familiarize yourself with it. Getting dinged -2 points on a paper (and, say being bumped from an A- to a B+ as a result) because you forgot to italicize a book title hurts, and it's very easy to avoid.
• Familiarize yourself with online resources, such as the website for the Centers for Disease Control, American Nurses Association, National Student Nurses Association, etc.
• Figure out how to use your reference materials and make sure that you use up-to-date scholarly (nursing, not medicine or psychology) articles when writing care plans or papers. Make friends with the Cochrane Database, EBSCO, CINAHL, etc.
• Read. Read, read, read, read. Subscribe to nursing journals, read online articles, read other books. Never stop learning. Read non-school books. Read magazines. Read cereal boxes. Stay curious and be relentless in your search for knowledge.
• Take assignments seriously and complete them on time and to the best of your ability.
• Get involved with service activities, such as http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/Content/PAR_1_Relay_For_Life.asp" rel="nofollow">Relay for Life or your school's health fair. Who knows? You might get extra credit for them, and they are also really fun.
• If permitted, record class. Often the material is intense and you can miss things while taking notes. Listening to it again not only refreshes it in your memory but helps you catch things you may have missed.
• Form/join a study group. Make sure the group has a mix of people with different grade levels and personalities. You want to be able to get different perspectives on the material. (i.e. if you are Type A, obsessive compulsive type don't join a study group with only those types in it!)You never know what someone else may have picked up or the viewpoint they may have seen the material from.

Warnings

• Never show up to clinical drunk. It's better to call in sick than show up drunk or severely hung over. Both conditions are unsafe for both you and your patients. Many people have failed nursing school because of alcohol. Don't let it happen to you.
• Don't be afraid to be considered pushy or a know-it-all in class. If you're unclear about something, speak up. If you know the answer to a question, speak up. If you don't, you're only selling yourself short. The meek may inherit the earth, but the bold dominate it now.
• Take infection precautions seriously in clinical. Never wear fake nails. Wash your hands frequently. Wear gloves when touching anything wet, or potentially wet. Follow isolation procedures. To do otherwise is dangerous to both you and your patients.
• Do not dissemble or kiss butt. It may seem like a great way to get ahead, but success means maintaining your dignity and integrity. Besides, no one likes a sycophant.
• Do not get overly stressed. Succeeding in nursing school takes drive and discipline, two things that can easily lead to burnout. Find some activity that allows you to de-compress and do it regularly. Make sure you get plenty of exercise and eat well (remember that the brain runs on oxygen and glucose). Try to get enough sleep and have a social support system (i.e., friends, family, life partner). Team sports are a good choice if your school offers them, particularly sports where you don't have to travel, like a club, intramural, or junior varsity sport.
• Do not sell back your nursing books after the class is over. Nursing education builds on itself, so you will find yourself constantly refering back to old material. Which brings us to...
• Do not slack in the fundamentals. Without a firm grasp on chemistry, microbiology, and anatomy & physiology, you will have a hard time grasping pathophysiology, pharmacology, and nursing in general. Remember that it is, at it's heart, a science degree. Also, it's a great feeling to be "that girl/guy who GETS arterial blood gas values."
• Remember that class and clinical are NOT times to surf the internet, whisper with your buddies, text message on your cell phone, or sleep. At some institutions, classes are $100 a pop, so take them seriously.

Things You'll Need

• For clinical:
  • Stethoscope with bell and diaphragm
  • Black ink pen
  • Alcohol wipes (carry them in your pocket during clinical so you're not searching for them when you have to deal with IVs and injections)
  • Little nursing reference flip book
  • Good shoes
  • Mode of transportation
  • Watch with second hand
  • Drug book
  • Lab book
  • Completed care plans
  • Name tag
• For class:
  • Notebook and/or laptop computer
  • Writing implement
  • Completed assignments

Related wikiHows

• How to Succeed in School
• How to Become a Registered Nurse
• How to Pass the NCLEX RN Exam

Sources and Citations

• http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp" rel="nofollow">American Cancer Society
• http://www.nursingworld.org/" rel="nofollow">American Nurses Association
• http://www.cdc.gov/" rel="nofollow">Centers for Disease Control
• https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm" rel="nofollow">National Council of State Boards of Nursing
• http://www.nln.org/" rel="nofollow">National League for Nursing
• http://www.who.int/en/" rel="nofollow">World Health Organization

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Whew! One exam over!

Last week saw me do my first exam. I was nervous about it even though I presented a brave front. I only realized it when I sat down to do my first exam. I wanted to write and it was as if my pen was frozen. I eventually got to grips with myself and as soon as I started writing, there was no stopping me. I know I gave it my best shot so I am not afraid of the results. I will take whatever comes...that is bravery in action.

I have decided to succeed no matter what. And to reinforce this, I came across this quote which I think may be inspiring to many:

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more

important than any one thing.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 65), 16th US president

Weekend gone by

I had a lovely weekend. We had a surprise baby shower for one of my friends and it was unbelievably gorgeous! I have never had so much fun in a long time. For once I forgot my books and just had a great time.

The dancing was great and the people very lively. When most of them heard that I was from Kenya they decided to name me Obama - to which I reacted with laughter. I was glad to have gone and now I have to put the party gear in the closet and get my books out (with pleasure)!

This week is the last of lectures and we have an exam so I will be racking my brain cells for some much needed recall and application of knowledge acquired since September. I am confident that I will surprise the examiner with brilliant answers to all the questions set and not the other way round.

It is said that what you think, you are. So I think I will pass my exams and there is no reason why I should not. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Weeks flying by...

I have been so busy that I have not written for a while. Well, here I am. The last two weeks have been amazing. First I got a terrible cold and was dysfunctional for a week and a half. I have started recovering and feel a lot better about myself and life in general. I was feeling very low in spirit and lacking in confidence but I have bounced back like a tennis ball - with a vengeance!

My studies, luckily, did not suffer as did my physical health. I did not miss my lectures and carried my cough syrup with me to university, gulping it three hourly as the days went by.

This week sees the end of our lectures as we prepare for our exam. A lot of people are worried about the exam but to be honest, I am not. I do not want to tell people that I am worried just because they are because I know I will pass. Surely I have not come all this way to fail. I am determined to pass no matter what so my Heavenly Father please hear my prayer. Your word says that you have given me a spirit of power, love and a sound mind and because I believe it, I am not worried.

I am getting excited at the exam because it is a chance for me to show how much I can remember and apply the knowledge that I have been gaining in the last two or so months. I know I have been understanding things so putting this to paper under timed conditions should not be a problem. With God nothing is impossible and I believe and so it shall come to pass. For my friends out there who are worried about exams, don't! You have a sound brain that is fashioned to deliver so stop limiting your brain by feeding it defeatist thoughts. Tell your brain that you trust it to remember all that you have been learning and give it a chance to prove itself. I am sure your brain will appreciate this. After all, that is what it has been created for - to absorb, store, retrieve, analyse and present information. Don't you ever doubt your capability! It's more than you care to admit!

So exams, here I come. Show me a difficult question and I will show you an easy answer! Sounds simple? I thought so. Have a nice day, I know I will.

Au revuoir! (excuse my spelling if it's wrong)

I woke up this morning

I woke up this morning

Awake but still yawning

It was cold, ice cold

Freezing, really cold

Still I got out of bed

I woke up this morning

Out of bed but still yawning

It was raining, yes, raining

Wet, really raining

Still I got out of bed

I woke up this morning

Off to the shower still yawning

It was warm, the water

Nice, really warm water

Still I got out of bed

I woke up this morning

Dressed up and not yawning

Well wrapped up, cheerful

Yes cheerful, not fretful

Still I got out of bed.

Week 6 - More on that placement

Yesterday after all the steam and shock of finding out about my placement settled, I met a student nurse who had been working in that same ward I had been assigned to just before she started training. She told me how brilliant it was and that I was going to enjoy it.

Talk about getting your confidence and enthusiasm back! I was so excited and could not wait for a day off to pay a visit to the hospital and familiarize myself with the ward before my placement. I was overjoyed and I know it showed on my face - smiling, beaming, showing off my teeth - what else accompanies a smile? I wonder....

All in all I am thrilled and cannot wait for that time.

Okay back to reality. There is an exam waiting to be done before the placement so I have to get my bearings straight. My lectures today should pretty much set the scene for my revision plan.

Amigo! Kwaheri! Hakuna matata. Guten morgen! (hopefully all these are right).

Cheers.

Week 6 - Placement information

Finally I have managed to find out where my first placement is and to be honest, I am not amused. I got placed where I do not even know. That means I have to find time in my already busy schedule to look for this place and familiarise myself with the town. That is annoying.

The positive thing about it is that I get to go on an adventure. I have a fear of unknown places and now I have no chance of quoting that excuse! The petrol might be an issue but then again we are given an allowance. Okay, let the adventure begin.

I am now wondering what it will be like. Well, not too long to find out now! The one motivator is that Lewis Hamilton won the driver's championship in Formula One and I am a fan so I have no excuse not to cheer up! Hooray!
So long.

I asked and I got - Week 5

Earlier today, I was having difficulty doing some work. I was in the computer room and some of my classmates came in. I debated whether I should ask them for help but I was not sure. Anyway, it so happened that one of them needed help with their work and asked me. I gladly helped them.

After that, I grabbed the opportunity to ask for assistance and to my relief, they were only too happy to help me and within minutes I had solved the problem. It goes to show that if you do good to someone else, you will attract goodness to yourself.

I am happy with the way I quickly overcame my shyness (or maybe embarrassment) at not knowing something which seemed so obvious to the other students. Next time I am faced with a similar situation I will ask no matter what anybody says. After all, we are all here to learn and as learners, some of us are bound to be ahead of the pack. So what? We cannot all be the same and to allow for other people's brilliance to shine before yours is a wise human thing to do.

So my lesson here is simply to ask and you shall receive. Keep things hidden and you shall fail miserably.

Anybody moved by this? Any familiar bells sounding? I hope so; the aim being that if you change your position you are bound to hit a mine and possibly strike gold!

Give it a try if you want, you have nothing to loose except a slice of your ego (you may quickly recover from this if you are a positive minded person). Forgive me if it sounds like I am telling you off because I am not!
Cheers.

Week 5 - Friday

Well well well, another week has come to an end. Wednesday was okay and the content of the course seems to be getting more interesting by the day. That computer hitch that I mentioned was finally sorted out and I was able to get on with my work. Honestly, when the computer was down I felt so de-motivated. I tried to ignore it with the reassurance that it would be sorted but this was difficult until I received email confirmation that the matter was being dealt with.

Finally I heaved a sigh of relief. I had started my assignment on Monday so Thursday was just a polishing up day. I must say that my personal tutor helped me because I got an answer about something that had been bothering me and I must say the peace that came with it was amazing. The seminar that we had later went well and I was happy with my participation in it.

After my classes, I set forth to the library and proceeded to complete my assignment. It took a while but I did not notice because I was so engrossed in it. I asked for assistance where I needed it and within no time, I had completed my work and edited it a couple of times and then finally posted it online as I was supposed to. I felt that this was better than last week's, which was more like a 'breaking-the-ice' activity; a warm up maybe.

I had a bit of a problem with one of the students and I had the courage to sort it out. I was thoroughly pissed off about it and felt really angry. Later I reviewed the situation and decided that I was not going to dwell on it. I had said my piece and there was not more I could do. Furthermore, there is so much work to do that I have no time to waste crying over spilt milk. But to tell the truth - I was not amused with the person. But it is better to forgive than to hold a grudge because forgiving spends less energy.

Right. Today being Friday we are having a practical session and boy don't I enjoy those! I cannot wait.

Do have a great weekend because I know I will.
Cheers!

Week 5 - Tuesday

Today was okay. We had a lovely lecture with a lot of output from the lecturer and input from the students and that made it lively.

We later had discussions in the afternoon and at least everyone contributed what they could and the lecturer added what people had missed. I decided to stay on in the library to do some study because I have come to realize that studying at home is so difficult. When I get home, I usually get into a rest mode and this can extend a little bit too long. I am enjoying staying on and will do more of this for the rest of the term.

I understood what was taught today and by reviewing the material I am finding that it is sticking more. Of course I will carry on reading and reviewing until it is committed to memory. As for now, I am content with my efforts.

We'll see what Wednesday is like.
Cheers.

Week 5

As usual we went to a different site to spend a good 6 hours in a seminar with fellow students. I thought it went well because our group was so cooperative and we all gave each other a chance to air their views during our discussion. I was bubbling with energy and had so many examples to give that I had to apologise to the group for being too vocal and asked them not to find offence with me for almost always having something to say. (I mean, others need a chance to speak otherwise I will be taking over the discussion which would not be fair to the rest).

At the end of the discussion, I explained to the facilitator that I was overly enthusiastic about the whole learning experience and did not want to appear snobbish. But he told me that my participation was very okay and that I had just to be myself and carry on doing what I was doing. So next week should be remarkable just like this one was.

The rest of the day went well and we finished in good time. I had my break in the classroom and spent time reading some of the literature so that I was better prepared for the session. Maybe that's why I am full of ideas! If so, why not?

Anyway, I was quite happy with the day and I am looking forward to Tuesday - another busy day ahead. See ya!

End of week 4

The rest of the week went well. The lectures were fine and I was glad to have made it to all my sessions for the week. I am deadly serious about my attendance and do my best to get to classes on time.

As the week progressed, the workload did what it does best - it piled up. It is like a huge mountain waiting for a climber and guess what, I have signed up for the climb. I try to do my work as it is given and find that it works out right except for a little hitch. I was unable to access a key part of the computer system which I needed to carry on my work and I was really disappointed. It felt like running for the goal yet your feet were tied down. I was informed that it would be rectified within 24 hrs but this has not materialised. I really hope it happens quickly because I do not want to be left out.

We had a practical session at the end of the week and I must say I enjoyed it. I was happy to help one of my colleagues who had not had experience as a HCA in a while and learn at the same time. There is some joy in helping others because I find that it helps you to focus and recall what you have learnt previously. We also had a seminar which I gladly participated in. I have discovered that I like group work and sharing ideas with people no wonder I enjoy the IP module. Bring it on!

So here goes week four and it beautifully ushers in week 5.

Good day y'all.

Week 4

This week has began with a study day at one of the other campuses which meant that we had to go to our campus earlier than usual and be bused to the other campus...make sense? The ride was delayed as one of the students was caught up in traffic. One of the motorways was jammed due to an accident that eventually led it to be shut most of the day. So after wading through the traffic and keeping us waiting for nearly 25 minutes, the student finally arrived and we were able to set off.

We arrived late and registered late and got to our group sessions late and started late but in the end all went well. The beginning of the session was a bit difficult to understand but I suppose that always happens when introduced to a new topic and learning style. Most of the students seemed dejected with the experience of working with people you have only just met that I felt it clouded their judgment and concentration on the task at hand. Everybody I spoke to as the session progressed seemed to be expressing doubt as to the relevance of the whole 'thing'. I am happy that I did not simply join into the gloom. I set myself a task of understanding what it was all about so I quickly skimmed through the handbook and got the gist of what was expected of us. I was able to explain to some of the puzzled students what the aim of the session was and I was more than happy to help. What I was not sure of, I directed them to the tutor to assist with.

I am happy with the way I contributed to the group discussion from the word go and I gave others a fair chance to express their views. I willingly accepted correction when an idea I suggested did not quite meet with approval and I did not take offence. Instead I learned from the alternative suggestion. I was terrified of getting lost so I stayed in the room all the time. I had carried packed lunch so I did not need to go to the canteen to buy anything. Money is rather scarce so the less I spend on buying cafeteria food the better. As it is I spend enough on petrol already.

The discussion went well. Our Chair for the session was very quiet and hardly said a word so all of us had to chip in somehow and just keep everything going. After lunch, the other members seemed disinterested and fed up and did not want to carry on discussing. I honestly felt that we could have done more but then again it was a group discussion and if everyone else just wanted things finished with I felt no need to initiate any further discussion. Anyhow, we all presented our shared findings and did well to outline what we had achieved. Next time I will be more brave and speak or forever hold my peace!

I got home and got the first part of the assignment done straight away as my workload is piling up and the more I leave things, the harder it is becoming. I am happy with myself for getting the work done straight away. It keeps my morale going.

Well the week continues and lets see it unfold....

End of week 3

As expected, week 3 ended well. We had a practical session and it was amazing. Personally, I felt a bit nervous and was wondering what would happen, how the session would be. On checking with my mates, almost everybody seemed to be in the same boat.

When you do not know what to expect in any situation, apprehension takes over. Anyhow, I put on my courage boots and got going. It was very good. Again, not as daunting as I previously feared. I was happy with my contribution to the tasks as well as the discussion afterwards. The session ended early which meant that I could get home and recap on everything. Studying was the last thing on my mind so I simply tidied up the house and relaxed watching TV.

Hope you had a good week. Cheers!

Week 3 of lectures

This week began with a bang! We had to come for only one hour in the afternoon and to be honest, I was not very happy to drive all the way for an hour only?! But to my surprise, I actually enjoyed the hour and was disappointed that it ended so quickly. I wanted the lecture to go on!

Tuesday was cool! We had the Biology lecturer who at the moment is every one's favourite! There is a certain joy and motivation that comes from being taught by someone who is passionate about their subject and that is just what this lecturer is. The amazing thing about this lecturer is his ability to make a difficult topic easy by the way he describes the sequence of events. It's like loving the marmite that you so much hate! Am I making sense?

Something else that caught my attention is that almost everyone had done the mathematics test except for me. But on this beautiful Tuesday evening, I had vowed not to sleep without my maths results printed and ready to hand in. So after finishing at uni I hurriedly got home. Made sure that supper was ready and then sat myself at my computer desk and away I went. I did a little revision before doing the test and boy was I making mistakes.

What I liked about it is that I kept persisting. I would try to do sample questions and get them wrong but I did not give up. I would go back to the notes and worked examples and keep trying until I got the gist of it. My persistence payed off. I finally did the test and got a remarkable grade which left me drained but with much happiness! I did it on the first attempt! Hurray, my hard work payed off! Now who said maths was hard, eh?

What I did not like about the whole experience was having left it just a tiny bit late. I mean, okay, let me not be too hard on myself because we had by the end of this week to finish it. I could have done it sooner.

Next time, I do not intend to wait too long. I will try to get onto things straight away. I did revise beforehand so that must be something worthwhile.
This is not an excuse...I had a lot of catching up to do and prioritising sure can be difficult. But I will keep trying till I get it right. We learn from mistakes - at least I know I do.

Let's see how the rest of the week fairs on.

Goodbye and good luck!

Last week

At the end of last week, that is week 2 of lectures, we had a seminar and I had to present what our group was discussing. I was very happy with my performance. I even got a huge clap from the rest of the class and my lecturer said that I had given very good and comprehensive examples. That made me feel very proud of myself. I did not use any notes, just the points we had listed and my elaboration of them.

What I liked about the presentation is that I knew the content of what I was going to talk about and I did not refer to any notes - a good thing as far as I am concerned. I will keep on improving because I want to be like my daddy. He can stand up and give a great speech unexpectedly and believe me it usually is a great speech which people never forget. Alright my daddy's wonderful oratory genes, I command you to wake up in me and get active ...abra-ka-dabra and voila!

What I did not like about my presentation is that I had my back turned to some people so that they were staring at the back of my head and my side rather than my face. Right - next time I will stand where everyone has full view of myself and I of them.

I resolve to keep on participating in presentations whenever the opportunity presented itself so that I can learn from my mistakes. After all as a nurse, one cannot escape doing presentations. Examples are when handing over to incoming staff at the end of a shift and also when explaining something to a patient in a ward. Chances are that other patients in the ward and their relatives will stop what they were doing and listen in (even though you may not realise it)!

Presentations from today onwards will not make me nervous! Watch this space!

Cheers!

Week 2 of lectures continues...

I cannot believe it, the second week of lectures has come to an end. Whew! This was better than I imagined. the main highlight of this week is that we had our second GDP and in this we looked at our role as students. It was interesting to see how varied our views were regarding something that to many other people may seem so obvious.

Being a student is not just about study skills. It mainly revolves around proper time management in a nutshell. This must include having fun and getting away from all the books...a bit of balance of work and play.

We also met our student representative and nobody seemed to challenge the choice. Actually, the person nominated themselves and I thought that was brave and nice.

We also had our first session of PAL and honestly that was a big success. It's kind of like having a big study group where nobody really knows what everybody else wants to know but somebody will find out and let everyone else know. Student to student learning is fantastic!! I am glad we are doing this kind of learning from each other. Who said revision was hard when all you have to do is attend a PAL session where a student whose been there done that is all but willing to spill the beans in return for a recommendation that will look good on their CV? I just might do it too (for the sake of helping others... seriously)!

Week 2 of Lecturers

After the weekend it felt weird waking up early and getting ready for campus but as naturally as a hand fits onto a glove, I was up at my usual time (which is early) and off to campus. I must say I enjoy learning. I was so looking forward to Monday. What I did (which is a very rare thing for me) was to relax and do absolutely nothing over the weekend other than watching television. The ocassional interruption was to go to the rest room or to cook and eat. It was nice just to relax and take a break from all the study. No wonder I was motivated to shake off the Monday blues and get a groove on!

The lectures went well as usual and the mountain of work did not hesitate to dissappoint. It kept growing by the minute. After my lectures, I went home and did not read anything like I usually do. I kept well out of my books for fear of getting overwhelmed. My decision was to think about what had been taught rather than always adding knowledge. Taking time to think, I found, helped me make sense of what we were learning by relating it to why I was learning. It is a simply complex way of absorbing knowledge, more like meditating on it. It's fabulous!


On Tuesday which is today, I was up early and studied before my lectures began. When the tutor was teaching I was so alert and especially happy because it was like confirming what I had been reading. It's no wonder the lecturers keep emphasizing the importance of reading before the lecture even if you do not understand at first. Attending the lecture only reinforced what I had been trying to learn earlier.

Wow! I Love learning. Way to go!
Cheers.

Lecture Week 1...Thursday

Well well well. We came to the end of the first week with a bang! Today we had a seminar which I think went rather well. I must admit, though, that my preparation for it was a bit rusty but I gave it my best shot. It was nice to introduce each other to each other and learn a little more about everybody else.

What amazed me was the varied background that everybody had and their reasons for doing Nursing. I must say there were a lot of previous degree holders and members of other health professionals (from other countries too) who, unfortunately, could not use their qualifications in the UK therefore had to start Nursing from scratch. Better still, the more the merrier.

The seminar, however, lacked full participation with few people being bold enough to speak. What I observed was that most people seemed to have read the material but were either too shy to speak up and initiate a debate or they had forgotten what they read and were afraid of saying the wrong thing. The good thing was that the lecturer was with us all the way and was facilitating the whole meeting.

Next week I vow to be better prepared and possibly make some notes to answer the questions set as a target for discussion and see how this may improve my participation. Still, I am glad that we have started the ball rolling. The first experience is not always a bold participatory one for all as I witnessed today.

Wow! At the end of my first week I must say that my interest has only just began. My antennae are in full stretch willing to receive signals transmitted from everywhere and my mind is open and ready for learning and sharing my findings as well as those from others. After all, people learn from people just as surely as iron sharpens iron.
Thank you God for such mercies.

Have a great weekend because I know I will.

Cheers!

Lecture Week 1...Wednesday

Today started well. As usual, I arrived at uni very early before eight simply because I cannot stand traffic and I like the peace and quiet of driving without being in a hurry.

Our first lecture did not take place as the lecturer's vehicle broke down somewhere on their way to our campus. Most of us were disappointed as we were looking forward to the lecture. I was disappointed too but sometimes these things happen and one just moves on. I had read the previous day so I had an idea what was to be taught so I took the opportunity to reminisce on what I had studied. I also got an opportunity to chat to one of the students whom I had not spoken to before. It was a good socialising moment and one that was much appreciated.

Our next lecturer was so good and passionate about the subject that I completely got blown away. Talk of a motivating lecture...this one nailed right on the head! It was delivered with precision. Marvelous teaching and sound knowledge of the subject. I admired the lecturer and a light bulb lit in my head with the message, 'Try to be like that when doing a presentation!' Utter genius, I must say. Surely Oscar Wilde would be proud of such a performance!

I also enjoyed the computer sessions. One of the students was still having problems logging on to the system and was very upset. You know the dreaded feeling one gets when they think that they have been left behind and everyone else is a mile or so away? That was what was annoying this student more than anything else. I bet no one likes to be the odd one out. Feeling alien is not just one of those things a person can ignore easily. It was disheartening. Still all I could do was to give some positive reassurance and direct the person to the admin office. They know all about such things and can point people in the right direction. The administrator, I'm sure, had a lot of explaining to do. Luckily, the admin team are so helpful one almost gets tempted to come up with an imaginary problem just so as to be served by these wonderful bunch of people.

Kind regards.

And the fun continues.....

Lecture week 1 contiues...

Tuesday was a fabulous day. The lectures went well. It was amazing how much information one gathered in an hour. The fun of it all was that the lecturers were so sweet about the workload because they knew it was a lot. So they kept encouraging us and giving us study tips as we went along.

Some people were feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work two days of lectures managed to produce and they were already expressing doubt as to what coping mechanisms they had. But I suppose once the initial shock shifted away and the tension that came with it went, their minds would be able to work out a reasonable strategy. As one of the lecturers put it, the secret was to get started on the work immediately and not let things pile up otherwise one would be heading straight for a deadlock!

Personally, I was rather taken aback by all the work. Surprisingly, my motivation only just got better. Challenge? What challenge? I am glad my enthusiasm only just keeps getting better with the days.

Okay Wednesday, what have you got for me?
Take care.

Week 1 of lectures - The Magic unfolds...Monday

Monday has just flown by and boy was it a busy day! We were introduced to the year in brief and it seemed like the year in full! It felt like compressing a 9 - 5 day into 2 hours! We are already busy and it's only day one of lectures. But you know what, I am excited. I would rather be buried in books than do anything else considering that reading is my number one hobby. So while most people were staring at the lecturers with open mouths and eye-balls nearly popping out in shock and amazement (or maybe just shock) I was silently smiling my charm away and thinking out a strategy of how I was going to tackle this jungle of meaningful words. Bring it on!

As the second lecturer came in and gave us yet more workbooks and reference books to purchase I felt euphoric, you know, like the feeling you get when you arrive at Disneyland and suddenly you are filled with enchanting excitement, speechless at the wonderful sight of the unimaginable Disney world. The magic is awesome, real yet unbelievable. Okay, you get the picture.....that is how I felt, like I was on a journey of discovery, one that I am oh, so willing to take. Can anyone imagine what I am saying?

I love university life and I am raring to go. Let's see what Tuesday will be like.

Induction week

It was Monday, 22nd September when we were expected to arrive at university by 10.00a.m. for our induction programme to Adult Nursing. My husband, so proud of me, drove me to the venue. He was so excited and so was I. We arrived very early, just a few minutes after 8.00a.m. Now wait a minute, we were definitely not freaks! We did this because of the road works which would have meant a delay and I hate arriving late for whatever reason. I much rather get there early and acquaint myself with the surroundings which is what I did.

University is a beautiful and serene place and I love it. We all seemed nervous on our first day. Everyone trying to get to know each other, exchanging names and mobile phone numbers and talking endlessly about ourselves and how we got there and how lucky we were to get into uni, etc. It was a typical first day. We were not sure about where we were needed and were trying to guide each other while we were not sure...It was like a blind sheep leading a flock of other blind sheep! Strange but that is what you get for being a fresher on the first day of ther first year of your academic life.

eventually, everything went well and we confirmed what we needed to do and where we needed to go. However, there was a problem with car parking as we were not sure where to park. Getting the parking permits was another confusing process because we were told to go to student services who sent us back to the enrollment hall who finally went through the process with us and gave us the permit (afer paying, of course)!

The rest of the week went well. However, during our first GDP I got some bad news. My grandmother, whom I was particularly fond of and had not seen for more that eight years had only just died. I wobbled and turned into jelly and just cried I was so sad. I could not even introduce myself to rest of the group and just ran out. I felt so angry especially because I had only just downloaded my timetable and was planning on going home to visit and possibly see her. Later my tutor spoke to me and consoled me as did some of the students and I felt so much better. I later contacted my family and they were so sweet and mature about things. My dad told me not to worry about going for the funeral as I had only started uni and he felt that was more important.

Anyhow, all the health checks and uniform-fitting was fantastic and went well without a hitch. The week was finally concluded with some presentations from key memebers of the sudent life and hey, I even got a free bag and personal alarm!

Whew! That was week one. A lot to take in but worth all the time it took. Let's see what next week will be like.

Cheers!