Nursing Advice: What You Should Know Before Starting a Nursing Program

You’ve made a decision regarding your future. You’re going to become a nurse. That’s great! There are a few things you should know before you start your nursing program though.

Here are a few pieces of advice for anyone considering becoming a nurse.

1. You will feel overwhelmed: It’s not your imagination, there is a lot of work involved! You aren’t alone, however. Nearly every nursing student feels this way. The program for nursing students is one of the most demanding programs out there. If you know this at the get-go, you’re ahead of the game. So, take care of yourself. Eat healthy foods. Get enough sleep. Don’t forget to exercise. Here are a few other tips to help you in this area:
   1. Keep your priorities straight: Sit down and create a couple of lists. One of them should be labeled “have to do” while the other should be labeled “want to do.” This will help you to get your studies and necessary tasks finished before less important things.
   2. Just say no: By this stage in your life, you’ve gotten the hang of balancing life and work, but nursing school adds a whole other dimension. You won’t have as much free time as you once did. It’s hard to disappoint those we care about, but you will have to get used to saying no if you see that saying yes will interfere with your “have to do” list. And remember, it's only temporary!
   3. Nobody’s perfect: You will make mistakes, you’re human. There are a ton of things coming your way with lots to learn. You won’t get everything right. Learn from your mistakes and press on.
   4. Fake it until you make it: As previously stated, nursing school is overwhelming. You might start to feel as if you don’t deserve to be there at all. You worked hard to get to this point, and you wouldn’t have been accepted into the program if you didn’t have what it takes. So, act as though you belong there and keep plugging away. Soon you’ll make it.
       
2. Do you like reading?: There is a LOT of reading required in a nursing program. The key is organization. You can use a paper organizer, an app, or a calendar to plan your reading schedule. Figure out what needs to be done and when. Here are some tips dealing with that list once you’ve got it set up:
    
   1. Don’t fall behind: The adage, “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today” is a good one. It’s so much easier for you to keep on a steady pace of reading instead of letting it all pile up and rushing to do it at the last minute. By sticking to your schedule, you’ll be able to keep up in class.
   2. Pace yourself: When you get to chapters that seem especially difficult, give yourself time to go over them more than once. You’ll find that the extra time you take will help you to retain the knowledge better.
   3. Get by with a little help from your friends: A good study group is worth its weight in gold. Working together can help to keep you motivated and give you a better understanding of any material where your comprehension might be a little fuzzy.
   4. Focus on what is covered in class: With all you are given to read, there will sometimes be when you just can’t get to it all. When that happens, at least make sure that you study what your class lectures and lessons were over. This information will likely be what is covered in your exams.
   5. Learn: Make sure that you aren’t just reading but retaining the information as well. You could pour over books until your mind is numb, but if you’re not actually learning, it won’t help. Find what works best for you and do that. If you’re still struggling, talk with others in your program or your professors and get some help.
       
3. You might not get all As: You may have been on the honor roll in high school, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will make perfect grades in college. Don’t be surprised to see some Bs or even a few Cs when you first start out. As long as you are learning the material and are developing the ability to think on your feet, you’re doing good. You’ve got to learn to think like a nurse if you want to succeed as one.

Are you considering a nursing degree? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree, ECPI University offers this degree program at an accelerated rate. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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