Hello Nursing students, and Happy Autumnal Equinox!

 Do you know your NYUCN Resources? Fear not!

It is now the last full week of September into this new semester, and many of you are still adjusting to your new schedules. This is the time when students must also manage studying and homework assignments as well, and this can be very stressful.

Be sure to use your most valuable resources: EACH OTHER! Reach out to your classmates and exchange phone numbers to form possible study groups; 3 to 6 people is the ideal number. Here's a few more important reminders:

1)     PEER ADVISING PROGRAM: New students are encouraged to take advantage of this program; upperclassmen students are encouraged to sign up to become a peer advisor.

      2)      FALL2014 TUTORING SCHEDULE:  ADULT NURSING I combined with PATHOPHYSIOLOGY is being offered EVERY TUESDAY BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 facilitated by Melissa Morrison. 6:50PM-8:15PMin room LC9, Tisch Hall.

-MICROBIOLOGY will be offered EVERY THURSDAY 12:30PM-1:30PM in room 667, Waverly.

Parting with this clip that ALL nursing students can relate to.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this video is strictly for entertainment purposes and in no way reflects the opinions of the NYU College of Nursing

Finals Are Approaching....

But Don't Forget to Breathe.

As finals are approaching, it's important to still think about how to take care of yourself during this stressful time, and take a moment to breathe!

Below are some breathing exercises courtesy of health.harvard.edu:

Relaxation techniques: Mini-relaxations

Mini-relaxations can help allay fear and reduce pain while you sit in the dentist’s chair or lie on an examining table. They’re equally helpful in thwarting stress before an important meeting, while stuck in traffic, or when faced with people or situations that annoy you. Here are a few quick relaxation techniques to try.

When you’ve got 1 minute

Place your hand just beneath your navel so you can feel the gentle rise and fall of your belly as you breathe. Breathe in slowly. Pause for a count of three. Breathe out. Pause for a count of three. Continue to breathe deeply for one minute, pausing for a count of three after each inhalation and exhalation.

Or alternatively, while sitting comfortably, take a few slow deep breaths and quietly repeat to yourself “I am” as you breathe in and “at peace” as you breathe out. Repeat slowly two or three times. Then feel your entire body relax into the support of the chair.

When you’ve got 2 minutes

Count down slowly from 10 to zero. With each number, take one complete breath, inhaling and exhaling. For example, breathe in deeply saying “10” to yourself. Breathe out slowly. On your next breath, say “nine,” and so on. If you feel lightheaded, count down more slowly to space your breaths further apart. When you reach zero, you should feel more relaxed. If not, go through the exercise again.

When you’ve got 3 minutes

While sitting down, take a break from whatever you’re doing and check your body for tension. Relax your facial muscles and allow your jaw to fall open slightly. Let your shoulders drop. Let your arms fall to your sides. Allow your hands to loosen so that there are spaces between your fingers. Uncross your legs or ankles. Feel your thighs sink into your chair, letting your legs fall comfortably apart. Feel your shins and calves become heavier and your feet grow roots into the floor. Now breathe in slowly and breathe out slowly. Each time you breathe out, try to relax even more.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2008/July/relaxation_techniques_breath_focus

A Big Welcome...

To our new Assistant Dean of Advising and Academic Services - Dr. Rachelle Sussman Rumph. We sat down with Rachelle to ask her a few questions so you could all get to know her better. 

What is your role at the College of Nursing?
As the Assistant Dean of Advising and Academic Services, I oversee the professional advising staff and all issues pertaining to advising at NYUCN. I also advise students and support our faculty advisors. 

What do you look forward to most in your new role?
Having the opportunity to help the NYUCN student population realize their intellectual and professional goals as much as possible. Getting to know students, learning more about your backgrounds, experiences, and circumstances that brought you here to NYUCN.


How long have you been at NYU?
I have been at NYU in various roles since 2000. I started as an Academic Advisor at Steinhardt in the Media, Culture, and Communication (MCC) department. I pursued a PhD in MCC, and I am also an adjunct instructor in MCC. Most recently, I was the Associate Director of Academic Support at the College of Arts & Science.

What is your favorite part of NYU?
The diversity you find at NYU, geographically, among student populations, and the diversity of opinions and professional backgrounds within the University. I am also amazed by our faculty at NYU. And of course, the location and delicious food options that surround us.

What are your interests and hobbies outside of being the Assistant Dean of Advising?
A majority of my time is spent raising my two little ones. My daughter is six and my son is three; they keep me quite busy so while I am not here, I am tending to them! 

Lastly, what are your tips for success for our nursing students?
Use the resources around you. NYU has so many, including amazing faculty, professional advisors, tutoring centers, the writing center, and the University Learning Center. 
Also, remember that your time in college goes by quickly. We are aware you are very busy, but it's important to take stock and remember this is a wonderful time for you as you're pursuing your career goals in a top notch research University, in one of the greatest cities in the world. It's an exciting time.

We are all very excited to have Rachelle join our team as our new leader. Make sure you stop by the office and say hello to her! 

Go to Tutoring!

The Office of Academic Advising offers tutoring for A&E1/Patho. Through the University Learning Center, you can also get tutoring for Microbiology if you are still taking pre-nursing courses.

Click here for info on tutoring for A&E1/Patho.

Click here to RSVP for Microbiology tutoring:
Monday's
2-3pm
**On Monday, 11/11 - it will be held at TISCH LC6
**Onward, it will be held at SILVER Rm. 500

These services are FREE! So take advantage of them and get the support you need to be a successful student at the College of Nursing.

We Are In and of the City

NYU is In and of the City - so what are you doing to enjoy this city? Below are some suggestions:

Check out the Broadway show discount ticket finder through NYU Ticket Central! Grab some friends and spend a night out watching a world famous Broadway show. 

Ticket Central also offers discounts for sporting events. Whether you enjoy watching basketball or hockey, support our local teams at a game. 

Try some cheap eats around NYU. From Dosa's to cupcakes, this cheap eats tour covers it all. This information is courtesy of the Student Resource Center.

Speaking of the Student Resource Center, be sure to follow them on Facebook, so you can stay up to date on events around NYU and NYC. 

While school is important, don't forget to take a break and enjoy this wonderful city, because as an NYU student - you are In and of the City.

Welcome to the New Semester!

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. So start the term off on the right foot and follow these tips:

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.

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.

Go to class! This one is simple. 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!

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.

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.

Explore the City! NYU students have the unique opportunity to be in and of New York City - one of the greatest cities 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.

Study Away!

Be sure to think about our NYUCN Florence study away opportunity in January 2014! 

The College will be offering "Comparative Health Systems (NURSE-UN 1003), from January 4, 2014 - January 18, 2014, taught by Victoria Vaughan Dickson, PhD, RN, FAHA, and Gail D'Eramo Melkus, EdD,C-NP,FAAN.

Florence Winter 2014 Study Away Information Sessions: 
September 10 (4-5pm) and September 17 (6-7pm) 
726 Broadway, 10th Floor
Nursing Conference Center

For more information, please contact our Interim Student Affairs Officer, Titilayo Kuti at tok207@nyu.edu.

As always, be sure to talk to your Academic Advisor to discuss your cirriculum. Undergraduate students - if you're interested in January 2014 study away opportunities, contact your Academic Advisor.

Best Blogs for Nursing Students

In today's modern world utilizing the internet, various forms of social media, and technology are commonplace in almost every industry and facet of life. Coupled with this, blogging has become a great source of information sharing from one person to a larger audience. 

So why should this be any different for nurses and nursing students?  Nursing focused social media platforms and nursing blogs are a great way to stay informed, feel supported and inspired. RN Central has compiled a list of the 100 Best Blogs for Nursing Students. These blogs are "meant to inspire, motivate and educate nursing students in school and beyond." 

Some interesting (and informative) examples are highlighted below:

Personal Stories:  

·   Code Blog: Tales of a Nurse 

Professional Blogs:

·   The National Nurse Blog 

·    National Nurses United

Travel Nursing

·   Travel Nurse Aim

·    Ask Conrad!

We encourage you to check them out! For a complete list of the 100 Best Blogs for Nursing Students, feel free to visit the RN Central article: 100 Best Blogs for Nursing Students.

Enjoy!

-The NYUCN Advising Team

Where Does The Time Go?

We invite all of our College of Nursing Graduate students to join us in Where Does the Time Go?: Developing Your Plan for Effective Time Management - a webinar presented by the Office of Academic Advising in partnership with the Graduate Student Nursing Academy. The webinar takes place on 6/11/13 from 2:00pm-3:00pm.


This webinar will help you assess how you use your time throughout the week. Effective time management strategies related to academic study will be presented including organizational tools and goal setting. You will also be provided with some easy to use, tangible study tips to put into practice.

Participation is easy and free - register for the webinar today.

And for our undergraduate students, don't worry - we will be offering time management workshops during the upcoming fall semester. Contact nursingadvising@nyu.edu for more information.

We hope you will join us for this unique learning opportunity!

-The NYUCN Advising Team

A Quick Reminder About Registration!

We are in full swing for summer and fall registration for BS students entering into the nursing clinical sequence. Be sure to enter these key dates into your planner/calendar/notebook: 

Summer 2013 - Students Entering Nursing Sequence II or III

April 1, 2013: Clinical Tool will be sent via NYU email

April 5, 2013 @ 5:00 pm: Deadline for completing and submitting the Clinical Tool online

April 15, 2013: Students will be registered and sent a confirmation email

Fall 2013 - Students Entering Nursing Sequence I, III or IV

April 22, 2013: Clinical Tool will be sent via NYU email

April 26, 2013 @ 5:00 pm: Deadline for completing and submitting the Clinical Tool

May 13, 2013: Students will be registered and sent a confirmation email

Please bring two copies of your registration worksheet to the meeting, along with a copy of your unofficial transcript.

Be sure to check your NYU email for detailed instructions on registration procedures. You can also contact your advisor or email nursingadvising@nyu.edu.

We look forward to meeting with you if we have not done so already!

The NYUCN Advising Team

Free Tutoring!

That's right! It's free! So why not take advantage of it? 

The College of Nursing provides free group tutoring for designated undergraduate nursing sequence courses each term. For a list of times/dates please visit: http://nursing.nyu.edu/students/academic-advising/tutoring-program/undergraduate-tutoring

And for our graduate students we have partnered with SCPS to offer free one-on-one writing support tutoring. We told you about this great service in a previous blog post so why are we reminding  you again? Because it's important to take advantage of all of the free support NYU offers! For more information check out the previous blog post or visit: http://nursing.nyu.edu/students/academic-advising/tutoring-program/graduate-tutoring

If you have any questions please email nursingadvising@nyu.edu.

Best of luck!
The NYUCN Advising Team

Managing Test Anxiety

Do you experience nervousness and anxiety before taking an exam? Do you worry that you might not be able to recall the correct answer in a test environment? If so, you are not alone. Feelings of nervousness and self-doubt are extremely common when a person is faced with the situation of having to "perform."

Here are a few tips that can help to alleviate some of the "butterflies" before an exam.

Use the acronym P-R-E-P-A-R-E!


P - Positive self-talk: In the moments before an exam, it is important to reassure yourself and to focus on positive thoughts. Here are some examples to help you get started: "I prepared to the best of my ability," "I am ready for this exam," "I believe in myself," "I am capable of doing well," and "I am proud of myself for taking on this challenge."

R - Relax: Relax your body and clear your mind by breathing in deeply over several seconds and then slowly releasing your breath. Repeat this technique at least three times.

E - Exam day: Before exam day picture the physical space of the exam room in your head. Create an image of yourself at a desk, methodically going through the exam. If possible, determine the test format and the total number of questions prior to the exam day.

P - Plan ahead: Before you enter the classroom, organize yourself by turning off your cell phone, putting away notes, and bring anything you need for the exam (e.g. #2 pencil).

A - Arrive early: Give yourself extra travel time on the day of exam. Anticipate traffic or delays on the subway.

R - Remember to focus: If your mind goes blank on a question and you feel a sense of panic coming over you, take a deep breath, focus, employ positive self-talk for a moment and then refocus your attention back to the exam.

E - Evaluate: In instances were your time may be limited, evaluate the questions and answer what you are confident in first, and then spend any remaining time on re-examining the more challenging questions. If you cannot recall or identify the answer to a question, make a notation by the question and move on to the next question. 

The best way to build confidence in test taking is to be fully prepared for the exam, which requires significant and effective studying throughout the semester. That said, severe anxiety can still impact a fully-prepared student's performance.

If you feel as though anxiety is affecting your academic performance, contact your academic advisor and the Office of Academic Advising & Learning Development. We are here to help and support you!

Lastly, whatever your level of anxiety, take advantage of the counseling services and stress-relief workshops offered by NYU's Student Health & Wellness Center.

Good luck!
The NYUCN Advising Team