Essential Tips for Nursing School Success: What You Need to Know
Summer is almost over, and with the end of one season comes the start of another—nursing school. For first-year nursing students, the first semester can seem daunting and overwhelming. New classes mean new changes, workloads, and a new beginning for an exciting career.
What should first-year nursing students expect?
Since nursing students are starting their experience in the field, their first year is to introduce them to nursing prerequisites and clinicals.
Some examples of responsibilities nursing students will have within their first year include classes on anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and other fundamentals of nursing. Your classes can also include hands-on activities and a mix of labs and lectures. Clinicals will test your lab skills and will be the start of nursing basics like administering vitals, giving shots, and conducting full-body assessments.
Some nurses say that their first year of nursing school is the hardest. This isn’t necessarily because of the coursework but the transition into nursing while learning the ins and outs of properly taking care of a patient.
So, take care of yourself as you face this transition in your life. You’re on your way to becoming an actual nurse! As exciting as that sounds, it’s also scary because you never know what’s on the other side of all of the work you’re about to do.
Remember that learning nursing skills can take practice, and it’s easier for you to take time to learn the expertise needed on the job instead of expecting yourself to have it all figured out the first semester.
To help you successfully navigate this journey, here are some tips that can help you adjust to life as a nursing student.
Use the resources you have.
You’d be surprised at how many resources you have when looking around. Read the materials given to you on orientation day, or stop by your school’s student services to find more (free!) opportunities available to you as a student. You never know what you might find.
Taking the extra 10 minutes to read assignment instructions, the syllabus, or any other material you have can save you from asking additional questions at the end of the day.
Ask questions that feel “dumb.”
Yes, you’ve probably been told that there are no “dumb questions,” but when it comes to a patient’s well-being, it’s worth asking a question someone else might have, too.
If you feel anxious about doing this, practice asking questions to an advisor first, and then build confidence in larger rooms with multiple students.
Your instructors and advisors are there to help you succeed. Even if you think you might have asked a question that doesn’t make sense and embarrassed yourself, at least you know you’ve done it to avoid potentially hurting a future patient.
Create a routine tailored to your needs.
The first week of classes can feel hectic, but eventually, you can settle in and find a study schedule that works for you.
Strategies to help you stay organized and avoid missing deadlines include getting a calendar you can see daily and writing down upcoming deadlines. Another tip is to fill out a planner with all future assignments’ due dates and exams.
Find what self-care routines work for you.
Carving out time for self-care is as important as time spent learning. We all need breaks now and then, including nursing students who may think that time spent not studying is “wasting” time.
Good grades are essential, but they’re not everything. Designate space to refill your tank with activities away from school that make you feel good. This looks different for everyone, but some examples are exercising, getting enough sleep, or even something small like eating lunch with a friend.
Even though you’ll probably have strong emotions starting the new semester, know that this moment won’t last forever. The struggle of long nights studying will likely include making new connections with aspiring nurses who understand what you’re going through. Hang in there, and remember to be kind to yourself throughout your nursing journey.
