Starting nursing school is an exciting and scary time! The fear of the unknown often leads nursing students to struggle preparing for their first exam. Some students over prepare, some under prepare. Some students did well in previously schooling and assume they can study that same way in nursing school. It’s important to prepare for nursing school (even before school starts). Here are some things I wish I knew (and I know a lot of students did) before I started nursing school:
Get Organized:
- Get yourself a calendar/planner. Use your syllabus and write down due dates, exam dates, study time blocks, and blocks of times you’ll work on assignments. This will help with time management.
- Get your books (access to online resources) and supplies as early as possible. Using your syllabus, skim through your resources to get familiar with how you’ll gain content knowledge.
- Create a study space. Find an area that is dedicated to your studies.
- Get a dry erase board (big or small). It is a great way to study (example: draw out concept maps).
- Get colored pens. This is a great way to organize your notes.
- Find an NCLEX question resource you like. It may be a book or an online platform, but invest in a resource.
Self (and Family) Care:
- Find stress management techniques that work for you. Include self-care time on your calendar.
- School- life balance is important. Include personal (fun time) on your calendar.
- Meal prep to help save time and eat healthy (crockpots are the best)
- Inform your family (and friends) about your nursing school schedule.
- Form a support system. In school, get to know your peers. They understand the stress of nursing school. Ask your family and friends for help (child care, pet care, stress relief).
- Find anxiety management techniques that work for you. (This is one of the main reasons, I have found, that nursing students struggle academically.) Nursing school is high stakes (no matter what they tell you). Look into different techniques (examples: positive self talk, meditation, music, relaxation) and practice them.
Foundational Knowledge:
- Anatomy and Physiology: A strong understanding of the human body’s structure and function is key to building your clinical knowledge. I always loved coloring pages (you can find them online) to refresh on anatomy. Start each study session with an A&P review (You need to understand how the body should work for a healthy body to understand an abnormality).
- Medical Terminology: Learn the common medical terms and abbreviations used in healthcare settings. Print out lists of common terms and include it with your study resources.
- YouTube: Watch videos about your first few content areas. This helps your focus on the need to know information (and prevent you from going down rabbit holes).
Study Habits
- Know your Learning Style: Complete this VARK questionnaire to see if you learn best by Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic learning. Use this to form your study habits.
- Ask for Help Early: Don’t wait until there is a problem. If you feel like you are struggling to understand the content find your resources (professor, tutors, counselors, peers).
- Preparing for Exams: Read (or at least skim the readings), pay attention to graphs, pictures, and charts, break down the content (simplify it), make study guides/concept maps, do NCLEX practice questions, teach someone the content (even if it’s to an invisible person).
- Study Groups: they work really well for some learners. Find peers that will build your confidence and promote a positive learning environment for you.
- Utilize School Resources: Many nursing programs offer tutoring (peer or professional), counseling, and skills labs for students who need additional help.
Conclusion
When nursing students take time to think about these things before starting nursing school (or a new semester), they can better navigate the challenges of nursing school.
You’ve got this future nurse!
