There’s no question that nursing school is challenging. When you are in nursing school and juggling it with other responsibilities, it would seem like there is a lot of work to do. At a point, you could get stuck and begin to wonder how you are to get all of the chapters read, review notes, prepare for the nursing exam and retain all of the vital information that you need to easily pass nursing school.
Nursing school is not a walk in the park. It does take some strategy and planning. You must have to be ready to do whatever it takes. A great mindset is the first step towards passing nursing school. You can also use any of the 15 study tips to make you easily pass nursing school below. Keep reading to see them.
Table of contents
- What is Nursing School?
- What are the requirements for attending nursing school?
- How much does it cost to attend Nursing School?
- How do I succeed in Nursing School?
- 15 Study Tips to Make you Easily Pass Nursing School
- 1. Follow the nursing exam study guide
- 2. Study a little every day
- 3. Focus on the material covered in class
- 4. Think in terms of action, not facts
- 5. Form a study group
- 6. Skim-read first
- 7. Use outside sources
- 8. Know your learning style
- 9. Use downtime as study time
- 10. Take breaks
- 11. Prioritize quality study time
- 12. Follow the rubric
- 13. Embrace online learning
- 14. Use your strengths to your advantage
- 15. Don’t hesitate to ask for help
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
What is Nursing School?
Nursing school is a kind of educational qualification needed to become a fully certified nurse. Nursing school is quite tasking and difficult. It would require high GPAs and impressive scores in Math, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology and other demanding subjects for you to even get accepted.
In getting into nursing school, you must determine the type of nurse you want to be and the level of nursing education you need. Make sure the school has accreditation and also a strong curriculum to ensure that the programs are created equally. It is important to examine a particular programs approach to care.
In a nursing school, you could get a diploma in Nursing, Licensed Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Philosophy.
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What are the requirements for attending nursing school?
In applying to a nursing school, even though each school has their own peculiar requirements, the general requirements needed are-
- Official transcript of records (grade list)
- GPA scores
- A resume with relevant experience in the field of Nursing
- Letters of recommendation from past teachers or employers
- A letter of motivation or personal essay
- Proof that you paid the required application fee
How much does it cost to attend Nursing School?
On the question of how much a nursing school cost, it depends on the school of study and what degree in nursing you are hoping to attain. With nursing degree costs, tuition rates vary greatly. At a public university, you might pay anywhere between $3,000-$10,000 per year, or $6,000-$20,000 overall for the degree.
Nursing school fees are not cheap. You have to start on time to save up towards it if you want to go through with your studies without much difficulties. It should also be noted that in attending nursing school, there are other costs which could be included. Nursing schools which require you pay acceptance fee or application fee would add additional costs. You must find out the cost of the nursing school you intend to attend before actually applying.
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How do I succeed in Nursing School?
Successfully completing nursing school is a major commitment, but one that you can easily handle with a plan, some good study tips and the right approach to studying. Focus is crucial for retention and your success in nursing school. You must be able to make sure you stand out. The career is rewarding, challenging and always exciting. You just have to be sure you know what you want out of it and be ready to take it.
15 Study Tips to Make you Easily Pass Nursing School
1. Follow the nursing exam study guide
In nursing school, most of the time, a study guide is usually given. Instead of reading all round, it would benefit you more if you follow the nursing exam study guide. You can also do this very effectively by focusing most part of your learning on the NCLEX test. If you always study with the nursing guide, you would tend to know at least 73% of answers on that day.
It would also make you feel more confident in yourself, and confidence is a huge factor to your passing your nursing school. Ensure you do not ignore the nursing study guide until the last minute. Even though most students can wait until the last days, begin cramming and get away with it; you on the other hand cannot do this. In ensuring you easily pass nursing school, you must internalize what you have read and not just cramming.
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2. Study a little every day
This is a study tip that is most time neglected. When you read a little every day, on the long run, you would find that you have covered quite a lot. Nursing schools scheme of work can be quite bulky. It would be very difficult and almost impossible for you to cram everything when your exams are a few days away. By studying a little every day, you would feel less overwhelmed and retain more information. Study shows that if you find it hard to do this, you should attempt to sit quietly for 5mins every morning for 7days. As every new week passes, add a few more minutes and before you know it you have developed the practice of studying a little every day.
3. Focus on the material covered in class
It is no news that nursing school has one of the bulkiest books to read. You must have to attend classes. Your teachers are prone to given what has been taught in class as tests. You should focus on the materials that have been covered in class. Your teachers could give you chapters to read and resources to review. If you focus on these materials plus focus on the material covered in class, you have a high chance of successfully passing nursing school. In focusing on the materials covered in class, ensure you do one thing at a time in other to get the full focus and knowledge you need to get from it. If you have a lot of class materials to focus on, you can make it easier for yourself by making a list of goals or to-do-list in the order you intend to read them. Make sure the notebooks and notes are also very well organized. It would help you stay focused.
4. Think in terms of action, not facts
As a student in nursing school, it is important for you to understand why things happen and what is going on with any patient at any particular time. When you focus on the action and not just the facts read in your book, it helps and ensures that what you have read retains faster and more permanently. When studying nursing, your interest should be to put the fact you have received into action, in a way it would help your patients.
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5. Form a study group
A study group is a brilliant means for students who mostly study the same course to come together, compare class notes and figure out things that are unclear. Research shows that students who study with peers retain approximately 90% of what they learn, as opposed to just 60% of what they hear in class alone and just 10% of what they read. Studying in a study group, you would be encouraged to do more.
Any questions that you have would be solved collectively as a group and you would have moral support in case of any difficulties. In a study group, you should expect that everyone put your heads together to share study tips and improve your performance. Since everyone has individual talents and unique insights, group members can learn from each other.
6. Skim-read first
Nursing school requires a lot of reading. Skimming is a strategic selective reading method in which you focus on the main ideas of a text instead of closely reading them. This form of reading is very effective because even though you would be required to reread it, you would already have the general idea of what it’s about, which makes the major reading easier. It involves running your eye very quickly over large chunks of text. It simply allows you to pick up some of the main ideas without paying attention to detail.
7. Use outside sources
There’s nothing that says you can only learn from your text or instructor. Augment your class resources with others external sources. By going outside what you are taught in class, you can get a general view and see different scholar’s teachings which could even be better than what you’ve been taught in class.
Remember, though, that your textbook and instructor are to be considered the final, correct authority. In using outside sources, you can find ideas and inspiration in the work of others who have previously studied or written on a subject.
8. Know your learning style
Everyone learns differently and due to this diversity; you must find what works for you. Find out if you need to see information, or need to hear it, or whether you have to learn kinetically. So in effect, everyone needs to discover which study tips work best for them.
Know your own style and use it to your advantage. In finding out your learning style, you can learn more effectively and pass nursing school.
9. Use downtime as study time
Nursing studies requires a lot of reading and a certain level of memorization. You must set alarms at times you have found you internalize most, create flashcards or notes that will help you review those things you have read when you are doing other things.
Eventually, without even really trying, those numbers will be second nature and you would realize you have covered more than you should have.
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10. Take breaks
If you spend all of your time studying, you are just going to get overwhelmed and probably not retain as much information. Be sure to take regular breaks so you do not lose interest or enthusiasm.
Sometimes, just a short change of scenery can help recharge your batteries and improve retention. You need to be fit enough to write the exams you are preparing for. Ensure to take breaks, eat good food and exercise when you can.
11. Prioritize quality study time
You must prioritize your study time because you have a lot of workload. Ensure you set aside entire days as dedicated study times, depending on your classes and schedule. You must know that you cannot pass nursing school by reading once in a blue moon.
You must learn to prioritize your time in other to get quality study time. According to Samantha Schulenburg, a student in nursing school should spend about 6-7 hours per day on school-related tasks to pass nursing school.
12. Follow the rubric
A rubric is a great tool because it is a simple way to set up a grading criteria for assignments and tests. A rubric defines in writing what is expected of the student to get in a particular grade or assignment. When you’ve got a lot of work to do, you’ll want to be smart about your approach.
One of the best ways to do that is to follow your instructor’s rubric carefully. When an instructor creates a rubric, they’re not posting it just for their reference; it is usually for your benefit.
Following the rubric is the key to getting the grades you want and avoiding easy mistakes and ensure that you pass nursing school. Also, you should know that in following a rubric, it would help the teacher define the quality of the test you have written.
13. Embrace online learning
This article giving you this information is online. This form of learning is also referred to as e-learning. Online platforms hold a wealth of unexplored knowledge. You would have a flexible schedule and environment, lower costs and debts, self-discipline and responsibility, just by embracing online learning.
You would need online learning and electronic tools to successfully pass nursing school. Also, you must make Google your best friend. Be ready to search for anything that confuses you for clarity as people might not always be around you to give you the answers you may need.
14. Use your strengths to your advantage
Students in nursing school come from a variety of different backgrounds with a wide range of amazing personalities. Nursing students should know how to use these traits to their advantage. Your unique character traits can also help you study in nursing school.
It’s important to stay positive about your ability to learn, and remember that your effort will make you a better nurse in the future. If you enjoy to read at night or retain things in your head the moment you hear them, do not hesitate to use these strengths to your advantage- no matter how weird you think they could be.
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15. Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Nursing school can be overwhelming, but remember you’re not doing it alone. Do not feel intimidated to ask for help when you need it. You can ask your fellow students, a counsellor at school, your teacher, or even your parents. This also has to do with asking for help in things not related to studies or academics.
When you have issues as regards your health or finances, do not be scared to ask for help. Nursing school is notorious for tough coursework and challenging exams. New material to learn, critical information to memorize and clinical skills to practice are all important components for the average nursing student. It can be tricky to try and balance your life but never hesitate to ask for help.
Conclusion
Nursing school exams are challenging for almost everyone. They intend to test not only your knowledge of course material, but also your ability to apply this information in a patient scenario.
To effectively use these study tips, you must ensure that your mind is focused and that you have all the drive in the world to pass nursing school. These study tips are the best bet you can get in ensuring you pass nursing school. I hope you can use them to your advantage as much as you can. I also hope you have learnt something new from reading this and that this was helpful.
References
- topuniversities.com– Top 10 study tips that will make nursing school easier
- rasmussen.edu– Nursing study tips
- nursing.com– How to slay nursing school
- mastersportal.com– Nursing school requirements
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