Nursing School: Tips for Success!
There's a reason nursing school is so challenging. After all, nurses play a critically important role in shaping and saving lives. Nurses are often the first to greet patients in the exam room and the last to wish patients well on their way out of the door after being discharged. Maybe that's why people love nurses, trust them with their lives and rank nursing as the most honest and ethical profession.
With so much on the line, it's easy to see why earning your Bachelors of Science in nursing (BSN) can sometimes seem so difficult. The profession needs the best, brightest, and biggest hearts--and BSN programs prepare you to carry on the tradition of excellence that is synonymous with the profession.
So get ready to work hard, learn a lot and lay the foundation for long, rewarding career by following these seven tips for nursing school success:
Get Organized
In order to succeed in nursing school, you're going to want to make every minute matter. That means getting organized before you start your coursework.
Use a calendar to keep track of assignment due dates. Set specific times (every day) when you'll do your reading. You'll want to stay on top of all your classes, assignments, studying, and make sure you have time for family, fun and work.
Be Smart About Studying
When it comes to studying, the axiom about "planning your work and working your plan" is a good one to follow. You'll want to figure out what matters and what doesn't, and dedicate your time to the things that do.
Don't procrastinate or cram. Avoid distractions. Try to read your textbooks before class. And make sure you're dedicating the majority of your time to the things that truly matter.
Focus
Nursing school is an investment in your future. You're investing time, energy and financial resources today so you can reap the rewards once you graduate. Make the most of it by focusing on school work.
This might mean going out less, spending less time with friends and sometimes forcing yourself to study when you'd rather just sit back and watch some reality television. Focusing on school on the front end will allow you to spend even more time doing the things you love after you've earned your BSN.
Set (Realistic and Healthy) Goals
You're going to be organized. You're going to be smart about studying. And you're going to be focused. But that doesn't mean you need to set out-of-this-world goals for yourself.
Setting realistic goals will help keep you on track, prevent burnout and make you feel like you're making progress -- even when things get difficult. So while it might be nice to study eight hours a day over the weekend, it's probably not realistic or healthy.
Connect with Your Classmates
Your classmates are a great resource for studying, clarifying and keeping yourself (and each other) on track. They're also great for commiserating and blowing off a little steam.
So make sure you connect with your classmates. Join study groups. Hang out. Share questions and concerns. They are an invaluable and free resource that can make your nursing school experience a great one.
Ask for Help
For many people, asking for help is incredibly difficult. Some see it as a sign of weakness. Others are shy. Then there are those who simply never think about asking someone else for assistance.
But once you overcome your aversions, asking for help is incredibly empowering. Your instructors are great resources who actually get paid to help you. So ask them. You can also seek out practicing nurses, who have walked the same path through nursing school that you're currently taking. Many are more than happy to help -- if you ask.
You'll probably be surprised how easy asking for help is once you actually do it for the first time.
Have Fun
Nursing school can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and fun. Soak it all in -- the classroom discussions, the new friendships and knowledge, and the excitement of building a brighter future for yourself.
Also, make sure to make time for fun outside of the classroom. While you might not have the same amount of time for fun that you did before you started nursing school, you should still make it a point to take care of yourself and enjoy life. Making time for fun is a great way to fight fatigue, burnout, and feelings of frustration.
Join the Ranks of the Most Trusted Profession
If you think you would thrive in the nursing profession and are interested in earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, ECPI University could be the right university for you. With accelerated classes, you could earn your degree sooner and start working faster. To take the next step, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
Gainful Employment Information – Bachelor’s to BSN
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.