RN training programLearning how to care for people through a nursing degree can be exciting. There is much to study including academic classes and basic nursing skills. There are other things to consider as well, especially if you have not worked with sick people before. Regardless of whether you are a second career nursing student or brand new to the college world, you want to be successful in your new endeavor in RN training school! What are some ways to nail your nursing program?

Manage Your Time in Nursing School

Managing your time well is one way to be successful in your schooling. Regardless of whether you are working full- or part-time while in school, or maybe not working at all, time can run away from you. You may find yourself with upcoming deadlines with not enough time to put full energy into the project. Below are four ways to manage time:

Use a Calendar

Some people can keep a calendar in their heads, but when it comes to juggling class work, lab, individual and team assignments, meetings with instructors and study time, it’s best to use a calendar to manage your time. Some people are more comfortable with using a mobile app while others may be more comfortable with a desktop calendar access such as a Google or Outlook calendars. Others may prefer to use a hard copy calendar within a personal organizing book. It is very important for you to be able to quickly access your calendar, make notes, and change task assignments, so bear this in mind when determining how you will create and maintain a calendar.

Prioritize Your Work on a Daily Basis

Like many students, you may be juggling work, a personal life, and school.  You may have a family or have other family commitments. Prioritizing the elements of your life while in school can be vital to your success.

To get started:

  • Keep a rolling task list of items that need to be accomplished.
  • Determine how you will describe your tasks or appointments in three different priority levels. Everything is not critical or a “must do.” Some people use "Critical," "More important," and "Not important."  Others use “Must do,” “Should do” and “Nice to do.” 
  • Every day, look at your calendar and determine what is most critical to complete for the day. 
  • Complete your highest priority items every day. Move the less critical tasks to other days on the calendar.

Realistic Time Allocation

Having unrealistic time allocations for any task may continually keep you behind on completing critical tasks and may create unnecessary stress. Sometimes we think we can get things done quicker than what it really takes to complete the task. For example, sometimes we tell ourselves we can write a two-page research paper in an hour when in reality it takes four. As you begin your schooling:

  • Pay close attention to how much time it takes for everything. Measure the time it takes to drive to school, log in to a website, research articles on your online library, write, and edit a paper, schedule team meetings with colleagues, etc.
  • Maintain a constant state of awareness of how long things take to do, rather than estimating the time.
  • If you absolutely must estimate time to complete a task or project, double the time you are estimating to complete the work. Interruptions DO happen.

Manage Interruptions

You will need plenty of uninterrupted, quiet time during your schooling. Create a plan of action to provide yourself this uninterrupted time to study, write, think, and sometimes, just mentally and physically rest. Some tips to manage interruptions are:

  • Schedule time to write, read, research, collaborate with your fellow students, meet with instructors, or any other school-related tasks you need to complete.
  • Set up your study environment so it is conducive to concentrating, contemplating, and being productive. Some people choose to turn off distracting electronics, alarms, and messages during scheduled time. Others may choose to go to a library for more isolated study time free of personal distractions.
  • Create a way to communicate your scheduled time and priorities to your family or friends to help them be supportive and caring.

Prepare for the Unexpected

In nursing school, you are not only acquiring academic knowledge but also learning how to work with people when they are not at their very best. Patients are scared and the nursing environment can be very busy and stressful. In addition, you may be exposed to things you may have never seen before such as:

  • Body fluids including infected sputum and bowel movements
  • Frank blood
  • Procedures such as blood drawing, inserting IV and catheters or pulling out chest tubes
  • Patients in severe distress
  • Patients on respirators
  • Emotional family members

 You may witness surgery and basic medical procedures requiring nursing assistance. Seeing a patient die can be traumatic. To help move you past your discomfort zone:

  • Talk to your instructor and advisor about your concerns
  • Find a nurse who can mentor you through these clinical “firsts”
  • Partner up with a nursing student “buddy” who can be a “Care Partner” with as both of you experience the new and unexpected
  • Determine resources to help you through the psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of observing death and dying such as a spiritual advisor, coach, or therapist

As a “caring professional” you may always keep the desire to help others. As you proceed with your nursing career, your experience and skills may help you handle difficult situations with more ease. Preparing yourself in advance may be vital to being successful in nursing school training.

Start a Career in Nursing with RN Training School

Interested in a career in nursing? Contact ECPI University today for more information about earning your Associate of Applied Science in Nursing! It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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