By Megan Habeger

2014 promises to be a momentous year for many of CSUSM’s students, whether they are excited to be starting their first semester at the university or are preparing for a long-anticipated graduation.

For the pre-nursing students on campus, they may be hoping that this is the year they finally get accepted into nursing school!  However, in addition to focusing on those last few prerequisite classes that are needed to meet the application requirements, there are a few extra steps that pre-nursing students can be taking even now to improve their experiences once they do get into the nursing program.

First: Learn to be a team player!  Nursing students quickly realize that the independent study habits that got them good grades in all their other classes do not necessarily equate to success in the School of Nursing. The structure of the nursing program is such that students are thrown together for two to three years (depending on the specific program) of constant group papers and projects. If they are not handled properly, these group assignments can be a major source of stress and even resentment between classmates. Therefore, rather than always relying solely on yourself in order to avoid the potential headache of group work, start taking advantage of any and all opportunities to improve your teamwork skills of communication and coordination with your peers. When in a group setting, practice being assertive in speaking up if there is an inappropriate distribution of the workload. Also be able to discuss potential problems calmly and respectfully rather than allowing frustrations to escalate. Learn to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of both yourself and those you work with so your team can make the most effective use of each other’s abilities.

The second, related, tip is: Become an APA master!  You may have had some casual exposure to various formatting guidelines in previous classes, but once you are in the nursing program (as with all the sciences) you need to develop an intimate familiarity with the formatting style of the American Psychological Association (APA).  With an overwhelming number of papers, care plans and exams to keep up with every week, you will not have much time to spare for figuring out what to include on a title page or how to properly create in-text citations.  If you have mastered the rules of APA formatting ahead of time, you will not only be doing yourself a favor, but you will quickly become a valuable resource for your classmates.

Lastly, one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself is to get out of the classroom and gain hands-on experience by working or volunteering in a healthcare setting.  Not only do volunteer hours help you earn points for the nursing program application, but more importantly, you gain valuable insight into the reality of life as a health care professional.  Reading and studying about Clostridium difficile in a microbiology class is one thing, but experiencing the smell of a patient with C. diff for the first time is what will really help you determine if nursing is for you!  Additionally, simply becoming familiar with the terminology, equipment and the roles of the various members of the healthcare team will prove to be an invaluable advantage in minimizing the terror and confusion that inevitably washes over each and every nursing student when they show up in a foreign environment for their first day of clinicals!

Of course, each student will have to make their own way, whether through Nursing School or any other program, but hopefully by taking advantage of the tips and tricks that others have discovered through personal experience, future students can avoid unnecessary frustrations and make this year a success!