7 Effective Study Strategies for Nurses
You
study to get into nursing school,
you study while you’re there, and you’ll study for the NCLEX to get out and get
a job. Nursing school
is all about studying! While it’s no one’s favorite activity, effective study
techniques are vital to your success as a nursing
student and a working
nurse. Instead of getting frustrated by the books, be kind to yourself and
focus on healthy
study habits.
Before
diving into your books, make a plan. Review your class syllabi and
mark each of your exam dates on your calendar. Keeping an updated planner is
essential to staying on track with assignments. Be sure to spread out the work,
and plan time each week to complete your readings and workload. Having a solid
plan to follow can also help you avoid burnout.
Your
future self will thank you!
Stick
to your study plan and know how to manage your time. Set aside specific hours
each day and week to focus solely on studying. When you’re studying, actually
study. No more multitasking. When you have an end time set for your study
session, it’s easier to focus and use that time wisely.
Your
planner or calendar will keep you on track, but try to do a little studying
every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes. This helps you form good habits and
retain information. But most importantly, plan—yes, plan—your downtime. When
your mind knows that a time for relaxation is ahead, it helps you stay focused
when it’s needed most.
Everyone
studies differently, but everyone can also benefit from a study group. We all
have different strengths, so instead of forming a group with just your best
friends, mix it up. Make sure you have students with a variety of skills and
expertise. Aside from the academic help, studying with others builds in
encouragement and support. You’re all in this together. (Plus, the connections
you make in nursing
school will only benefit you in your future career.)
When
sitting down on your own for some textbook learning, it’s important to know
your personal learning style. How do you best retain information? Are you an
auditory learner? A visual learner? Should you take notes as you read? Or highlight
and revisit later? What about both? Hardly anyone learns just by reading the
textbook once.
5. Forget memorizing,
focus on comprehending.
Even
if you’re a stellar student, recalling vast amounts of data can be difficult.
Whether you’re keeping track of anatomy terms, a long list of symptoms, or medication side
effects, brute force memorization often doesn’t cut it. Instead, focus on truly
understanding the info. Ask yourself questions about it and try explaining it
out loud. The key to learning is comprehension and association. This will serve
you better in the long run, and help you more come exam time.
6. Reward yourself and take breaks.
As
contrary as it sounds, study breaks can be just as important as studying. Your
brain can’t take in too much information at once, especially when you’re
stressed about a test tomorrow. Cut yourself some slack and add some balance
back to your life. Did you finish that study guide? It’s time to take a break
from the books and go have a snack.
7. Don’t forget about the patients.
No
one goes into nursing
because they want to study 24/7. But while you’re in school, it may feel like
all you do is study and work. Fight nursing student
burnout by focusing on why you’re becoming a nurse: to help
the patients! Maintaining a positive mentality will keep you on track with your
schoolwork while making it more enjoyable. None of your professors are trying to
torture you, they’re just trying to prepare you for the real nursing world ahead.
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