“Getting into nursing school is not for the weak-hearted.” We all know this, but do you know what’s more difficult? It’s surviving through nursing school and staying ahead of the curriculum.
So, if you get admission to nursing school, it’s surely something to celebrate. But you can’t let your guard down, as the first year of nursing school can mess up your life in no time.
Thus, we have brought you 12 effective tips to help you become a registered nurse and succeed with the NCLEX strategy tricks. So, let’s dive in!
Build a Solid Foundation of the Basics
A solid foundation is always the key to success, no matter which field you are in. Thus, you must learn how to make your foundation stronger.
If you are wondering why the focus is put on a solid foundation, it’s because every topic you are going to learn is often based on the topic you previously learned. For example, if you don’t know the basics of pulses, how are you going to note the pulses of patients in the future?
In your first year, you will learn about some topics that will feel like a waste of time. But, don’t skip it, as you are going to need it in the future.
Study Efficiently
To study efficiently and retain knowledge better than before, you need to develop effective study habits. Here is a list of some habits that might help you:
- Note down the theories and the areas you find difficult to apprehend. It will help you memorize better and increase your motor memory.
- Make a designated place to study to remain focused on learning without any outer distractions.
- Call up your friends and study together to gain a wider spectrum of knowledge.
- Always use the methods that require you to apply the knowledge to real-life cases, i.e. hands-on learning. For example, you can use practice questions or case studies.
- Make sure to be consistent with your study habits, or else you will lose focus.
These above-mentioned points will help you maintain good habits and retain more of what you learn in the labs and assignments.
Manage Your Time
Learning time management is part of your curriculum. If you want to stay ahead of your nursing school, being prepared is the ideal thing. You can’t just wait for the last moment to get done with your tasks.
Thus, what you must do is note down all your classes, assignments, exams, etc. in a planner. Make a schedule for what you must get done by this day or this week.
So, make sure to create a schedule and go along with it to see the drastic changes.
Set Goals
Nursing school can mess up your life and lead you to stray away from your original goal. Thus, to survive through this tough period, set goals, be they weekly or monthly.
Do you know about the SMART goal-setting strategy? SMART means to set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. You can use this strategy to set goals and maintain consistency.
This strategy helps you stay motivated during the tough times in nursing school.
Get to Know Your Professors
Many alumni of the nursing school have said that getting to know your professors in the early semester is the best tip to succeed.
As the professors have more knowledge than you, they can help you understand the topic better. They can give you practical tips that you can only gain through experience. So, make sure to maintain a good relationship with the teachers.
Remember that they might not have the answer to every problem, but they may help you look for the right solution.
Take Breaks
The overwhelming schedules and assignments of a nursing school can easily tire you out. Thus, it’s better to take breaks when you are going through burnout, or else it might lead to severe issues.
So, make sure that your schedule is not packed with continuous study hours and includes little breaks of 10-15 minutes. It will give your brain time to process all the knowledge.
This tip can help improve your productivity and reach greater results.
Did You Know?
According to a study, nurses walk an average of 4 to 5 miles in a 12-hour shift. It shows how this field takes a toll on the nurses.
Join a Study Group
A study group can help you meet people with different perspectives who will help you understand the topic better. So, find students with similar interests and make a study group.
As your end goal is to pass the NCLEX exam, make sure the students in the study group share the same goal to ensure you don’t have complaining sessions instead of study sessions.
Find a Mentor
A mentor is not always a professor or teacher; it can also be your senior in school. Those senior students can give you real-life solutions, as they have already been through them.
It is better to find a senior student who has already become a nurse. They can help you gain better insight into the whole process of becoming a nurse.
Get to Know Your Learning Style
Every student has a different learning style. Some learn by looking at practical things, while others learn by jotting down the information on paper. Thus, to succeed in nursing school, you need to find the style that suits you.
For example, kinesthetic learners tend to retain knowledge by performing tasks. These students learn best from the hands-on learning method.
So, find your style and use it to your advantage to get the best results in nursing school.
Leverage the Resources Available
One mistake that many students make during their time in school is to rely heavily on textbooks. But you must not do that when there are plenty of online websites offering tutoring lessons and assignment help.
There are also NCLEX-related books that offer practice questions for aspiring students. Thus, make sure you are making the best use of the available resources.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help
If you are having trouble or losing the will to keep going with your studies, we recommend you get help from your family and friends.
You can also have an honest conversation with the teachers you trust and take guidance from them. However, if you are having severe problems focusing on your studies, you must get help from psychologists.
Self-care is Always the Top Priority
As discussed above, you can take a break when necessary. You should give yourself the care you need. Don’t feel guilty about prioritizing your health and mind over the pile of books.
Do not overwork yourself, and make sure to get lots of rest in between the study hours.
Conclusion
Nursing school can be hard for many students, especially in the first year. But, it will pass in no time if you follow the tips mentioned above.
You might feel like quitting one day, but you must remind yourself of your end goal, to become a nurse. Remember to study efficiently, eat regularly, and get a lot of rest!