Have you recently been accepted into a nursing school? If so, congrats! It’s a huge accomplishment and one of the first, most crucial steps toward becoming a certified nurse. You’re probably excited to start your educational journey, but you’re also probably feeling a little anxious. There’s no doubt about it—nursing school is tough, and nursing as a profession is even harder! The hardest transition for incoming nursing students is the one from being a pre-nursing student to a bona fide nursing student. The classes are different, the exams are different, and most pre-nursing students aren’t prepared for such a sudden change. Luckily, these tips to prepare you for nursing school can help you head into nursing school feeling more prepared and confident.
Get Organized
If you want to be a successful nursing student, organization is key. You’ll have to take a wide variety of classes, and these classes require a lot of assignments, quizzes, and exams. It’s important to keep track of the various due dates and prioritize your assignments. The easiest way to keep track of your schedule is to purchase a desk calendar or a planner and write all the due dates on it. If you want to go above and beyond, you can assign a color to each course and mark the due dates with markers or stickers. Organization applies to your education, but it also applies to your finances, family life, and daily routine. Without a schedule, you might find yourself struggling to find the time to complete assignments and study.
Make Time for Relaxation
Another tip to prepare you for nursing school is to make time for relaxation. You probably won’t have much time for extracurricular activities once you’re in nursing school, but that doesn’t mean you can skimp on your own health and wellness. If you’re not feeling well, either emotionally or physically, it can negatively affect your ability to complete course work and stay focused in class. Once you’re a certified nurse, you’ll probably be uttering the phrase “Health comes first!” all too often. This phrase doesn’t just apply to your patients. It applies to you, too! Set aside a bit of time each week to spend doing things that make you happy and relaxed. You can use this time to hang out with family or friends, listen to music, read a book, work on one of your hobbies, or just lounge around.
Never Give Up
We won’t deny it—nursing school can be demanding, frustrating, and stressful. There might be a point where you’re tempted to give up, but it’s important to keep motivating yourself and continue pushing onward! You’ve worked hard to get yourself into nursing school. If you’re stressing out over a course, assignment, or exam, think about what awaits you at the end of your educational journey. Before long, you’ll be receiving a hard-earned pin from a loved one or mentor at your pinning ceremony. After that comes graduation and the pride of walking across the stage with your diploma and nursing certification in hand. You’ll find a fulfilling career at a hospital, care home, or other facility, where you’ll get to spend your days making sure everyone around you is happy, healthy, and living their best life. Once you reach the finish line, the long nights of studying and stress will all be worth it.
