Successful Study Tips for Nursing School

We all have the same 24 hours and 7 days a week and the difference is how we utilize our own time to our own advantage. Here are the following tips and tricks to enhance your studying and be more productive in nursing school.

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Successful Study Tips for Nursing School

Plan Ahead

Before you start your day, create a list of the things you need to do so you can visually see what needs to get done and always a lot time to study. You can either do this night before or during the day of.

As for me, I like to plan ahead. On Sunday nights, I create my weekly schedule. I highlight the most important tasks, which are homework, exams, practicals, and clinicals. I write them on their designated days as my first thing to tackle that day. Then I schedule my normal hours that I have to be in school. After knowing how many hours I have to be in school, I designate blocks before and after class for studying. Block your schedule of all other activities... goal is to study!

Important: In nursing school, you have to have designated blocks every single day for study time in order to be successful. Go over the information little by little in order to retain lectures better.

ADLs on Autopilot

Once you've figured out what the school hours look like create a routine where you wake up the same time each day, shower, eat breakfast, get ready for school, leave the house, lunchtime, dinner, and bedtime. The goal is to keep a consistent schedule. This will help train your brain to be flexible. A consistent routine will allow you to think clearly. This will help you retain any information better.

Creating a routine of your normal daily activities will open up space in your brain for new information. We're assigning your daily activities on autopilot so you do not have to worry about them. The less you worry, the better your body will take in any information you need to take in at any time. Nursing school can be sporadic and you have to allow train yourself to be open to anything that comes your way.

Note Taking

During lectures, you'll need a notebook, a pen, and your powerpoint notes. Notate information on your powerpoint and any added information that is not on your powerpoint in your notebook. Date the notebook page and write every information in bullet points.

The key is writing notes down helps retain the information better. Highlight and/or write as you listen to your lectures. Be present and ask questions or clarifications. This is the only time you can really get to know the material. Everything outside this classroom is between you, your notes, and the book or other resource materials. Go an extra mile and email for more input but you may have to wait for a reply to get your questions answered.

Find References

After the lecture, go over the material and reference the same information in your books or other resource materials. Read anything that is related to the topic you went over in lecture. Then answer NCLEX questions that are related to the topics you have already gone over. Use multiple books that cover the same topic. This will help familiarize yourself in what type of questions they usually ask and how they will be asked. Don't look at the answers until you are done. Take time to read the rationale on all the answers provided.

School Work Stays at School

I try to do everything I need to do before I come home so when I am home I can just be. I schedule all my study time in the library or at school because it helps keep my brain in nursing mode. And no, no naps in nursing school. Your main rest is your bedtime that is why it is very important to schedule bedtime in your routine.

Take Breaks

Find time to take a break. Destress. Decompress. Whatever you call it. I try to watch shows such as The Big Bang Theory or something funny online that will make myself laugh for temporary relief from the stresses and expectations of nursing school. It helps relax your brain after a day's work.

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biobots

About biobots

Ruby is the owner of the blog thenursementor.com

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I think you have some great advice in this post. I particularly agree for the "school work stays at school" tip if you have the time to be able to do that. As a grad. student I have tried to block out more of my time to study and do work at school in the library or coffee shop which is not what I did when I was an undergraduate student. I find that trying to do schoolwork at home doesn't work out as well and I end up being way too distracted (thanks in part to AllNurses.com) but when I am at school it becomes all business. I would definately reccomend that people try this out if they find they can't study at home or otherwise become too distracted.

!Chris :specs:

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