Staying healthy and well Taking care of your emotional health Learning nursing curriculum Meeting and connecting with faculty members Achieving particular test scores and competencies Practicing patient-centered and person-focused care Finding your professional interest Learning and practicing safe therapeutic interventions Building your nursing resume with experience, internships, clinicals, volunteering, and research projects Staying organized and efficient Practicing self-care
Try making a list of priorities like school, family, friends, exercise, etc. If nursing school isn’t within the top few priorities on your list, you may need to do some rearranging in order to achieve your goals as a nursing student.
Try studying in one-hour blocks. Study for the first 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break before beginning the next study block. Find a study buddy or study group. Your fellow students likely come from a wide variety of backgrounds and can be a great source of support. Focus really hard on learning the concepts and earning the best grades possible.
Many nursing schools have simulation laboratories to mimic a hospital or clinic environment. They’re a great opportunity to practice your hands-on skills before going into rotations.
For example, if you want to work as an emergency room RN and the local hospital announces an internship, apply for it! If you set a goal of learning how to effectively communicate with diverse patient populations, attend a local conference on the subject. Learn about how patient care differs between working in a hospital, clinic, school, or community center so you can find which area you fit in best.
Talk to your nursing professors about how you can utilize the nursing curriculum from your program to study for licensure and certification exams. Your nursing curriculum will prepare you for questions on the NCLEX. As long as you do well in your regular curriculum, you should easily pass the NCLEX. Consider taking an NCLEX preparation course to help you achieve the passing standard for the exam.
Set aside time on the weekend to prepare healthy snacks and/or meals for the upcoming week. Set aside time for a walk several times a week. Set up an appointment with a mental health professional if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They can help you manage the stress and anxiety that often comes with being a nursing student. Take supplements to keep your immune system strong. Make sure you get all of your immunizations to help prevent community-spread illnesses.
Soak in a long, hot bath after a long day at school. Make your Saturday morning yoga class a priority. Invest in supportive, comfortable shoes. As a nursing student, you will be on your feet for many hours at a time.
