Advice from Current Nursing Students

This week, I interviewed two current nursing students to gain their perspective on nursing school! I asked them questions that I had about the curriculum, time-management, stress, time spent studying, and about their school specifically. Mikaila and Abby responded with personal stories that were very insightful for me.  I shared below my favorite pieces of information that I also think would be good for other prospective nursing students to know.

                   1.  Direct admission nursing programs = supportive classmates                               

Nursing programs that are direct admission tend to have much friendlier students! When you aren't competing with your classmates, it creates a positive learning environment where everyone wants each other to do well. This is not always true for universities that accept students into their majors during their sophomore year. When you are fighting for spots in the nursing program, your classmates won't be as willing to share study guides or collaborate in study groups. 

                                                         2. Utilize office hours                                                               

Especially during these crazy times, if you have class during your professors' office hours, most are willing to set up zoom calls if you reach out. For example, if you don't do well on a test, it is extremely beneficial for your learning to go over the test with your professor and ask questions on anything you don't understand. 

                                               3. You get out what you put in                                                    

It's easy to do the bare minimum and scrape by test-to-test, but you're not really learning that way. If you take the time to study material as you learn it, it will help you in the long run. The information in your classes is accumulative and you're going to need to know it for the NCLEX, so make it easier for your future self and put in the work now.

                                                            4. Get an agenda                                                                

At times, nursing school can feel overwhelming. One of the best ways to organize your time and make sure you meet all of your deadlines is to get an agenda. Writing down all your assignments will help you prioritize them and use your study time wisely.