Getting accepted into nursing school is a huge accomplishment that should be celebrated! Once accepted, the focus switches to succeeding in and graduating from the program. New nursing students will encounter big changes to their lifestyle and daily routine. While some will have the luxury of focusing solely on school and nothing else, most will need to find a way to attend classes and study while working and raising a family. The years of nursing school will not be easy, but with a few lessons, they can be survivable and even smooth sailing. Five lessons that every nursing student should take to heart are to choose their nursing program carefully, set realistic goals for themselves, master the management of their time, balance their other responsibilities, and remember to take care of themselves.
- Choose Your Program Carefully
The first step in getting a handle on nursing education is to choose a nursing program. It is important to look at a number of programs and schools to choose the best fit. While cost and proximity are going to be factors for most potential students, if possible, multiple programs should be researched and campuses should be visited. An internet search can be helpful in quickly revealing the Best Nursing Schools within a potential student’s region. This can be followed up with phone calls and in-person visits to campuses to observe some classes and meet some professors.
- Set Realistic Goals
As with any other field or major task, when a student begins nursing school it is important to set goals that are attainable and realistic. These goals can include things that need to happen on a day-to-day, weekly, semester-wise, and program-wide basis. Students can celebrate goals that are achieved and look back on these when times get hard. It is also helpful to remember these goals to motivate students to work hard and push through the difficult times that lie ahead.
- Master Time Management
Nursing school programs are quite intensive in terms of classes, labs, and clinical rotations that are required. Therefore, it is essential that all students entering nursing school learn the art of time management. Making to-do lists is especially helpful in keeping students on track. Keeping multiple lists of things that need to be accomplished in a day, a week, a month, and a semester is highly beneficial in making sure everything gets done. It is also useful to make a daily schedule that includes a little bit of time to study for the NCLEX so students do not have to cram at the last minute.
- Balance Other Responsibilities
The classes and other requirements of nursing school encompass a full set of responsibilities. In addition to these, most students will have other responsibilities as well. For example, many students need to work to support themselves while in school. Some students have other duties to their spouses and families. Learning to balance these responsibilities will be key in any nursing student’s success. They will need to figure out a way to carve out enough time to attend classes and study while getting to work on time and taking care of their dependents.
- Remember Personal Care
Nursing students are typically on the go all the time. If they are not attending classes, they are studying, at work, or taking care of loved ones. They have excellent time management skills and always find a way to see to all of their responsibilities. One thing they do not always do, but must to succeed, is take care of their own needs. It is imperative that nursing students take the time to eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep. This will ensure their bodies and minds stay healthy.
Attending nursing school can feel like a full-time job. When that is coupled with the lives and responsibilities of most students, it can be overwhelming. However, every nursing student can survive and even thrive if they remember these five important lessons. Keeping these things in mind will help all students from the day they begin school to the day they graduate.
