Students in nursing school encounter various challenges. There’s endless information to digest, and hundreds of practical classes to attend. While traditional learning is vital, there are smarter ways to study in nursing schools. This article will discuss seven techniques that can help nursing students improve their studying.
Seven Effective Studying Strategies For Nursing Students
Between lectures, labs, assignments, exams, and clinical rotations, carving out a dedicated study routine may be difficult. Here are seven ways to do all of this, and still study well.
Plan Your Study Schedule
Section your time into parts and settle for a comfortable routine. To do this, you must look at the bigger picture. Lay out your syllabus, exam dates and clinical schedules. Then, identify high-stakes exams, deadlines and difficult subjects – these are your priority targets.
Once you have your priorities set, divide your study time. Rather than spend long hours studying, which may cause you stress, try shorter, focused sprints. Aim for 30 to 45 minutes of study time with short breaks in between. The goal is to keep your mind engaged and avoid information overload.
Cultivate Active Learning Habits
Foster active learning habits by avoiding passive reading. Instead, interact with your study materials. Record key points, summarize in your own words, or read aloud to enhance comprehension. Extend your knowledge beyond theory by seeking practical applications. Reputable institutions, like Baylor University, offer resources for hands-on experience. For instance, their online accelerated nursing degree BSN program in Texas provides clinical placements, allowing students to apply classroom learning and enhance practical skills. The program employs diverse teaching methods, including online and hybrid interactive courses, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of coursework. These methodologies prepare students for tasks such as physically assessing patients and implementing interventions.
Utilize The Resources Your School Offers
Nursing schools offer many resources – the key is to ensure that you tap into them. One of these resources is your school’s librarian. They are authoritative resources and will be able to help you find relevant articles.
They also have the best tips on where you can find academic materials and how to purchase them. Instead of walking around, mindlessly looking for a thesis on your project topic, you can just ask for their recommendation.
Your professors are another vital resource. Meet them to clarify topics you don’t understand or to ask questions about the course. You can also tap into your community groups. Join online forums, study groups or student communities to discuss topics with like-minded people.
Practice Your Clinical Skills
Honing your clinical skills isn’t just about showing up for labs and hoping for the best – you must be dedicated. Familiarize yourself with the procedures in the simulation lab long before you step into it.
This way, you’ll already have a clear understanding of what you’re going to do. The best way to do this is to read ahead of each class. It helps you know what to expect. Then, ask questions during these demonstrations.
Break Down Complex Concepts
Coursework can sometimes be intimidating – therefore, break it down into smaller sections, focus on each section, understand it, and then piece the sections back together. When reading in sections, especially with medical terms, use everything you can to simplify assimilation.
One of these techniques is mnemonics. Create catchy phrases or acronyms that link key terms together, or make a list of words into familiar musical tones. Mnemonics are a simple way to improve your memory.
Another way is to connect what you’re studying with a real-life situation, preferably one that you experienced yourself. This personalizes the information, and helps you remember it.
Assess Yourself
One of the best ways to learn is to look back on your performance. Did you do well in a test or practical class? If you did, then good job. If you didn’t, how can you do better? Are you well prepared for your exams? Assessing yourself before and after academic milestones is essential, but how do you do it?
Measure your understanding. Know how well you understand a topic before exams. Test yourself. Make practice questions and quizzes to assess how well you understand a course.
Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Honest self-evaluation is crucial for academic growth. Know your academic strengths, but also acknowledge the areas you need to work on.
Reflect on your learning journey. Learning styles differ, so look at your current study strategies to know if they’re working for you. If it’s working, then fine. If it’s not, then ditch it for a better strategy.
Work on your mindset. Setting a good study strategy may not work if you don’t have a positive learning attitude. Take your time with difficult concepts. Break them down, and study positively to understand them.
Set Realistic Goals
Goals give you something to look forward to. The goals you set can also align your actions toward achieving them. If you need help with developing or committing to your goals, try using the SMART template:
- S: Specific. Your goals shouldn’t graze the surface. Pinpoint a specific subject area you want to master or a skill you aim to refine. The point is to have a precise goal to work towards.
- M: Measurable. Define the success of your goal in concrete terms. Your goal may be to pass an exam, but what specific grades do you want in that exam? Measurable goals make it easier to track and celebrate your progress.
- A: Achievable. You can be ambitious but be realistic. Don’t aim for impossible goals. Start with small, achievable goals, and then build your confidence from them.
- R: Relevant. Ensure that your goals align with your aspirations. Only set goals that complement the whole outlook of your journey. For instance, a student aiming to specialize in midwifery should set goals that prioritize coursework relating to that area.
- T: Time-bound. Don’t procrastinate. Set deadlines for each goal and match them with a sense of urgency. Time-bound goals give you the needed pressure to get things done.
What Happens Afterwards?
Like most academic activities, studying is a journey. You may need to experiment with different strategies before you find one that works for you. Be patient and ask for help – there are many people and resources around you.