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Alyssa
Student
Winterville, North Carolina
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What is the best piece of studying advice you've been given?
I am a 17-year-old transferring to a four-year college in the fall. I plan to major in nursing. I have enough prerequisites, so I am able to apply to nursing school in the spring. While I have good study habits, I know that nursing school is hard, and I'm worried that the habits I have might not be enough. Does anyone have any tips?
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Brandyn Knight
Operations Supervisor, Owner - Life & Career Coach
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Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Brandyn’s Answer
One of the best pieces of studying advice I’ve ever received is this: “Don’t just study to memorize—study to understand and apply.” That mindset shift is especially important in nursing school, where you’ll need to think critically under pressure and apply knowledge to real-life situations.
Since you're heading into a challenging and rewarding field like nursing, here are some study tips that can help elevate your already good habits:
Top Study Tips for Nursing Students:
1. Study in Layers
Start with the basics (definitions, key concepts), then move into deeper understanding (how things work), and finally, focus on application (how you’d use this knowledge in a clinical setting).
2. Use Active Recall & Spaced Repetition
Tools like Anki or Quizlet flashcards work well for memorizing diseases, medications, lab values, and processes. Review frequently over time to retain more.
3. Study Like You’ll Teach It
Try explaining a topic out loud as if you’re teaching it to someone else. This helps lock in your understanding and identify gaps.
4. Form or Join a Small Study Group
Discussing content with peers helps reinforce concepts and gives you different ways to understand difficult material. Make sure it stays focused!
5. Make Use of Visual Aids
Nursing requires you to know a lot of anatomy and physiology. Diagrams, concept maps, and videos can make complex information easier to grasp.
6. Practice NCLEX-Style Questions Early
Start doing practice questions as soon as possible. It builds test-taking skills and trains your brain to apply knowledge rather than just recall it.
7. Take Care of Your Body and Mind
Nursing school is intense, so protect your energy. Prioritize sleep, movement, and stress management—you’ll think more clearly and retain more when you feel good.
Download a free NCLEX question app (like UWorld or SimpleNursing) to start practicing early.
Talk to upperclassmen in your nursing program to learn what helped them most.
Try using the Pomodoro technique (25 min study / 5 min break) for focused sessions.
Ask professors for clarification right away if you’re stuck on something—don't wait until exam time.
Consider getting a planner or app (like Notion or Google Calendar) to map out study times, exams, and assignments.
Since you're heading into a challenging and rewarding field like nursing, here are some study tips that can help elevate your already good habits:
Top Study Tips for Nursing Students:
1. Study in Layers
Start with the basics (definitions, key concepts), then move into deeper understanding (how things work), and finally, focus on application (how you’d use this knowledge in a clinical setting).
2. Use Active Recall & Spaced Repetition
Tools like Anki or Quizlet flashcards work well for memorizing diseases, medications, lab values, and processes. Review frequently over time to retain more.
3. Study Like You’ll Teach It
Try explaining a topic out loud as if you’re teaching it to someone else. This helps lock in your understanding and identify gaps.
4. Form or Join a Small Study Group
Discussing content with peers helps reinforce concepts and gives you different ways to understand difficult material. Make sure it stays focused!
5. Make Use of Visual Aids
Nursing requires you to know a lot of anatomy and physiology. Diagrams, concept maps, and videos can make complex information easier to grasp.
6. Practice NCLEX-Style Questions Early
Start doing practice questions as soon as possible. It builds test-taking skills and trains your brain to apply knowledge rather than just recall it.
7. Take Care of Your Body and Mind
Nursing school is intense, so protect your energy. Prioritize sleep, movement, and stress management—you’ll think more clearly and retain more when you feel good.
Brandyn recommends the following next steps: