Resources to Help Survive Nursing School

 

Valuable Tools to Help Students Succeed in Nursing School

 

The key to surviving nursing school coursework is finding valuable resources. Regardless of how strong one's inner motivation may be, nursing classes can be even more challenging without effective strategies or tools. Useful tools will help every nursing student succeed and prepare them for the fulfilling career ahead. 

 

Quick as a Flash Card

 

Flash cards are a traditional study tool and for very good reason. The hidden information on the backside of the card promotes active recall helping reinforce concepts. Repetition of terms also aids in retention and memorization. Students can use cards both when studying alone or with classmates. Plus, they travel well for easy review just about anywhere. 

 

The most powerful flash cards for nursing students are those that include comprehensive study material. Detailed mechanisms and interpretations at one's fingertips ensure that all pertinent material is covered. Leo Med flash cards are conveniently color-coded by subject and subtopic for visual learners who benefit from organizing information by color. 

 

Nursing students already have enough on their plates without the added task of making homemade flash cards. Leo Med offers comprehensive flash cards in several subjects designed for nursing success. Each deck is developed to prepare nursing students for questions likely to be seen on the NCLEX, ATI, HESI, or RNBC. Pharmacology, one of the most challenging nursing school subjects due to heavy memorization, has its own deck of dedicated nursing pharmacology flash cards. Tricky ECG interpretation, lab values, med-surg, and health assessments are among the many other areas thorough flash cards are offered. 

 

 Assemble a Study Group  

Reviewing material with classmates has benefits over studying alone. A study group with peers can keep students accountable and motivated. Teaching others is proven to reinforce knowledge, while having another person take the time to clarify information promotes understanding. Win/win for all parties! Most nursing students have overlapping course loads, so it can be easy to find one group to study multiple subjects. 

 A useful strategy for group studying is to schedule weekly review sessions for one or two months at a time. These predetermined dates will help keep all participants accountable. It's more difficult for a student to procrastinate or skip studying if a team is counting on them.  

Get Enough Z's  

 

Nursing students understand how important sleep is, but it can be challenging to take their own advice, especially while under severe pressure. Adequate sleep improves one's cognitive performance as well as overall well-being. The brain organizes information during sleep, resulting in retained memories (and stored facts from the nursing pharmacology flash cards earlier in the day). Getting enough sleep is critical to lower stress levels and improves alertness, memory consolidation, the immune system, and mental health.  

 

Without sleep, it can be nearly impossible to focus on coursework. All that hard work and studying will go to waste if the mind does not have an opportunity to recover. To get the recommended 7+ hours of sleep, nursing students must have good time-management skills. 

Pencil It In 

The ability to schedule in the hours of required studying (among all other daily duties) before bedtime can be difficult to master at first. Many nurses and nursing students find success by using a detailed planner. With this method, it's easy to track important dates and control how much time each day one spends on specific activities. Nursing students should include deadlines, study sessions, test dates, and other activities on the calendar. This strategy is particularly important for the nursing student who tends to overcommit themselves or push studying off to the last minute. By penciling in specific times to prepare for a test, a student can confidently walk into exams or clinicals every time. 

Physical fitness, socializing, reading for pleasure, and self-care are often neglected during school years. Students should be sure to schedule these activities into their day to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Time-management is a valuable tool that nursing students will carry into their careers as nurses and utilize for life.  

Tools for a Fulfilling Nursing Career

As caregivers, it can be difficult for nurses to put themselves first. To best care for their patients, nursing students must prioritize their needs. These include sleep, relying on others' support, and seeking out effective resources to aid in studying. Convenient, comprehensive flash cards, among other valuable tools, help nursing students achieve success.