There is no doubt that nursing is notoriously challenging. With more candidates pursuing degrees in nursing, enduring the competitive environment and preparing for further education is no easy job. And when you want to balance your work, home responsibilities, and education, studying to achieve your goals could seem unconquerable. You start to get distressed.
Loads of material to learn, important terms to memorize, and vital clinical skills are essential elements for every nursing student, even if you use custom term papers.
However, the nursing profession is highly rewarding. As a nurse, you’re given the delicate responsibility of looking after the sick and injured patients. It gives you the privilege to make an impact on people’s lives.
Nurse practitioners are much in demand. The nursing profession is expected to grow 19.4% in the next seven years and is projected to augment more jobs than other healthcare professions. While this is appealing, getting into your desired position won’t be easy. From obtaining a BSN degree to passing challenging certification exams and obtaining licensure, it requires relentless efforts to accomplish your goals.
All you need to do is relax and plan. It takes good planning, time management skills, and some great tips and resources to help make your nursing studies easier.
Consider Online Degrees
It can be hard to manage all the studying and home responsibilities, especially when you have other obligations.
Registered nurses who want to advance their career besides fulfilling their professional duties may desire to take a step up, but the horrifying workload thoughts restrict them. In such a case, enrolling in RN to NP programs online can be the best decision nurses could take.
Online programs offer you more flexibility. You can work, take classes, study, and make your schedule. If you are enrolled in an asynchronous online class, you can study and even communicate with your instructor and class fellows at your convenience.
Fix Study Hours
Time management and prioritizing your studies are vital. The key is to schedule your study time. You can’t study the whole week’s topics in a few hours. Coursework is endless, so make sure you spend a little time on your studies regularly – don’t just ditch it until you feel like studying. Set aside specific hours for study and avoid making any commitments during those hours.
Avoid Cramming
Trying to cram a week’s worth of topics? It’s never good. Cramming excessive information in a short period will only lead to loss of information. You won’t be able to remember that information for a long period.
Ensure you give yourself sufficient time to study everything before your exam. Before you start reading a chapter, skim-read first. Don’t forget to check headings, subheadings, important terms, and highlighted words, and look at the summaries and quizzes at the end of each chapter to know what’s most important.
Focus on Topics Already Covered
Your teachers will provide you with some information you may not find in any books or the internet. They may assign any topics or outside resources to read and review every week. Make sure you focus on the key points they discuss and note those down. What are the topics covered in the class? What topics does your instructor emphasize? Pay attention to everything during class time.
Prevent Burnout
Nurses often experience stressful workdays and unpredictable schedules. Although nurses are courageous and incredible humans, they too get tired and need breaks. After a long hour shift, you might need a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere to get rid of that stress.
Start studying when you get all freshened up. If you spend your entire time working, studying, and doing house chores, you will probably not be able to retain enough information. Take short breaks so you don’t lose interest. Your f hobby, a walk to the nearest mart, or a glimpse of scenery can help revitalize you and improve your focus.
Know Your Learning Style
Every person learns differently: some learn by just reading, some learn by making written notes, some need to hear and discuss, and others may need to watch things to learn. There’s a right way for everyone. You need to discover which way works great for you. Knowing your learning style will help you learn effectively and save time.
Seek Help if Needed
Nursing studies can be overwhelming, but don’t worry; you are not alone in it. Got stuck in one of the topics? You may wonder who you can request for help. There are many options – your classmates, faculty, and staff are all available for academic help. Don’t hesitate to ask. Reaching out to someone for help means you want to learn and enhance your knowledge.
Make connections with your fellows and reach out to them when you need any help. Discussing a tough topic in a group study and asking questions from each other enhances your understanding of the topic.
Here are some resources for nursing students of all levels to help them study better.
Mobile Apps
Staring at a screen for long hours might not be successful for many nursing students. However, you can’t ignore the power of mobile apps for nursing candidates. Whether you need help with anatomy charts and terminologies or want an organizational app for a task checklist or nursing schedules, you can find various useful options. To help ease your search, we have compiled some of the best nursing apps.
- NCLEX RN Mastery
- Epocrates
- Medscape
- NurseGrid
- Human Anatomy Atlas
- Keener
- WebMD
- Med Mnemonics
- Nursing Central
- Nurse’s Pocket Guide
Websites and Blogs for Nursing
When addressing your immediate questions and concerns, you may require resources to help you with them. Online nursing websites allow students to gain knowledge from experts. These include
- Nursing.com
- All Nurses Nursing Student
- Learning nurse
- Nursing and Allied Health Resources
- Nurse Zone Student Nurse
While nursing blogs may not provide you with the information you want, they offer some motivation and perspective to nursing students.
Nursing School Library
Your institute’s library is the biggest resource you can take advantage of. Ensure you have the library card to get your desired material from the in-campus library and easy access to their digital library.
Don’t forget to introduce yourself to the library staff. They are the people who not only help you find the exact book but save your time and make your studies more efficient.
Online Practice Tests and Quizzes
All nurses need to pass challenging exams after their BSN and MSN degrees to receive the nursing certification. If you are studying for the certification exam, consider looking at the online practice tests and interactive quizzes to test your knowledge.
Conclusion
The nursing profession can be demanding. The long shifts and tough schedules alongside your education can leave you feeling exhausted. You get no time to study. It can be difficult for nursing students to manage study and work together. But with the right study tips, realistic planning, and resources, you can learn how to tackle your nursing studies with an optimistic outlook.