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Arianna
Student
Pearland, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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What is the best way to study for nursing courses in college #Fall25?
What is the best way to study for nursing courses in college? #Fall25
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1 answer
Susana Appiah
MIDWIFE
98
Answers
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Updated
Susana’s Answer
Hello Ariana, thank you for your question.
Just want you to know that Nursing school isn’t about memorizing everything rather it’s about understanding how to think like a nurse. Below is some proven approach used by top-performing nursing students.
1. Learn the “Why” Behind Everything
Nursing exams (especially NCLEX-style questions) test reasoning, not recall.
Instead of memorizing:
“Lasix causes diuresis.”
Understand:
“Lasix pulls fluid off the body → reduces blood pressure → patient may lose potassium → watch for arrhythmias.”
When you understand the why, you never forget the what.
2. Use Active Learning (Not Just Reading)
Passive reading = forgetting
Active learning = remembering
Use these:
Practice questions daily (10–20 a day to start)
Teach concepts out loud (even to an imaginary patient)
Draw charts & mind-maps for systems like cardiac, endocrine, respiratory
The more your brain does, the more you learn.
3. Build a Weekly System
When nursing school starts, EVERYTHING hits at once.
Have this system ready:
Monday – Lecture Preview
Read objectives + skim chapter
→ You’ll understand class better.
After Each Lecture
Rewrite key points in your own words
→ Not notes, but a “mini lesson.”
Weekends
Review ALL weekly topics
Do practice questions
Prepare for next week
Consistency beats cramming.
4. Master These Three Tools Early
These will carry you through nursing school:
a. NCLEX-Style Question Banks
Start practicing early.
Use resources like:
Simple Nursing Q-bank
UWorld (later, for serious prep)
b. Concept Mapping
Turn a disease into a visual map:
Pathophysiology
Signs & symptoms
Labs
Priority nursing actions
Medications
If you can concept-map it, you know it.
c. Study Groups (but smart ones)
Keep it small: 2–3 motivated students only.
Purpose: explain topics, quiz each other, go over hard questions.
5. Study Smarter for Each Course
Nursing courses require different study methods:
Anatomy & Physiology
Draw everything
Watch YouTube animations
Quiz with flashcards
Pharmacology
Group meds by action, not by name
Example: ACE inhibitors → “pril” → lower BP → watch for cough & angioedema.
Fundamentals
Know vital signs
Priority setting (Airway → Breathing → Circulation)
Safety questions (big part of exams)
Pathophysiology
Understand what is happening inside the body, not just symptoms.
6. Treat Nursing School Like a Job
You will succeed if you:
Study 2–3 hours daily
Stay ahead by at least one chapter
Use planners and calendars
Block study time like shifts
Smart structure saves time.
7. Protect Your Mental Health
You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Do this:
Take breaks
Sleep 7–8 hours
Eat well
Move your body
Avoid comparing yourself to others
A healthy nurse thinks better during exams and clinicals.
8. Start Preparing NOW (Before Fall 2025)
Here’s a strong pre-nursing plan:
Review A&P basics
Watch Simple Nursing videos
Start light NCLEX-style practice
Learn medical terminology
Build discipline with a weekly schedule
Just want you to know that Nursing school isn’t about memorizing everything rather it’s about understanding how to think like a nurse. Below is some proven approach used by top-performing nursing students.
1. Learn the “Why” Behind Everything
Nursing exams (especially NCLEX-style questions) test reasoning, not recall.
Instead of memorizing:
“Lasix causes diuresis.”
Understand:
“Lasix pulls fluid off the body → reduces blood pressure → patient may lose potassium → watch for arrhythmias.”
When you understand the why, you never forget the what.
2. Use Active Learning (Not Just Reading)
Passive reading = forgetting
Active learning = remembering
Use these:
Practice questions daily (10–20 a day to start)
Teach concepts out loud (even to an imaginary patient)
Draw charts & mind-maps for systems like cardiac, endocrine, respiratory
The more your brain does, the more you learn.
3. Build a Weekly System
When nursing school starts, EVERYTHING hits at once.
Have this system ready:
Monday – Lecture Preview
Read objectives + skim chapter
→ You’ll understand class better.
After Each Lecture
Rewrite key points in your own words
→ Not notes, but a “mini lesson.”
Weekends
Review ALL weekly topics
Do practice questions
Prepare for next week
Consistency beats cramming.
4. Master These Three Tools Early
These will carry you through nursing school:
a. NCLEX-Style Question Banks
Start practicing early.
Use resources like:
Simple Nursing Q-bank
UWorld (later, for serious prep)
b. Concept Mapping
Turn a disease into a visual map:
Pathophysiology
Signs & symptoms
Labs
Priority nursing actions
Medications
If you can concept-map it, you know it.
c. Study Groups (but smart ones)
Keep it small: 2–3 motivated students only.
Purpose: explain topics, quiz each other, go over hard questions.
5. Study Smarter for Each Course
Nursing courses require different study methods:
Anatomy & Physiology
Draw everything
Watch YouTube animations
Quiz with flashcards
Pharmacology
Group meds by action, not by name
Example: ACE inhibitors → “pril” → lower BP → watch for cough & angioedema.
Fundamentals
Know vital signs
Priority setting (Airway → Breathing → Circulation)
Safety questions (big part of exams)
Pathophysiology
Understand what is happening inside the body, not just symptoms.
6. Treat Nursing School Like a Job
You will succeed if you:
Study 2–3 hours daily
Stay ahead by at least one chapter
Use planners and calendars
Block study time like shifts
Smart structure saves time.
7. Protect Your Mental Health
You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Do this:
Take breaks
Sleep 7–8 hours
Eat well
Move your body
Avoid comparing yourself to others
A healthy nurse thinks better during exams and clinicals.
8. Start Preparing NOW (Before Fall 2025)
Here’s a strong pre-nursing plan:
Review A&P basics
Watch Simple Nursing videos
Start light NCLEX-style practice
Learn medical terminology
Build discipline with a weekly schedule