As many people know, college is hard. And for those many that made it into the nursing programs, they know that life in those is even harder! Being expected to do as much as nurses are expected to do and comprehend, we need all the help we can get. The following items are just a few that I use to survive nursing school. Though they may be simple, they are some of the most important tools in my life.
1. The Stethoscope
Every student nurse at least once has practiced wearing their stethoscope around their neck. For some reason, this is like a right of passage when you start down the challenging road of Nursing school. Carrying it around is proof that you have the gumption to have made it this far, or you just are extremely lucky! Plus who does't want to randomly be able to listen to the intricacies of internal organs? Um, I love to. Heart sounds become majestic sounds that act as a portal to information unknown to the outside world. You are now the keeper of a great knowledge. Use it wisely and have fun with it. In addition, rock that stethoscope like it is the latest fashion for saving a life. Strut, turn, pose!
2. COFFEE, COFFEE AND MORE COFFEE!
One cannot consume too much coffee. When you reach the point of 6 cups of coffee and you start to finally wake up, that is the point when true learning occurs. Nurses are probably the biggest culprits of emptying the coffee pot more than once to accomplish all that they are assigned. When you find yourself able to drink coffee and then nap for an hour and wake up refreshed. That is the true test of a Nurse. Honestly, it's okay to have some help getting through those long days. You can sleep when you are retired or dead!
3. Sticky Notes
Just think if sticky notes didn't exist in the world...The world would be consumed in chaos and disorganization! Those 12 pages your professor keeps switching back and forth to in your textbook, will be saved and marked, making survival of nursing school a little more attainable. Sticky notes are my best friend that are always reliable to hold my spot. They are the best friend that an inanimate object can be! Hail the sticky note inventor, for he/she is a total life saver!
4. The Internet
The world wide web is the handiest tool that any college student can have within reach. It contains all the knowledge of the world that is just a few clicks away. How much longer would it take to do your homework if you had to only use textbooks? My guess is almost double the amount of time. Nobody got time for that! The internet is a very resourceful tool, as long as it is used right.
