Off to a Good Start: Helpful Tips for the Start of Term

As we head into the first few weeks here in the College of Nursing, we want to make sure that you are doing what you can to be a successful student. Starting the semester off right is essential to finishing the term strong and earning good marks.

It's tough to come to terms with the long, luxurious summer being over. Blue, sunny skies have been replaced with changing leaves and gray clouds; lazy beach Sundays are now there-isn't-enough-time-for-all-this-work library days. To help ease the transition from summer to schoolwork, here are a few tips to help you start off another (or maybe your first!) semester at NYU.

1. Read your syllabi! It may sound obvious, but make sure you attend the first day of class and go over your syllabi. Everything you need to know will be somewhere in this important document, so make sure to spend some time reading it over and learning about the layout (scheduling, attendance, grading) of your classes.

2. Get organized! Buy a planner or update your Google Calendar with your NetID. Whatever you prefer to use, just make sure you use something! Update your planner with all the assignment and test dates in your classes. Being organized makes for more efficient time use and less unwanted surprises.

3. Go to class! This one is simple. Just because you can miss class doesn’t mean you should. It may be tempting to get an extra hour of sleep, but skipping class is the easiest way to fall behind. You pay tuition, so get your money’s worth!

4. Talk to your Professors! Whether it is after class or during office hours, professors at NYU love to talk to their students. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re falling behind, as many professors are willing to spend extra time with you to help get you where you need to be.

5. Get involved! NYU has hundreds of clubs and activities for you to get involved in. Whatever your interests are, there is sure to be a group of students that are interested in the same thing. Joining clubs is a great way to meet new people and to simply unwind from the stress of schoolwork.

6. Explore the City! NYU students have the unique opportunity to be in and of New York City, one of the greatest places in the world. There is always something to do in the city no matter what you are interested in. There are concerts, museums, zoos—and discount deals on all of the above for those who know where to look. Make sure to check out and sign up for NYU TicketCentral’s mailing list for tickets to exclusive shows and events.

Undergraduate Peer Advising Program

The Office of Academic Advising and Learning Development is excited to introduce the 2011-12 Undergraduate Peer Advising Program for nursing students.

This program, which is based on a student mentoring model, provides opportunities for newer students to connect with and learn from upperclassmen in the College of Nursing.

Peer Advisees will gain:

• insight and advice from an experienced peer
• study strategies
• tips for success and involvement

Peer Advisors will benefit from:

• leadership experience
• mentoring skills
• a way to support and connect with the NYUCN community

We are seeking student participation for the 2011-12 academic year. Are you interested in participating as either a Peer Advisee or Peer Advisor?

UPCOMING INFORMATION SESSIONS

Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 6:30-7:30 pm, Atrium Conference Room, 726 Broadway, 10th Floor

OR

Friday, September 23, 2011, 1:00-2:00 pm, Atrium Conference Room, 726 Broadway, 10th Floor

To attend one of theses sessions, please RSVP to nursingadvising@nyu.edu

If you are interested in participating, but are unable to attend an information session, please email us at nursingadvising@nyu.edu and we will reach out to you regarding your interest.

Additional information and application materials can be found on the Academic Advising Website.

We look forward to your participation in this program!

Honoring the Past: Dean Judith Haber Reflects on 9/11

The Inside Scoop: Externships!

Ever considered applying for an externship? Read about Ilya Bernstein's experience below:

How did you obtain the externship opportunity? What was the interview/selection process like?

After seeing the externship advertised under the Jobs/Externships section of NUSI, I began putting together my application. I asked two faculty members for letters of recommendation well before the deadline, which made them all the more happy to help, and submitted those along with my transcripts. I was contacted some weeks later for an interview, which I approached with some anxiety. My nervousness was misplaced, though, as the interview didn’t require my answering any questions; the Director of Nursing Education simply told me about the program and told me to email her if I was still interested in participating.

What did you do in your role?

The summer externs were allowed to choose their department from nearly every department Bellevue had. I chose to work in the recovery room or PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) as I knew it would provide me with a variety of patients and illnesses. As patients come to us from the operating room, I connect them to the cardiac, respiratory, oxygen saturation and blood pressure monitors, as well as connect the sequential compression devices on their lower legs. Following that, I complete an assessment of the patient that varies based on their surgery, and try to predict what the patient will experience, what the physician will order, and what the nurses will plan.

How did your time at NYUCN academically prepare you for your externship? What classes, skills, and/or concepts have been most helpful?

Adult and Elder I and II are central courses for a reason; I’ve seen patients suffering from the vast majority of conditions we’ve discussed in those courses. Knowing the clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of these conditions, in addition to the best practice to implement, helps out a lot in predicting the needs of patients. For example, when an older patient comes in after surgery, I know they’re more prone to pressure ulcers and atelectasis than younger patients. As a result, I can predict the need to check their skin for pressure ulcers they may have received on the operating table, and teach them about using the incentive spirometer. Or if a patient with a history of heart failure comes in, I make sure the bed has oxygen and suction ready-to-use, in the event they have an acute episode following their surgery.

What is one piece of advice you have for students who want to get an externship? Why are externships valuable?

The externship has been a great experience because human health and illness can manifest itself in so many different ways. Assessment findings that would be concerning on one patient may be entirely normal for another. Thanks to the opportunity to assess multiple patients, I’ve been able to begin a database in my mind of what is “within normal limits.” Now when I experience something dramatically outside of these limits, I’ll be able to recognize it as such. This has improved my clinical confidence quite a bit.

It’s great for the patients too. As externs have less responsibility than the nurses, they have more time to interact with the patients and provide basic comfort.

Currently, Ilya is a 15 Month Accelerated B.S. in Nursing student in his second clinical semester. In addition to serving as an extern some of Ilya's other activities include participation on UNSO's executive board, working as a research assistant for Drs. Maja Djukic and Madeline Naegle, and assisting in manuscript preparation for an article with Professor Fidel Lim. 

If you are interested to know what positions are available, more information on externships can be found on NUSI Blackboard under the Jobs/Externship Opportunities tab!

Questions? Contact Cindy Lundberg at cindy.lundberg@nyu.edu