Working in a clinical setting is an invaluable experience. There are many reasons a person might consider working in a medical environment, but getting there requires intensive studying that needs lots of focus and accuracy – remember, at the end the day you will be dealing with people’s lives. What’s more, when you’ve become a registered nurse, you’ll have to undergo further education if you’re wanting to develop your skills more or specialize.
- Personal care is vital. Get enough sleep, drink lots of water, exercise and apply what you learn about nutrition. You must be able to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. As a nurse already, you’re more than likely working shifts, but that doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to burn out.
- Be prepared to study. As someone who has already studied in the past, you may know what works when it comes to studying. However, things may be different this time around, and as you may have a job and a family to tend to, you may need to find new study methods. Be sure to experiment, and keep from becoming frustrated if your current approach isn’t working.
- Develop good study habits and get organized. Being organized is important for practically everything you do. Have a great calendar on the wall with all the exam dates and other important dates, as well as a personal calendar for the daily tasks you should do. There are many organizer apps that can also help.
- Form study groups. Even if you prefer to study alone, remember that nursing is a cooperation. Your teachers know what you are going through when you feel frustrated or discouraged. If your course is an online nursing degree as you study either MSN and RN or BSN programs, your institution will provide you with all the needed information and one-on-one lecturer. By forming study groups, you’re less likely to procrastinate, you learn faster and are able to learn new perspectives. What’s more, study groups are fun and can break the monotony of sitting in a library or in your bedroom.
- Ask for help from your teachers when you have doubts. When you are not familiar with the processes of clinical courses, ask for help from your clinical teachers. Also, be sure to practice until you are sure that you can do it correctly by yourself. Do not get tired of asking questions in your classes. When times are difficult, remember the reasons why you want to do nursing and, if you have forgotten or feel overwhelmed, call your support group to help you.
- Speak with senior nursing students to give you tips and tricks. Most of the time they can provide you with information about a particular teacher’s style or tell you what to expect from certain classes. Some schools even assign you nursing students as tutors, in addition to nursing professors. School tutoring programs can be useful for things like loan books, notes and tips, study guides that nurses no longer need, and tips on where to do the internships. This is valuable information that only a person who has been before you in the program knows.
- Do not forget to relax. Have a good sense of humor, laugh, and breathe when things get complicated. You can find many other ways to care for yourself as a nurse, meaning your further education is far more enjoyable.
