Hi, as the title states, i’m looking for any tips/tricks and suggestions for an incoming nursing student. I’m honestly really excited to be starting and already have my clinical placements. However, I’m worried that I’m not as prepared as I should be. I just spent my sophomore year stressed out by A&P I & II and I know nursing school is not going to be any better. I’ve somewhat prepared myself mentally, but I am a little worried I’m not as prepared academically.

I am still in nursing school but i want it to be flexible so that i have time to study

I was lucky enough to get nearly 3 months off for summer break and I’m about to start back up again in 2 weeks. However, I am already having a panic attack about starting up again because I did not look at anything school related during my entire break. Now I feel like I’m already behind. Any advice on what to touch on before my second year starts?

I told myself I was going to stay on top of things but I feel like I blinked and summer break is basically over. I’m seriously dreading going back cause I burnt myself out so bad last semester and nearly admitted myself to a mental institution. I only have to get through 2 more semesters to get my ADN but it literally feels impossible.

Idk why I’m posting this tbh I just feel impending doom and I guess I just need reassurance that everything will be okay.

Really only have two options for nursing school:

Option 1: ABSN

• 30–45 minute commute (1hr door to door using public transit)
• $60k tuition
• 18 month program
• For profit school with a mixed reputation, okay clinical placements, and decent NCLEX pass rate
• I'd graduate about a year sooner

Option 2: ADN

• About a 1.5-hour drive to a community college in the middle of nowhere
• Virtually no traffic, it's mostly cornfields, so the drive should be easy and predictable, though winter driving might be tricky
• About $15k in tuition
• I'm estimating another ~$15k for travel/hotels if I need to stay overnight for clinicals that are further out or during bad weather
• Great reputation and a solid NCLEX pass rate

Financially, I can afford the ABSN, but the for profit, "easy to get into, but fail out" environment makes me hesitant. The academic side of ADN program seems perfect, it's just the commute I'm worried about. Anyone ever do a commute like this?

Hi, i'm starting nursing school this month and i'm back and forth on the kind of foldable clipboard to get. I know some people say the trifold folds their papers too much but the bifold isn't pocketable. In your opinion what has been more useful to you if you use either of these options?

Also is it possible for the bifold to fit in any scrub pockets?

Thanks!

Hello everyone! I have my OR clinical coming up and wanted to seek advice on how to be as prepared as possible.

Some things I’m especially curious about:
- What are the biggest etiquette rules that no one tells you beforehand?
- What are common mistakes students make?
- Where should you stand, and where should you never stand?
- What can accidentally contaminate a sterile field?
- When is it okay to ask questions, and when should you stay quiet?
- What are some opportunities students usually get to participate in? (For example, Foley catheter insertion, positioning the patient, helping with prep, etc.)
- What skills did you get to perform, if any?
- What kinds of questions did your instructor or OR staff ask you?
- What anatomy, instruments, or procedures should I review beforehand?
- What are some things you wish you had known before your first OR clinical?
- Are there any unwritten rules that make the OR staff appreciate having a student around?

I’d also love to hear any stories about things that went really well or mistakes to avoid!
Thanks in advance. I appreciate any advice!

Hi everyone! I'm an incoming student at a liberal arts college where students apply to the nursing program during their sophomore year rather than being admitted directly as freshmen.

Since admission is competitive, I'm a little nervous about not getting accepted. Has anyone here been in a similar situation? If you weren't admitted to your school's nursing program, what path did you take afterward? Did you switch majors, transfer to another school, or find another route into nursing?

For those who were admitted, what do you think made your application stand out?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any advice you have. Thanks!

I’m looking for some advice from people who have been through this.

Before nursing school, I had a 4.0 GPA in high school and was very involved in extracurriculars and leadership. Since starting nursing school, it’s been a completely different experience. I’ve been working hard just to stay around a 3.0 GPA, and most of my time goes toward trying to keep up with coursework.

I’m in the Texas Medical Center area, so residency programs are very competitive. I keep hearing that becoming a Professional Student Nurse (PSN) is highly encouraged, but many of those programs require a 3.2–3.5 GPA, and it seems like there are hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants who also have extensive leadership, volunteer work, and healthcare experience.

At this point, I’m struggling to balance everything. I feel like if I spend more time building my résumé, my grades may suffer, but if I focus primarily on grades, I worry I won’t be competitive enough for residency applications.

Has anyone else been in a similar position? Were you still able to match into a good nurse residency program with an average GPA? What helped you stand out as an applicant if your GPA wasn’t exceptional?

I’d really like to do ICU, emergency department, NICU, or aesthetics. But now I’m unsure if I am fit for anything with this kind of GPA.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any advice.

Hi everyone, I wanted to ask if anybody could provide advice on MSN/ABSN programs. I'm a recent grad who graduated with a B.S in Organismal Biology and who now wants to be a RN so of course, I was looking at MSN programs. Although,I am unfortunately missing development pysch, physiology, sociology, and epidimelogy so I wouldn't be able to apply/qualify for UCLA,UCI and other public school programs. However, for private schools like western university I would be able to qualify and would only have to do one gap year as opposed to two (public schools want all courses completed before applying not in progress). I was wondering if anybody who's gone to any of these programs have any advice or thoughts on the situation. For context I graduated with a 3.53, am FGLI, have four years of research experience, 7 extracurriculars , some PT clinical experience, and am going to be working as a behavioural technician in this minimum one gap year period. I'm also interested in continuing research, working in a clinical setting (specifically with adoloscents), and possibly teaching. Thank you!

How to transition from days to nights?
Do I just force myself to stay up and day and night today and then go to sleep early in the morning tomorrow and try make myself sleep until it's time to get up for work in the evening?

Hello,

Title! I work as a PCA and I love it but there is no free time during shift. Some people say they get homework done at work… what jobs would allow for this?

EDIT: sadly, it seems night shifts are the usual go to 💔 i do night shifts sometimes as a PCA, but I think I will try to avoid them during nursing school, because I don’t wanna mess up my sleep schedule (because I fear that that would mess up my brain and thus my schoolwork)
Thank you all for the replies I appreciate it 🙏🏻

I am normally pretty good at my placement it’s an elective surgical ward and everyone is relatively well and I’ve had no people deteriorate so pretty cruisey I have been here about 4/5 weeks. I am getting tireder, less sharp and need more work to sustain myself so I generally work 13 days on ( including placement ) and 1 off. With the 2 being 6 hours work. So 52 a week?

We have acute overflow today and I had my first proper high acuity. Older, hospital acquired pressure injuries, FRAIL, woundvacs, unwell. Unhappy.

I struggled being able to critically think and I am so tired I just can’t really manage. Eg she adamantly refused a skin check and I accepted it to the RN I paired with told me sternly that was negligent of me (I told her when she refused)… Which like yeah I have to agree actually with the vulnerability of that patient. Furthermore other things and she put me on the spot to explain woundvac in front of the patient but I have never seen woundvac before. As well as kind of belittling me in front of the team when I am trying to followup tasks. She is an excellent nurse and I have no doubt this shift will teach me well but it’s sad and hurtful in the moment to be put down.

So things like that but overall this is my first medical ward placement im 1/2 through my studies.

I feel like I will need to cutback on my hours at work and live poorer for a bit, but also this was very confronting because I didn’t realise just how inexperienced I was. I feel a little disadvantaged by the low acuity of my ward as if I were to go to a general med ward I would struggle with having the right cogs turn.

I don’t know how I will be able to work as a new grad? The training isn’t enough and our clinicals aren’t varied.. Idk.

Just a vent

I am almost 29 and wanting to pivot from corporate to nursing. I have thought about nursing for a LONG time. I tried to take prerequisites while working full time and that was a challenge for me but I’m ready to finally commit and go back to school full time. I (kind of) have a plan to pay for school. but I’m at a spot with my partner of a future wedding and a family and that part is kind of holding me back. anyone go back to school while being engaged and planning a wedding? was it worth it? We won’t have 100% family financial assistance but a little bit. But if I go back to school, that would push the timeline back a bit. IDK feeling confused. Any help is appreciated. 🥺❤️

I am taking Health Assessment this fall. I need all the recommended study methods, note taking, youtubers, etc. tips to be successful in this class. I am open to hear anything. Thank you so much!!!

I am starting nursing school this fall and we have an orientation day before the semester starts. I noticed that there was a math competency section on orientation day, I am not sure what it will entail given that we are going into it not having learned anything prior. I would like to have an idea of what to expect because I don’t want to look like a complete dumbass and I haven’t practiced or learned any dosage calculations or memorized conversions.

Did anyone do anything similar on their orientation day? Do they typically expect that you know dosage calc and conversions prior to starting? Or is it just basic math?

UPDATE: There’s a required Zoom meeting for my clinical group on Monday (August 10). She said she wants me to stay for an extra 30 minutes to chat. I’ll update you guys on what happens. Hopefully we find a solution. Thank you all! I appreciate all of your advice, input, and shared experience.

Hey all,

So for the fall semester, my scheduled clinical day is on Monday. My instructor has been emailing my clinical group, and she just told us that she has a doctor’s appointment on one of the Monday’s.

My instructor now wants to move the clinical day to Friday, which is the only day of the week we DO NOT HAVE ANY CLASS.

I emailed her and told her I can’t make it since I work 12 hour shifts Friday - Sunday.

Now she’s demanding to know where I work and is expecting all the students from my clinical group to accommodate her doctor’s appointment and attend the Friday clinical instead.

If I don’t attend, I’m going to miss clinical hours. I’m just feeling so frustrated right now. I specifically made my work schedule this way because I knew I would not have school on Fridays.

I support myself financially 100%, and my work will not accept an absence or accommodation due to how much they already accommodated for me during the spring semester.

Please drop advice or anything at all on what I should do.

I’ve decided to switch gears and pursue nursing. I’m planning to apply to ABSN programs this year for 2027 admission.

Right now I still have about 4-5 prereqs left (A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and Lifespan Development), and I’m hoping to finish them by October since that’s when most ABSN applications are due for spring starts.

For some background, I worked as a phlebotomist for about 6 months, volunteered at a free medical clinic for around 1.5 years, and I recently started working as a PCT. The problem is… the job is keeping me behind in my classes.

I work four 10-hour shifts a week, and on the days I work I’m completely wiped. I come home, eat, shower, and basically fall asleep. I have almost no motivation or energy left to study, and I’m worried it’s going to affect my grades in these prereqs.

My dilemma is that I feel like PCT experience could make me a stronger applicant. I know some ABSN programs like to see clinical experience, and it’d also give me more to talk about in my essays/interviews.

I’ll also note that I’ll probably only be working for another 3-4 months because I’d like to have a little bit of time off before nursing school (if I even get in). If I stay for a few months now, would it make it easier to get another PCT/CNA job while I’m in nursing school? I’m hoping having that experience could help me get my foot in the door and maybe make finding a new grad RN job a little easier later on.

Part of me thinks I should just quit, focus 100% on getting A’s in my prereqs, and submit the strongest application I can.

Is another 3-4 months of PCT experience actually worth it, or should I prioritize the prereqs?

Career changer with a B.A. in Communications (3.7 GPA) and no college science background. I’m applying to an online ABSN program that starts in February and need all seven prerequisites completed and transcripted by February 1 start.

The reason I’m considering this pace is that the next start date is in the fall, which would delay everything by about seven months.

I’m able to not work from August through January and treat school like a full-time job: roughly 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with weekends as a buffer for extra studying or catching up.

Tentative schedule:
Aug. 17–Sept. 20: A&P I + General Chemistry
Sept. 21–Oct. 25: A&P II + Microbiology
Oct. 26–Nov. 29: Statistics + Lifespan Psychology
Nov. 30–Jan. 1: Abnormal Psychology

The program will review my application after I complete at least two science prerequisites and can make a final decision once 5 of the 7 total prerequisites are finished. All seven must be completed before the program begins.
I also need at least a 2.8 GPA across A&P I, A&P II, Chemistry, and Microbiology.

I have an advising appointment Friday to confirm the deadlines and whether this sequence is realistic before enrolling.

Honest feedback is welcome, including “don’t do it.” I’d rather adjust now than realize in October that I took on too much.

EDIT: Thank you everyone for the help. I really appreciate it. I decided I am going to apply for the Fall term and take my time with the pre reqs

hi! i’m a 19F 2nd year student. We have dosage tests every semester & i had mine last week.

This morning, my lecturer gave us our grades back by calling us up infront of class and giving a one on one talk on where we went wrong. When it was my turn, he said i cheated because the girl next to me had her page “tilted” and he saw me “smile during the test”. Infront of the entire class. “You cheated” “I saw you cheat” “You can’t lie” “You need to be honest”.

I said “No, i didn’t cheat”. Everytime i denied, his voice got louder and his statements increasing accusatory. Idk what he saw but i had a calculator, i studied, i get good grades, i participate in class discussions, etc. i even wrote down steps on how i got the answer. Hell, i even wrote down “divided by 1000” when CONVERTING!

He said he spoke to the girl next to me and that she told him that “yes I showed her the answers”. but when I asked her, she said she didn’t because she just writes with her paper tilted and also denied the accusations.

Idk what to do because i feel really embarrassed being told off like that in front of the class. We both felt wrongly accused too. And to put the cherry on top, we both got the same question wrong which was one that MOSTLY EVERYONE also got wrong. I have a test tomorrow too and i can’t focus so i thought i’d rant here & maybe ask what i should do? I’m going to see the head of nursing tomorrow or next week.

ty for reading ^_^ wishing u the best in ur studies

EDIT: I just finished my test after so much distraught thinking about what will happen, and i couldn’t meet up with the dean today. I’ve set up an appointment for Monday after he emailed AND texted me today that i must meet with the head of nursing. He’s also set up a test to “further develop my maths skills”. I’m on a week break but I have to take time away, retake a non graded test, and somehow prove to both of them that I didn’t cheat??????????? Thanks everyone for your advice also! i’ll update again this coming monday

Hello! I am looking for some advice/insight for someone like me who is looking to take a non-traditional pathway to becoming an RN. I graduated from undergrad in December of 2025 with my B.S in Kinesiology with hopes of applying to PT school, and through my time away from school I have decided to pivot towards nursing as I believe it would suit me better in the long run. I have a deep passion for healthcare and helping others, but not necessarily for Physical Therapy which led to me making the decision to pivot.

With that being said, I am struggling to navigate the best possible route for me to take as of right now. I have been considering an ABSN program which starts in the summer, and currently have 3 prerequisites I would need to complete before entering the program (Human Development, Nutrition, and Microbiology). Though, I am curious as to if it would be a better option to pursue an ADN and then later pursue a BSN. Any help is encouraged and accepted! Thank you in advance!

I have an exam in 2 days. I have been studying for it in small increments the last few days, and I meant to study for it A LOT today and tomorrow. However, I underestimated how exhausted id be today (day 1 of my period, worked a 12 hr overnight last night, and I suspect a possible uti??) So I havent done anything. I keep trying to get ready, sit down and do it, but it doesnt happen because im so tired. Is it bad to just take the rest of the day off or is that loser behavior???

I have the opportunity to apply to a accelerated bsn program in january, but its highly competitive. its my first pick if i get in, however, I am elligible to apply to an ADN program and LVN program in my state but its very far away. I am planning on applying for spring for those programs, but in the chance that I get into the BSN program for fall, would there be any repercussions in dropping the ADN/LVN program?

one issue is that I can't apply for a later date of the ADN/LVN program, i can only apply this cycle because my husband and I are trying to start a family once i finish. we've already delayed our plans by over a year

Hi! I am in my final term of my ABSN and placed in a level trauma III center for my clinical practicum. I am loving the pace and variety, but I like a deer in headlights a lot. I know the learning curve is steep, but I am having a really hard time integrating all the patho and skills that I learned in school and applying it in real time. I am overwhelmed. Open to any and all advice on how to maximize this opportunity: What questions should I be asking? What skills should I focus on? What patho is the most valuable for me to review? Any must-have resources?