Knowing how to prepare for nursing school ensures you start the program on the right foot. You can start by practicing time management, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Also, familiarizing yourself with common nursing terms and technology can help prepare you for nursing coursework.
Enrolling in any higher education program requires you to purchase supplies, textbooks and other materials. You will likely need a planner to keep track of due dates, note-taking supplies, binders and more. As you prepare for the transition to a nursing program, you may wonder how to prepare for nursing school and what else you can do.
In the Harding University accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program, students are supported throughout the ABSN program to help facilitate their success. The curriculum encompasses all the information you would learn in a traditional four-year BSN program in as few as 16 months.
The shorter timeline does not compromise quality, meaning students participate in a rigorous curriculum that prepares them to become skilled registered nurses. To help you prepare for nursing school, you will need to learn some key tips for nursing school success.
Understanding the Challenges of Nursing School
Is nursing school extremely hard? While the program will challenge you, it is not impossible. At Harding University, our ABSN program is designed to establish the building blocks you need for success.
Our online coursework lays the groundwork of core nursing and science concepts, which students apply in nursing skills and simulation labs. Finally, your lab experiences prepare you for clinical rotations, where you will provide direct patient care under supervision.
Coursework and curriculum components are only one aspect of what makes nursing school challenging. Other factors include the timeline and time commitment. If enrolled in an accelerated program like Harding’s ABSN, you will complete a high-quality BSN program on an accelerated timeline.
Additionally, nursing school requires a lot of studying. So, how many hours a day should you study in nursing school? While there isn’t a set number, it may be helpful to consider nursing school as a full-time job, meaning you will spend much of your time outside of classes studying.
At Harding, we offer ample student support to help you master the coursework and graduate ready to earn your license and start working as a registered nurse.
Understanding how to succeed in nursing school begins with the understanding that it most likely won’t be easy. While you will be challenged, it is well worth the effort.
8 Nursing Student Tips to Help Prepare
There is no set formula for learning how to prepare for nursing school; however, if you take the time to strengthen certain skills, familiarize yourself with aspects of the health care field and build a support system, you can set yourself up for success.
Consider these tips to help you learn how to be successful in nursing school.
1. Develop Strong Study Habits
Your success as a nursing student depends partly on your ability to understand how your brain best processes and retains information. Knowing how you learn best is even more crucial if you’re enrolled in an online-based nursing school because you’ll complete your coursework and study on your own.
Of course, you’ll have guidance from your professors, but utilizing the tools they give you will determine how you set yourself up for success.
Here are eight reasons getting a BSN is worth it.
2. Master Time Management and Organization
Creating a daily schedule is an excellent way of managing your workload while attending nursing school. Start with a blank weekly calendar or planner. To stay on track, make an hour-by-hour itinerary of your day, including:
- Appointments
- Breaks
- Class periods
- Clinicals
- Exams
- Labs
- Study time
You can more effectively manage your time, prioritize your work and stay on track through scheduling your days. You’ll also be able to book some breaks and maintain balance while juggling everything nursing school throws at you.
3. Strengthen Your Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential to nursing and, therefore, nursing school. Developing these skills before starting school can prepare you for your coursework, exams, labs and clinical experiences.
In nursing, you can solve a problem in multiple ways, but you must rely on your clinical knowledge and judgment to determine the most appropriate solution. According to a study on critical thinking in the ICU, one of the ways you can strengthen these skills is by explaining your thinking. You should ask yourself how and why you’ve reached certain conclusions.
Doing so reveals whether your conclusion is based on pattern recognition or by considering all available data and information. The process can also reveal biases. Understanding how you reach a conclusion makes you better prepared to react appropriately in a clinical environment.
4. Familiarize Yourself with Common Medical Terminology
While no prior health care experience or knowledge is required for a nursing program, studying a few common nursing terms can give you an advantage in understanding your coursework. Make flashcards for common nursing terms and acronyms, such as tachy, which refers to an irregularly fast heartbeat, and PRN, which is Latin for pro re nata and loosely translates to “as needed.”
Practice these flashcards during downtime, adding to the stack over time. These can be especially useful while studying in nursing school.
5. Get Comfortable with Nursing School Technology
Nurses must be comfortable with technology since recording and maintaining Electronic Health Records is a significant part of their job. If you don’t have health care experience, you likely have not interacted with EHRs and other common nursing tech such as blood pressure cuffs and smart IV pumps.
Instead, being able to identify common equipment and understand its basic uses can provide an advantage. To familiarize yourself with the equipment, create a set of flashcards with images of common nursing tech.
Once you enter nursing school, nursing labs will help you become comfortable with standard nursing technology. In Harding’s ABSN program, students will have the chance to hone their skills in nursing skills and simulation labs, which are held in our state-of-the-art nursing laboratories and designed to simulate a hospital environment.
6. Build a Strong Support System
Your cohort is the group of peers who go through the same classes, labs and clinicals you do. They’re great assets for support and study groups. Through studying with your peers, you may learn different perspectives or gain insight into theories or coursework that challenge you.
Hearing from a peer’s unique perspective may help things click and give you the confidence that you’re all going through the same challenges together.
7. Utilize Your Nursing School’s Academic Resources
What is the hardest class in nursing school? Depending on your background and interests, this answer is different for everyone. If you are worried about certain courses in the curriculum, know that your program offers student support services that can help.
At Harding University, we prepare our students for success through the admissions process and throughout their ABSN program experience. Harding professors and clinical instructors are regularly available to answer questions and give advice for nursing students.
They are top-notch health care professionals who can tell you what to expect on the NCLEX-RN examination, advise you on which specializations may be right for you or let you know how to navigate difficult situations.
Additionally, our dedicated advisors are here to talk through processes, help you get the most out of your experience in Northwest Arkansas and point you toward resources that will aid your journey.
8. Take Care of Your Physical and Emotional Health
Although you’ll be busy with your nursing education, don’t forget to make time for your mental health. Pushing yourself certainly has its place, but if you do too much without taking breaks, you’re putting yourself at risk of burnout.
It’s important to create balance while in nursing school by setting time for activities you enjoy that support your mental health. Taking a nightly walk or seeing friends and family for a quick coffee can be the breath of fresh air you need between studying.
Eating right and remaining active also play a role in maintaining your health and happiness through nursing school. Some other stress-relieving activities you should consider adding to your routine during nursing school include:
- Cooking a favorite meal
- Going on a hike
- Journaling
- Lighting a scented candle
- Listening to music or a podcast
- Meditating
- Reading a chapter of non-nursing material for fun
- Taking breaks
- Working out or doing yoga
Wondering what can you do with a BSN? Find out here.
Enroll Today
Harding’s 16-month curriculum uses online coursework, in-person skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations to help prepare you with the key nursing skills and knowledge you need to succeed. With three start dates a year, we can help you earn a BSN sooner. To be eligible for admission to the program, you’ll need a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 64 non-nursing college credits.
Contact one of our dedicated admissions counselors today to get started on your nursing journey.