Tips on How to Succeed in Nursing School

TRHSHS, Nursing Program
Admissions Recruitment Committee

You are about to take flight as a student nurse. You are embarking on an exciting, but also challenging journey. To help guide you, the faculty and staff would like to share with you some helpful tips that you may want to include in your plan for success. It is important to know that these tips are not to define what success is but rather provide you with some guiding principles that you may want to consider as you navigate through your learning experiences.

Juggling work, family and school can be difficult. Try to limit outside obligations to only those activities that you must do. Then after graduation, enjoy!

Debbie J. Rahn, MSN, RN, CNE, FABC, Director, School of Health Sciences

Be flexible. The more prepared you are, the more flexible you can be. Good luck is the result of good planning. Listen attentively first and then respond.

Susan M. Landon, MSN, RN

To ensure good mental and physical health be sure to schedule some down time for rejuvenating your mind and body. It is important to study, but just as important to relax and refresh. Then, when you get “back to the books,” your mind can be revived and focused!

Carol Long, MSN, RN-BC, CNE

Believe in yourself, we do. Continue to review basic anatomy and physiology, your understanding of it is the backbone of your nursing care.

Audrey Perry, MSN, CNM, RN

Try to get no less than 7 hours of “good” sleep every night. After classes are over for the day, take a break. Get outside, do something for yourself or someone else & don’t think about nursing!

Mrs. Ottey, MSN, RN, BC, CRRN, CMSRN

There is success in numbers! Try to develop a strong support system in school and at home.

Carolyn S. Konas, MEd, Admissions

Continual curiosity is the best way to learn. Never cease to ask "why". Learning is a lifelong process.

Tracy Scheirer, BSN, RN

Think about patients you cared for when reviewing course content. Place a symbol on your PowerPoint when you recognize a correlation with a patient you cared for.

Cheryl Moody, MSN, RN, CCRN

Keep up with material; don’t wait until the last minute to study. Study when you are at your best. Believe in yourself!!!

NUR 203 faculty

Carefully select a study partner that you can work with to process information and study material. Create application versus knowledge based practice questions for review.

NUR 203 faculty

The BEST way to be SUCCESSFUL is to follow the advice YOU give others.

Heather Keperling, MSN, RN

Keep organized, use a planner and plan ahead. Ask for and accept help from others (parents, neighbors, siblings, and children). Read the textbook references before you come to class! Post your study schedule in a location at home where everyone can see it. Your study schedule is not the time you are in class, but rather the time you are studying outside of class! You will be a great role model for your children!

Patricia A. Shaner-Christy MSN, RN, CNOR

Keep your focus! You may frequently have to give up “fun” in order to study or prep for clinical. Don’t let it get you down. Remember: Present pain for future gain!

Linda Delong, MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC

Try not to play “catch-up”, get it right and done the first time.

Adriane D. Hoke, A.A, Admissions

1. Study at least 2 hours per week for every 1 hour of lecture (example: 6 hours of nursing lecture per week= 12 hours of studying for nursing). DO NOT wait until the night before to study, even if you understand the material.
2. If you do not understand what the nursing instructor said during lecture, approach her and ask to have it explained to you again. Ask questions until you understand the concept.
3. Ask for help early on, don’t wait until you are in trouble to ask for assistance from a tutor or nursing instructor.
4. Determine what kind of learner you are (visual, auditory, etc.) and find resources that suit your learning style; i.e. cue cards, scenarios, taped lectures, videos, etc.
5. Realize that certain personal events may have to be put on hold while school is in session (parties, outings, children’s games, housework, etc.) in order to have sufficient study time.
6. Nursing school is difficult- accept this reality and work hard, perhaps harder than you ever did before!
7. Schedule time to study- write study time in a planner as if it were an appointment. Stick to the schedule!

Sherry Murphy, MSN, RN