3 answers
Damaris
Student
Cleveland, Tennessee
1
Question
Asked
234 views
Nurses, was nursing school hard? If so, what can I do to prepare for it?
Im a college student finishing up my prerequisites for the nursing program at my college. I’m sort of nervous about nursing school because I’ve been seeing a lot of Tiktok’s about it lately and how a lot of people were underprepared for it.
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3 answers
Julian Moreno MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, CRRN, CDP
Registered Nurse
8
Answers
Middletown, New Jersey
Updated
Julian’s Answer
Nursing school is challenging, and one can never be fully prepared for its demands. The key is to be adaptable to the material you are learning and to take notes in an organized manner that suits your understanding. Always come prepared with questions for your professors, facilitators, or instructors.
Creating flashcards, using binders, highlighting and underlining important information, color-coding notes, and cross-referencing materials is important. Organize medications by system and familiarize yourself with the nursing process: ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation), Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the five stages of grief, and system-by-system assessments, interventions, medications, and treatments.
Form study groups to share the workload and divide assignments into manageable chunks using the Pomodoro technique. Always verify what you’ve learned with evidence-based practice (EBP), peer-reviewed materials, and official sources from nursing governing bodies. Focus first on the subjects that are more challenging for you, then move on to those you find more familiar.
Additionally, I recommend seeking the help of a study group or a mentor to help identify any areas where you might have knowledge gaps.
Key Points on Succeeding in Nursing School
1. Acknowledge the Difficulty
- Nursing school is challenging; being adaptable is essential.
2. Note-Taking and Organization
- Take notes in an organized manner that aids your understanding.
- Example: Use color coding for different topics, create a separate binder for each subject.
3. Engage with Instructors
- Always have questions ready to ask professors and facilitators.
- Example: Prepare a list of questions related to confusing topics before class or during office hours.
4. Flashcards and Study Tools
- Create flashcards, highlight important information, and cross-reference materials.
- Example: Use apps like Quizlet to make digital flashcards for medications or key concepts.
5. Organize by System
- Arrange information on medications and assessments by body systems.
- Example: Create a chart that lists medications under their respective systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory).
6. Learn Key Nursing Concepts
- Familiarize yourself with:
- Nursing Process (ADPIE)
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- The 5 Stages of Grief
- Example: Create a visual diagram to understand Maslow’s Hierarchy.
7. Form Study Groups
- Collaborate with peers to divide and conquer study material.
- Example: Schedule regular study sessions where each member teaches their assigned topic.
8. Use the Pomodoro Technique
- Split assignments into manageable chunks to enhance focus and retention.
- Example: Study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat.
9. Verify Information with Evidence-Based Practice
- Always refer to peer-reviewed material and sources from nursing governing bodies.
- Example: Use databases like PubMed to find and cross-check the latest research.
10. Focus on Challenging Subjects First
- Prioritize studying the topics that you find difficult.
- Example: If pharmacology is tough, allocate more time to it before moving on to easier subjects.
11. Seek Help from Mentors or Study Groups
- Identify knowledge gaps with the help of peers or mentors.
- Example: Schedule a regular check-in with a mentor to discuss areas of difficulty.
Reflection:
1. What strategies worked best for me during my study sessions, and how can I refine them further?
2. Did I effectively utilize resources like peer-reviewed articles and study groups? If not, what barriers did I face?
3. How did my understanding of challenging subjects improve over time, and what specific changes in my study habits made a difference?
https://friend.ucsd.edu/reasonableexpectations/downloads/Cirillo%20--%20Pomodoro%20Technique.pdf
https://www.nrvcs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Maslows-Heirarchy-of-Needs.pdf
https://nursingschoolofsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/The-Nursing-Assessment-Cheat-Sheet-ADPIE-1.pdf
https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/stages-of-grief-education
Creating flashcards, using binders, highlighting and underlining important information, color-coding notes, and cross-referencing materials is important. Organize medications by system and familiarize yourself with the nursing process: ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation), Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the five stages of grief, and system-by-system assessments, interventions, medications, and treatments.
Form study groups to share the workload and divide assignments into manageable chunks using the Pomodoro technique. Always verify what you’ve learned with evidence-based practice (EBP), peer-reviewed materials, and official sources from nursing governing bodies. Focus first on the subjects that are more challenging for you, then move on to those you find more familiar.
Additionally, I recommend seeking the help of a study group or a mentor to help identify any areas where you might have knowledge gaps.
Key Points on Succeeding in Nursing School
1. Acknowledge the Difficulty
- Nursing school is challenging; being adaptable is essential.
2. Note-Taking and Organization
- Take notes in an organized manner that aids your understanding.
- Example: Use color coding for different topics, create a separate binder for each subject.
3. Engage with Instructors
- Always have questions ready to ask professors and facilitators.
- Example: Prepare a list of questions related to confusing topics before class or during office hours.
4. Flashcards and Study Tools
- Create flashcards, highlight important information, and cross-reference materials.
- Example: Use apps like Quizlet to make digital flashcards for medications or key concepts.
5. Organize by System
- Arrange information on medications and assessments by body systems.
- Example: Create a chart that lists medications under their respective systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory).
6. Learn Key Nursing Concepts
- Familiarize yourself with:
- Nursing Process (ADPIE)
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- The 5 Stages of Grief
- Example: Create a visual diagram to understand Maslow’s Hierarchy.
7. Form Study Groups
- Collaborate with peers to divide and conquer study material.
- Example: Schedule regular study sessions where each member teaches their assigned topic.
8. Use the Pomodoro Technique
- Split assignments into manageable chunks to enhance focus and retention.
- Example: Study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat.
9. Verify Information with Evidence-Based Practice
- Always refer to peer-reviewed material and sources from nursing governing bodies.
- Example: Use databases like PubMed to find and cross-check the latest research.
10. Focus on Challenging Subjects First
- Prioritize studying the topics that you find difficult.
- Example: If pharmacology is tough, allocate more time to it before moving on to easier subjects.
11. Seek Help from Mentors or Study Groups
- Identify knowledge gaps with the help of peers or mentors.
- Example: Schedule a regular check-in with a mentor to discuss areas of difficulty.
Reflection:
1. What strategies worked best for me during my study sessions, and how can I refine them further?
2. Did I effectively utilize resources like peer-reviewed articles and study groups? If not, what barriers did I face?
3. How did my understanding of challenging subjects improve over time, and what specific changes in my study habits made a difference?
https://friend.ucsd.edu/reasonableexpectations/downloads/Cirillo%20--%20Pomodoro%20Technique.pdf
https://www.nrvcs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Maslows-Heirarchy-of-Needs.pdf
https://nursingschoolofsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/The-Nursing-Assessment-Cheat-Sheet-ADPIE-1.pdf
https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/stages-of-grief-education
Cara Long
Dialysis Clinic Manager
2
Answers
Overland Park, Kansas
Updated
Cara’s Answer
Hi Damaris! Great job on your prerequisites! That's no easy feat!
Getting to your question, yes, nursing school is hard. But as mentioned in another answer, your journey is your own. Nursing school takes all kinds of people. I was the only like me in my nursing school class. I have my own set of strengths, which are not like anybody else's. One day, you may struggle, while the next day you may be able to help your classmate because you have such a natural understanding of the classroom content that day!
So, yes, nursing school is difficult. I have multiple degrees, but my nursing degree was the toughest to obtain. HOWEVER, it does exceptionally well in challenging each student and letting them determine what they are made of. You'll have to dig deep some days to really understand. But, and I promise you this, you will never be more proud of yourself than when you become a part of the greatest and most trusted profession in the world!! It's ALL WORTH IT!! Their journey is not your journey. Stop comparing.
Getting to your question, yes, nursing school is hard. But as mentioned in another answer, your journey is your own. Nursing school takes all kinds of people. I was the only like me in my nursing school class. I have my own set of strengths, which are not like anybody else's. One day, you may struggle, while the next day you may be able to help your classmate because you have such a natural understanding of the classroom content that day!
So, yes, nursing school is difficult. I have multiple degrees, but my nursing degree was the toughest to obtain. HOWEVER, it does exceptionally well in challenging each student and letting them determine what they are made of. You'll have to dig deep some days to really understand. But, and I promise you this, you will never be more proud of yourself than when you become a part of the greatest and most trusted profession in the world!! It's ALL WORTH IT!! Their journey is not your journey. Stop comparing.
Muhammad Osama Afzal
Master of Public Health Student
7
Answers
Berlin, Germany
Updated
Muhammad Osama’s Answer
Hello, first of all switched off all the social media so it can easily focused your mind towards your goals & secondly every person on this earth has different experience so don't compare your career by watching those tiktok videos & decide whether to get into it or not. So stay focus Damaris you are intelligent thats why you have completed your prerequisites & always show "Can-Do" attitude. Best of Luck Thanks!