Nursing School Study tips & habits

sharpeimom · May 5, 2014

Join a study group

Use the learning center (may have another name at your school) as needed. Using it doesn't mean you're dumb.

Ask before you tape lectures because while many instructors don't mind, some get furious. Don't try to get sneaky!

It helped me to have a separate notebook (yes, I'm OLD!) for each class.

Highlight what you feel is important in your books if you haven't rented them. That makes finding the important stuff easier

when you need it.

If you can't afford a book/workbook and your books don't come bundled, rent what you need. Never try to skip buying a required book or books. If you can afford it, some of my husband's students have hard copies to study in their dorm rooms or at home plus ecopies to take to class because they're lighter.

Stay up-to-date with your homework and studying because it's impossible to learn all at once. Don't try to learn everything for a test all at once. Learning tings as you go makes it stay with you better.

Don't try to ask your professor or instructor a whole bunch of questions in class or right after class ends. Instead, make an appointment during office hours. If you absolutely cannot make it during office hours, most professors will meet when it's

convenient for you. My husband puts his cell phone number and email address at the top of every syllabus and, believe me, his

students use both!

Be on time for class, clinicals, study groups, labs, etc.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 5, 2014

Moved to AN's General Nursing Student for member advice.

nursinglove15 · May 5, 2014

Use a planner! Staying organized is one of the most beneficial things you can do in nursing school.

Stay on top of your assignments, read ahead as much as possible, and take notes during lecture.

You also need to figure out what type of learner you are (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.). This will save you A LOT of valuable time and keep you from studying in ways that don't benefit you.

Good luck! (:

jbward · May 5, 2014

Thank you so much for your advice, It is more than helpful. I will definitely put it to use. Oh, and I am also "old" haha. Again, thank you.

jamiee13 · May 5, 2014

Make sure to review something daily! I'm in my 6th week of nursing school and time is flying by. Missing even a night or two of studying in a week throws me off. I also made notecards and kept them in my purse and would pull then out and review them ever chance I get. I bought a tablet because most instructors lecture from power points so I go along and take more detailed notes if needed. Good luck!

krisiepoo · May 5, 2014

Make sure you get enough sleep and get some exercise several times a week... I found that eating healthy, exercising (I trained for and ran a marathon) and getting 7-8 hours/sleep each night really helped me (didn't start this until the 2nd semester, HUGE difference).

Use a planner. I worked FT and went to school FT so I was meticulous in planning as much as I could. I had my meals planned out, shopped and prepared on the weekends.

RenaBoz · May 5, 2014

Ditto all if the above. Prep for lecture - study material prior to lecture so it's not the first time you're seeing it. I've also found downloading NCLEX prep apps are helpful for studying. I'm using NCLEX mastery and it's broken down into subjects with rationales for answers. It's great for unexpected down time!

mrsboots87 · May 5, 2014

TIME MANAGEMENT! This is key. Make sure you plan in review and homework time for every day. But also make sure to make some time for you. Its hard to stay focused if you don't have some you time for TV, nails, hair, art, playing with your kids (if you have any), whatever makes you feel good. If you are in a relationship, make sure they understand that nursing school comes first, but also make some time for them too. My planner is my best friend. Don't get behind. There is so much new info thrown at you each week, that it is very hard to catch up. If you do get behind, it is better to just skip what you missed until you get a light week then to try and catch up and remain behind.

After every lecture, review your notes within a day or two to reinforce what you have learned. Then make sure to keep reviewing periodically to keep it in your mind. You cant cram for tests, so staying on top of reviewing things periodically will help you to actually learn and be able to apply the concepts to the test.

Nursing tests are probably like nothing you have ever encountered. Get a good NCLEX test review or strategy book. It will get you prepared for the tests by giving rationales behind right and wrong answers, and will also give you test strategies just for how to read what the question is looking for and answer it.

GL and get ready for a fast paced ride for the next few years!