How to be a Successful Full Time Nursing Student

Currently, I am in nursing school with a full load of classes. This is a new experience for me mainly because I have never had so many college classes at once. And on top of that, nursing school is a whole different ball game when compared to other majors I have studied.

With a full load of classes, I am spread pretty thin. At the beginning of the semester I wasn't sure if I would make it. Today, I am successful in every class and I will give you my tips on how to be a successful full time nursing student.

My first tip is to get rid of negativity. If you start something with a negative attitude, you won't be able to see anything positive about the situation. If you think negative things will happen, negative things will happen. If you believe positive things will happen, positive things will happen.

My second tip is to give 100%. When you give your best, there is no way you can fail. Over the years I have realized that when I truly gave my best, the differences in my grades were huge. Sometimes, you won't always get A's but if you truly work hard and put in the time you will get grades you can be proud of. It took me a while to get to a point where I was working hard and not slacking but I finally figured it out. It's so easy to be lazy but in order to succeed, we have to push beyond our limits.

My third tip is to ask for help if you need it. Admitting ignorance is the first step to gaining knowledge. It's okay to ask for help. If you are uncomfortable asking in class just ask the teacher in private. You can talk to them before or after class, or even send them an email. Teachers appreciate students who ask questions and genuinely seek out help.

My fourth tip is to learn your best study method. There are three main types of learners. The visual learner, the audio learner and the hands on learner. A lot of people learn by using a mixture of these things. I am a visual and hands on learner. I enjoy seeing pictures and using movement to remember different things. I also like to use flash cards. They have been extremely helpful.

My fifth tip is to take breaks. Give your self one day off on any day of the week to not think about school. You can also apply this to studying. While studying, take frequent breaks. Maybe after 30 mins of studying, give your self a 10 min break to get up, stretch and refresh your brain. When you feel like you have to stop, just stop! Go to bed and give it a break. Our brains can only take so much in at once. We have to work with our brains; It will let us know when it needs a break. Usually when my mind starts to wonder or I can't concentrate anymore, it's time for me to take a break.

My last tip is that you avoid cramming. Even though you may do well on the test or quiz, in the long run cramming will not aid in the retention of the information learned. In nursing school or medical school, it is important that the information learned is retained over time because most likely, it will come back in one shape or form.

I have found that it is best to study information for short periods of time everyday rather than to cram for hours right before the test. It takes practice to get used to doing things in advance but it has so many benefits once this skill is learned. For one, you will remember the information long term. And two, you won't have to stress out because you didn't study for the big exam.

" Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."

- John Quincy Adams

I hope these tips help anyone out there and Thanks for reading!

KySmith