How to Not Just Survive Nursing School But How To THRIVE!!

Nursing / September 7, 2019

How to Not Just Survive Nursing School But How To THRIVE!!

I may be a rare breed but I LOVED nursing school! I loved all the knowledge that was at the tip of my fingers! I loved the challenge!

Here are a few tips (probably more than you care to see lol) on how to THRIVE during nursing school ♥

  • Stay organized! I had a Binder for each class. For your Nursing classes you will most likely need a 3inch binder (if not bigger).
  • Buy highlighters, pens and note cards before each semester
  • USE YOUR SYLLABUS AS YOUR BIBLE. Your Syllabus lays out due dates, assignments and your assigned readings.
    1. When you first get your syllabus for each class combine those onto a single calendar I would even color coordinate each assignment to the appropriate class.
    2. I even wrote down my work schedule on this as well. My Life was my calendar!

Here’s an example of a calendar I used for nursing school 😉
  • Before you start Nursing School see what the school charges for ink. I determined it was cheaper to print at school than to use my printer at home. One syllabus alone will be a hundred plus pages! Also you may need to print out power points for lectures ( I think I had to buy ink 2 weeks into nursing school!)
  • If your professor uses PowerPoints, then review them before class and ALWAYS print them out and take notes on them!
  • **Textbooks have online resources, use it to study. They will usually have study guides for each chapter and NCLEX formatted questions
  • As you move further into the semester you will find that you may not have to read every single page of “assigned reading”. I always put my best effort into reading as much as I could! Usually getting almost all of it done. You learn to skim
  • Try to get the reading done before the lecture so you can use lecture as a study session. You will be able to ask great questions and use the lecture to clarify and confusion.
  • Some nursing programs you become a CNA after the first semester or second. GET A JOB AS A CNA!
  • If you plan on working during school, CUT BACK YOU HOURS! You need to be 100% devoted to school. I worked short shifts on weekends, on holidays and during vacation.
    1. I used left over financial aid to help me through school. Some people would say not to do this but I received by ASN with 20,000 in debt but was able to get a job as a RN and go back to get my BSN the next semester and pay for it all out of pocket.
  • Make friends and study together! You will need friends that understand what you are going through. I usually met with my nursing school friends like twice a month to study.
  • Don’t stay up too late. During the week I usually studied from 11a-5p in the Library. I could always get so much more done in the Library! Then I went home and ate dinner showered and went to bed around 9ish.
    1. Class for me was twice a week from 9-11
    2. Clinicals were twice a week (usually like 6-7am to 1-2pm)

MOST IMPORTANTLY THESE ARE TIPS TO HELP YOU THRIVE DURING NURSING SCHOOL. BUT DON’T FORGET TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! LISTEN TO YOUR BODY DON’T OVER DO IT. YOU WILL NOT LEARN ANYTHING IF YOU ARE BURNT OUT. TAKE A WEEKEND HERE AND THERE AND SPOIL YOURSELF, GO OUT WITH FRIENDS ECT.