In the 2022-2023 school year, about 255,000 students were enrolled in entry-level Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree programs, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Approximately 230,000 additional students were enrolled in Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
With the U.S. experiencing a nationwide nursing shortage, it’s imperative that these students make the most of their education and join the workforce fully prepared to begin providing excellent healthcare.
If you’ve taken the plunge and enrolled in a nursing program, you’ll soon discover the importance of studying. Whether you’re pursuing a BSN, an MSN, an RN to BSN, or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), becoming familiar with nursing school tips for studying can help you get the most out of your nursing education.
Importance of Studying in Nursing School
Studying is important in any educational pursuit, but it’s particularly important for individuals in nursing school. While in nursing school, aspiring nurses are learning the skills that they’ll put to use on the job, so it’s critical that they study well and understand how to perform their future duties.
Students in nursing school are constantly building the clinical competence that will enable them to care for patients. In addition to learning from coursework, students learn from their instructors, their clinical experiences, their peers, and their patients.
Knowing how to study while in nursing school can give students a feeling of control over their educational experience; this can translate into greater educational success. Studying regularly also can:
- Strengthen problem-solving skills
- Build the ability to apply critical thinking
- Enhance communication skills
- Elevate a sense of achievement
- Boost creativity
7 Nursing School Study Tips
Becoming familiar with nursing school study tips is important in achieving success for any aspiring nurse. The specific tips outlined below are examples of approaches that nursing students can consider.
1. Manage Your Time Wisely
Striving for good time management from day one is essential in nursing school. For example, it’s important to do the following:
- Plan your essential tasks each week.
- Stay on schedule, and avoid putting work off until the last minute.
- Devote time to your studies every day. The more you’re immersed in your studies, the faster you’ll get up to speed.
2. Create Your Own Study Aids
Making study aids also can be helpful for nursing students. For example, students can:
- Print out key terms from textbooks or online materials, and carry them as study aids to use at any time.
- Generate flash cards from study notes, and use them to test knowledge.
3. Try Specific Study Techniques
Another good nursing school tip for studying is to try using specific techniques that are designed to get the most out of study time. For example, students can do the following:
- Read everything new three times: first, to become familiar with the content; second, to comprehend the material; and third, to memorize and master the material.
- Form or join a study group to share notes and discuss course materials.
- Consider rewriting lecture notes, not simply to document them well but to develop a greater understanding of their content.
- Draw concept maps that show the relationships among concepts.
4. Develop Good Sleep Habits
Start early each day to stay ahead of the workload. To rise early, you also will need to go to bed early.
Remember that getting sleep isn’t negotiable. You must have adequate sleep for your brain to learn, memorize, make new connections, organize information, render crucial repairs, and perform essential nightly maintenance functions.
Sleep deprivation can be dangerous. Don’t join the ranks of sleep-deprived individuals slogging through their daily routines with compromised reaction times; reduced decision-making capacity; impaired judgment; and diminished capacity to learn, adapt, and reason.
Getting adequate sleep may be the single most important thing you do on a daily basis as you study. It will help keep you sharp and give you the energy to forge ahead.
5. Avoid the Temptations of Phones and Social Media
Recognize that your phone is a potential source of distraction, and try to ignore the temptation to look at it frequently.
The same advice applies to social media. While social media has its place, don’t let it absorb a significant amount of your study time.
6. Take Care of Your Physical Health
All students need to pay attention to their physical health. As a nursing student, you’ll need good, solid nutrition. You’ll need adequate calories, but not all calories are created equal. Calories from complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, are released into the bloodstream much more steadily than calories from refined carbohydrates, such as sugar or starchy foods like white potatoes. Keeping your blood sugar steady enables you to focus, learn, and concentrate. Allowing your blood sugar levels to oscillate wildly due to a poor diet can make concentrating especially challenging.
Nursing students also need plenty of fruits and vegetables to get the fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are linked to better health. Omega-3 fatty acids, from fatty fish like salmon or tuna, are also essential nutrients that your body must have because they play an integral role in the physical composition of your brain cells.
7. Consider Using Study Apps
When considering study tips for nursing school, don’t forget that several apps are available to help nursing students get the most out of their education and enhance their understanding of concepts. For example, students can use apps that do the following:
- Answer specific clinical questions
- Provide detailed information on anatomy
- Offer the latest medical news
- Identify and explain specific medications
- Help in making diagnoses and developing treatment plans
- Aid in staying organized and on schedule
Following Nursing School Tips Can Help Nursing Students Get the Most Out of Their Education
Going to nursing school is a rewarding challenge that can lead to a fulfilling career. Employing tips for studying in nursing school can enable students to maximize their learning experience and be prepared to care for patients.
Individuals who are interested in pursuing nursing can explore the programs that Denver College of Nursing offers to learn how they can help in achieving nursing career goals. Denver College of Nursing offers the following degree programs:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (Denver, Colorado, campus)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas, campuses)
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (online)
- Master of Science in Nursing (online)
Offering educational opportunities at entry-level and advanced points on the nursing career path, these programs can set the stage for a satisfying career in nursing. Start your nursing education journey today.
Recommended Readings
Nursing School Test-Taking Strategies
Survive the Stress as You Navigate Through Nursing School
Top Tips for First-Year Nursing Students