Nurses are in high demand. They’re an integral part of the community, providing the utmost care for patients to ensure they lead happy, healthy lives. Becoming a nurse is a really tough but rewarding job. So, if you’re an up-and-coming nurse, thank you! We’ve put together this how to survive nursing school guide to help you thrive and succeed. Here’s to becoming the nurse you’ve always wanted to be!
Tips for Surviving Nursing School
From building study habits to selecting learning tools, discover how to survive nursing school.
Build study habits early on
Good study habits are key to surviving nursing school, and your study routine can make or break your academic performance. Start building your study habits early to find what works best for you. Need some help getting started? Try out these 9 effective study habits for nursing students.
Lean on your support system
Nursing school can feel like all work and no play, but that’s not very healthy, is it? When you feel overwhelmed or need a break, reach out to those near and dear to you. Regular interactions with friends and family can help create a sense of normalcy during your busy nursing school days. Making new friends in nursing school is a definite must too!
Master your learning style
Your learning style matters. And, believe it or not, it can change over time. Knowing how you learn best is how you’ll succeed in nursing school. Whether you’re a visual or hands-on learner, we recommend implementing study strategies catered to your style. Find out what works best for each learning style and apply it to your routine to maximize your learning.
Develop a growth mindset
Like life, nursing school is full of twists and turns. You’ll encounter vast amounts of information and may find some topics, classes, or experiences that challenge you along the way. Rather than looking at setbacks or failure as a limitation, retrain your brain to see it as an opportunity for growth. You can always bounce back—failure does not define you.
Use a comprehensive learning tool
There are many resources for surviving nursing school, but less is more! Go ahead and buy or rent your necessary nursing textbooks, use free resources provided by your school, and pick one study tool that has it all.
Picmonic, for example, helps nursing students succeed in nursing school by saving them time when studying and is a great nursing study guide. It has 1,200+ nursing school topics in short, two-to-three-minute videos, 14,000 multiple-choice practice questions, and a daily spaced repetition quiz to maximize learning. You can use it throughout school to prepare for exams, study after class, and practice answering NCLEX®-style questions.
Skills That Help You Breeze Through Nursing School
Time management
Class, clinicals, studying, daily life, and work? It’s a lot to juggle! Effective time management skills will ensure you have a proper school-life balance to keep a level head in school. A digital calendar or planner can help you with this skill.
Self-awareness
How in tune are you with yourself? Being able to recognize your strengths, weaknesses, and feelings can help you thrive in nursing school. Self-awareness is fundamental to developing a growth mindset, reducing stress, and regulating emotions.
Communication
Nurses need to have stellar communication skills for school and the workplace. Practice by collaborating and communicating with your peers, instructors, and other healthcare professionals. Communication helps you connect with patients, understand their needs, and avoid potential medical errors.
Detail-orientation
Pay attention to the little things in nursing school—they’re more important than you think. Being detail-oriented can help you avoid making critical mistakes. For instance, students should keep an eye open for tricky NCLEX®-style questions and answers! They can stump you if you don’t read them thoroughly.
Do’s and Don’ts for Nursing Students
Here are the top do’s and don’ts to add to your nursing school survival guide.
Do: Create realistic goals
There’s a lot to accomplish in nursing school. That’s why you should set SMART goals as a nursing student, meaning your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Setting attainable goals ensures you can track your progress, keep focused, and find success.
Don’t: Jampack your schedule
Avoid filling up all your free time with studying. When you overcrowd your schedule, you can end up neglecting your needs, cramming, and experiencing burnout.
Do: Engage with peers and instructors
As mentioned earlier, good communication skills are necessary to thrive in nursing school. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek mentorship, and create connections.
Don’t: Self-isolate
It’s okay if you prefer to study alone the majority of the time, but it can also get pretty lonely. Try something new like a peer study group. For example, you can do a fun Jeopardy-style study game, teach a topic, or just study in the same room.
Do: Take a break
Every study session should include a break. After every hour, take ten to fifteen minutes to scroll, have a snack, or hang out. Pencil in a day off every once in a while for your favorite self-care activity too. It may just be what you need to recharge your battery.
Don’t: Give up
There will be times when you want to throw in the towel. That’s okay—just remind yourself that becoming a nurse is worth it. We promise your hard work isn’t for nothing. Repeat the reason behind why you want to be a nurse and keep pushing through. You’ve got this!
Bonus: Don’t forget to sign up for Picmonic to be your study buddy in nursing school.
