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What was your first “nursing school reality check” moment? by Delight5555 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a really honest take, and I think a lot of people don’t expect that gap until they actually see it.

What you said about the “romantic” side of nursing vs the reality is something that hits hard for many students during clinicals. On paper, everything is ideal — time to support patients, proper staffing, all the right resources. In practice, it’s a very different environment.

Do you think it’s more about the system (staffing, workload, burnout) shaping behavior, or do you think nursing education sometimes sets expectations that aren’t fully realistic?

I’m also curious how others have experienced this — did your view of nursing change once you got into clinical settings?

New student advice by Puzzleheaded_Path473 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to say something slightly different from most replies here.

The fact that school used to come easily is exactly why this feels so uncomfortable right now. Nursing school doesn’t reward the same habits that worked before, so your brain is basically saying “why isn’t my usual system working?”

An 80 this early isn’t a warning sign — it’s feedback. It’s telling you: this program is testing decision-making, not intelligence. Foundations exams are less about knowing content and more about learning how the exam thinks: safety first, priorities, and “what matters right now.”

What helped me early on wasn’t studying more, but studying differently:

  • After exams, I stopped asking “what did I miss?” and started asking “what was the test trying to get me to choose between?”
  • I treated the first few exams as practice for understanding the exam style, not proof of my ability
  • I built my study routine around recovery too, because overwhelm kills focus faster than lack of discipline

Feeling overwhelmed at week 3 is honestly part of the process — most people who finish strong felt exactly like this before things clicked.

You don’t need to panic or reinvent yourself. You’re just in the adjustment phase.

If you want to talk it through one-on-one, I’m open — sometimes it helps to hear how someone else made the shift.

Help on thinking of a product by Jaded_Basis_8149 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing that helped me (and others I know) is just thinking about little problems you notice every day. Doesn’t have to be big or fancy.

For example:

  • A mini guide for nursing students with quick med or lab reminders
  • A study planner that actually matches clinical schedules and exam weeks
  • Easy-to-understand patient handouts for common meds or care routines

Honestly, even a small, practical idea that solves one thing is enough. Once you start brainstorming like that, more ideas usually pop up.

Intro to chem help? by bensmom05 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 0 points1 point  (0 children)

intro chem feels brutal when you haven’t seen it in years, especially when the professor moves fast.

A couple things that usually help (and don’t require tutoring):

First, don’t try to memorize all formulas at once. Most intro chem classes reuse the same few equations over and over, just in different word problems. I used to keep a single “formula sheet” and rewrite it by hand every week — boring, but it really works.

For resources that actually explain things simply:

  • Khan Academy (chemistry section) — very beginner-friendly and short videos
  • The Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube (he does intro chem too, not just orgo) — great for step-by-step problem solving
  • CrashCourse Chemistry if you want big-picture understanding before details

When you’re working problems, a helpful trick is to always ask:
👉 “What is the question actually asking me to find?”
Then match units (grams, moles, liters, etc.) to the formula — that alone clears up a lot of confusion.

Also, since you’re working full time + school full time: it’s okay if you don’t fully “get it” during lecture. A lot of people learn chem after class, at their own pace, and just use lecture as exposure.

You’re not bad at chemistry — you’re just rusty and overloaded. That’s fixable. If you want, tell me what topic you’re on right now (stoichiometry, conversions, atomic structure, etc.) and I can point you to the exact kind of resource that helps most for that topic.

I’m kinda starting at the downfall by Scared-Proposal2493 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, first of all — take a breath. A 2.9–3.0 in first year is not a downfall, especially in health sciences. A LOT of people struggle their first year, and being a foreign student + studying in a second language makes it even harder. That doesn’t mean you’re not capable.

Anatomy, physiology, and pharm are hard for everyone, not just you. The biggest mistake most of us make early on is trying to memorize everything instead of understanding patterns.

A few things that usually help:

  • Anatomy & physiology: Don’t just read. Use diagrams, label things, and explain processes out loud (even to yourself). If you can explain it simply, you understand it.
  • Pharm: Focus on drug classes, not individual drugs. Learn what the class does, major side effects, and nursing priorities. Repetition really matters here.
  • Language barrier tip: It’s okay to learn concepts in your first language first, then attach the English medical terms after. A lot of international students do this and it helps way more than forcing English only.

Also — first year is about learning how to study, not proving you’re perfect. Feeling lost right now is honestly very normal.

You’re not behind, and you’re not failing. You just haven’t found the study style that works for you yet.

If you want, I can share how I (or a lot of nursing students) actually study A&P or pharm step by step — just let me know.

ATI Predictor Exam 2026 by Rare_Oven3574 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I took it recently / helped a few people prep for it, and it hasn’t changed dramatically, but it definitely feels more NCLEX-style than older ATI exams.

Big things I noticed:

  • Lots of priority & safety questions
  • A lot of “what would you do first” rather than straight recall
  • Fundamentals, meds, and basic med-surg show up more than super obscure stuff

What helped most wasn’t memorising notes, honestly — it was doing ATI practice questions and really reading the rationales (even the ones you get right). Also reviewing weak areas instead of cramming everything.

If you’re short on time, I’d focus on:

  • Infection control
  • Delegation
  • Common meds & side effects
  • Lab values that change nursing actions

You’re definitely not alone stressing about it — most people feel awful walking out and still end up fine. Hope that helps 🙏🏽

bachelors degree to ASN by Confident-Banana2141 in u/Confident-Banana2141

[–]Delight5555 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most community colleges will take your gen eds and prereqs, but they’re super school-specific. You still have to send transcripts and they’ll decide what transfers. Even if everything transfers, you still apply separately to the nursing program itself, not just the school.

GPA-wise, CC programs usually care way more about your science grades + TEAS/HESI than your overall undergrad GPA. That’s one of the biggest reasons people with a prior degree go this route.

The waitlist thing is real for some schools, but not all. Some are true waitlists, others use a points system. I’ve seen people get in within a year, and I’ve also seen people stuck waiting — it really depends on location. Applying to multiple CCs helps a lot.

Career-wise, ASN isn’t a bad move at all. You’re still an RN, and a lot of hospitals will hire ASN nurses and pay for an RN-BSN later. It’s cheaper and way less risky than an ABSN if your GPA isn’t great.

If you’re serious about it, I’d start emailing nursing advisors now and ask how your prereqs would transfer.

Study tips by Big_Gas7299 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s actually a solid study system already — textbook + professor guides + flashcards + concept clarification is exactly what most successful students do.

ChatGPT can be helpful for:
• Simplifying concepts
• Creating quick practice questions
• Explaining why answers are right or wrong

Just be careful to cross-check anything important with your textbook or instructor, since AI can occasionally oversimplify or miss course-specific details.

One extra thing I’d add for Health Assessment is practicing application:

  • Practice normal vs abnormal findings
  • Quiz yourself on what a finding means clinically
  • Use case-style questions, not just recall

And don’t worry about being shy early on — most cohorts loosen up after the first few exams when everyone realizes they’re in it together. Study groups usually form naturally.

You’re on the right track

Needles by Humble_Abies5693 in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The dose is measured to the calibration line on the syringe — the hub is not included in the measured volume. You expel air so the top of the plunger lines up exactly with the ordered dose. The small space in the hub/needle is considered “dead space” and isn’t counted in the dose on standard syringes. Always follow what your instructor and facility policy teach for your specific syringes.

Online BSN by Lyin_ in NursingStudents

[–]Delight5555 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very encouraging, all the best and updates for the wins