Congratulations! You made it in to a nursing program! So now what? Where do you go from here? How can you sail through the first semester with ease? This post will give you 10 tips to help make the first semester less stressful and even passable. Are you ready? Here we go!
Tip #1: They’re not your average tests. Nursing tests are different than any other test you’ve ever taken. They’re formatted to include a tiny bit of literal knowledge and a lot of application of that knowledge. Your instructors want to ensure that you know the content and can apply it to situations. This is called critical thinking. As long as you study the content well enough you should be able to apply it in the situations provided.
Tip #2: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your instructors WANT you to succeed so if something seems super complex and difficult to understand, ask for help! Sometimes having a concept explained in a different way is all it takes to make it click in your head. Check out your instructor’s office hours to touch base in your off time if you need more help. Also don’t be afraid to speak up in class. Other people may be thinking the same question but don’t feel up to asking so it could be beneficial to more students.
Tip #3: Study, study, study. As I mentioned above you want to know the content to the best of your ability and this requires studying and revision. Make sure you have time set aside in your at home schedule to review your notes and your books. Pay attention to keywords and the tables in your textbook as those can emphasize areas to focus on.
Tip #4: Form a group. If you know that you work well in a group, don’t hesitate to form one to study and share ideas with! Some people do well in groups, even just one other person, can help you retain information better. It also helps keep you accountable to study and learn the information.
Tip #5: Self-care is a must! If there is anything you take away from this post, this would be the tip. Do not forget to take care yourself! Find an outlet to destress, whether that’s exercise, music, a hobby, friends night out. Whatever keeps you level headed and releases tension, add it in to your schedule. You’ll want that stress out of your brain to make room for all that nursing knowledge. 😉
Tip #6: Get a planner. If you haven’t organized your life with a planner yet, this would be a good time to start. You can keep track of deadlines, exams, study times, self-care blocks, and the classes themselves. Also if you’re working while in nursing school, which many students do, you can plan your work schedule around your classes and clinicals. There are many planner options, even electronic ones like Google Calendar, but the one I used the most during school was the Erin Condren Life Planner vertical style. I would use the top boxes for school stuff, the middle boxes for work, and the bottom boxes for home needs. Erin Condren, since I’ve been in school which was forever ago, has also come out with an Academic Planner which is perfect for students because it is organized for class schedules and deadlines already. I do have a referral code (here) to use if you do decide to purchase a planner with Erin Condren. You’ll get $10 to use and so will I. Win win!
Tip #7: Prioritize sleep. You want to make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night to a) feel refreshed and b) allow your brain time to process all you learned throughout the day. 8 hours of sleep is optimal but you also know your body best. If you feel your best after 6 hours of sleep and be fine all day without the sluggish afternoon slump, go for it. But make sure you’re actually getting it. Don’t let stress or studying keep you awake at night. Your brain would have a hard time retaining information in that state. Plus these are people’s lives you’ll be dealing with so you want to be on your A game for being alert.
Tip #8: Invest is good walking shoes. Start taking good care of your feet because as a nurse you’ll be walking A LOT. Get some good shoes that you’ll be comfortable walking in for 8-12 hours a day, depending on how long your clinical days are. Shoes can last a long time and you may even still use them when you begin your career after school so I would think of this when shoe shopping.
Tip #9: Know your learning style. Are you a visual learner? Audio? Tactile? Do you find you retain more information watching videos or by taking notes? It’s important to know this about yourself so that you’re not struggling simply because you’re using the wrong learning style. When it comes to studying, I am a hands on learner and a note taker. I need to try things out in order to learn how to do it and I retain more information when I rewrite my notes later after the initial scribbling. Also if you want to record your classes make sure you check with your instructor to see if it’s okay first.
Tip #10: Prepare for each class before you go. Know what content you’re going to be going over. Read the assigned pages and take notes (if you learn that way). Review the PowerPoint that’s going to be used if it’s available to you. Print out or save the PowerPoint slides so you can add in extra notes as they’re lectured on. It’s way easier to grasp the topics if you prepare ahead of time and then you can ask questions during class.
Do you feel a little less stressed yet? The first semester can definitely seem intimidating but by keeping these tips in mind you can survive it and even pass it! You can do it!
Did any of the tips work for you? I’d love to hear how! Let me know in the comments below.
