Most students find nursing school stressful due to the large body of information that must be memorized. Being a nursing student can be more stressful than being a nurse. Learning and using good study techniques will not only help make nursing school a more pleasant experience, it will provide useful preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) boards. Organization is key, so in addition to learning study, learn and practice effective time management.
Be Interactive
Excelling in nursing school requires that students be proactive and interactive in their learning environment. In nursing school, extracurricular learning becomes vital, as students are encouraged to not only ask questions, but to seek answers to those questions on their own. One of the best ways to become more interactive and proactive in nursing school is to devour career-related literature and join nurse coalitions or organizations. Subscribe to nursing journals and study them for the latest developments in nursing theory and technological advances that may improve the execution of nursing procedures. Nursing organizations provide students with a sense of extended community and may also provide professional insurance options for students. Some institutions may include organizational membership fees in their tuition. If not, go to the website of the nursing organization preferred, such as the National Student Nurses' Association, and fill out the online membership form. A small annual fee may be required.
Make The Most of Clinicals
Clinical rotations allow student nurses to practice in a real-world setting what they have spent weeks studying in the laboratory setting. It is intimidating because mistakes can have consequences and students are at different levels of expertise. Remember that everyone started at the same level of experience, zero, regardless of where they are now. Do not compare yourself to your classmates. Focus on observing and becoming comfortable in the position of a nurse. Be helpful and take initiative wherever possible. During any down time in clinicals, of which there will be little, review disease processes and laboratory values. For each patient, write the etiology of their disease, symptoms of the disease and list rationales for the nursing process. Describe how ADPIE relates to the patient through assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation.
Be Creative
Sometimes rote memorization hinders learning more than it helps. Make learning and memorization enjoyable and fresh. Visual learners should use computer software with animations, create colorful diagrams and review cards with illustrations. Use mnemonic techniques for memorizing anatomy and physiology, and Latin medical terminology. When memorizing the electrolyte and fluid balance, and the circulation routes of the heart, try making a song or reciting the facts in a different accent. The purpose of these unusual techniques is to "awaken" the brain, making it much easier to recall information that was presented in a unique way.
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