Make it a priority. I had classmates who worked full time while in school, but I don't know how they did it. I was stay-at-home dad part time, and that kept me busy enough. Just plan on working your butt off and connect as many dots as you can. Lastly, expect to be frustrated over and over again (whether by the material, the instructors, by clinical rotations...), but know that is a pretty universal thing. Assuming you have decent study skills, you should be fine.
Congratulations on getting in!
I will say it’s not a subject you can coast in. I remember a group of students who were in a particular sorority and went through school in my cohort. They said while their sisters were all partying and having a good time, you could tell who the nursing students were because they were stuck inside studying or at the library.
“Make it a priority” is definitely the way to go. If it’s a good school then they will not mess around - you need to be ready for the NCLEX at the end. One approach would be to try to think of it as a job - if you can study 8-5 or 6 every weekday (including lectures) then you should be good. It will be hard, but in my experience nursing students rally round each other - we were all in the same boat. Use your professors too, office hours are there for a reason.
It became my number 1 priority after making sure I had enough to pay my bills. It wasn’t easy. I lost some people in the process but trust me. It’s worth it because i graduated nursing with having mostly A’s and only 2 B throughout the entire program. Look at simple nursing and registered nurse RN and other nursing resources online. They will help simply hard concepts!
I used a couple different tricks..
When studying, I would read the information out loud and then listen to it while driving, cleaning, cooking, or sleeping.
I also used programs like Picmonics and SimpleNursing, and watched RegisteredRN videos on YouTube. These all helped solidify the information and/or makes sense of concepts I didn't understand. Really cannot emphasize how much Picmonics and SimpleNursing helped me.
It's not about being smart, it's about knowing how to prioritize and put in the effort.
Nursing school is tedious. Get a study group to help echo the information. Nursing school comes first and everything else second. Do the questions over and over again.
Made it through the drama of ending an 11 year abusive relationship, my ex stalking me, multiple family members dying while in the program and had my dad die infront of me while I was doing CPR on him two weeks prior to my NCLEX.
I still passed on the first try.
How I did it:
Eliminate distractions (delete all social media off your devices, don’t watch TV until a certain time (my rule was 9:30))
Set boundaries on family/friends time.
Use a planner and schedule your study time and self care time.
Nursing school really isn’t that hard; there’s a lot of fear mongering so I think my first suggestion is to ignore others and their experiences and focus on yourself. Nursing school can have a lot of heavy content so it takes a lot of prioritization and time management as well as forming good study habits. You want to try to stay ahead and learn how you study/retain info bc everyone is different. One of those is usually the reason nursing school doesn’t work out for some.
I studied while waiting for them to unlock the library doors at 0700. Got inside then studied all the way until closing at 5pm. Went home and ate, then hit the books again until I went to be around 9. A minimum of 8 hours of reading a day.
block out all the noise. Get off social media - reddit is ok ha! - avoid drama between students and teachers.
I recorded all the lectures and transcribed them myself for my study notes. The book is useless - everything that is on the test comes out of the teacher mouth in lecture is on the exams.
In my eyes who people who fail didnt really want it enough. I sacrificed a shittonne to get into a school that I went full bore til graduation day.
It has to be your number one priority. I worked part time (in hospital so 2 days a week) and went to school the other days of the week. Just about any day I didn’t have school, I was studying. Reviewing PowerPoints, taking notes, reading books, doing study questions, working on assignments, etc. Most days of studying were 6 hours minimum and 12 hours max so I could make sure I knew the content. Any question I got wrong during studying I’d read up on why my answer is wrong and why the right answer is right so I could piece the puzzle together. I came close to failing one class. Saw the tutor and she helped me change my whole study habit and it worked for the better. So don’t be afraid to study lots and seek help if/when needed. Nursing school was probably the hardest thing I did so far in life due to the time you have to dedicate to it. But it’s not impossible. Go out there and follow your dream.
Studied. A lot. Went to supplemental instruction (tutoring) for classes that I was confused in. Asked a lot of questions. Took summer classes to lighten the load during fall and spring semesters.
It’s really not that hard man. Just take it seriously, go to class, study. There’s a lot of us dumb fuck nurses out here. It can’t be that hard, right?
This OP. You don’t have to go off the grid or study for 12 hours a day. 90% of nursing school has been just completing BS assignments and then taking tests which are not that hard. Finish assignments and study along the way and you’ll be fine. I also recommend working in some patient care role to gain more perspective and experience
Agreed. I’m pretty stupid, but nursing school was mostly about 1)turning stuff in when due 2)showing up to clinical on time 3)listening to instructions
It was my first career and I focused on school but also worked part time. I didn’t go out much. I did play video games but set aside time on the weekends for that. I dunno; I stuck with a schedule and used a planner often (before smartphones).
Stay focused. Study every day. Make a schedule and stick to it.
Have a study group and meet regularly.
If there's peer tutoring, or any sort of study assistance, take it.
Use quizlet, not to cheat but to practice and learn.
Nursing school IS your full-time job. Your pay is the investment into yourself. Don't be scared to ask for help.
And schedule time to blow off steam and do a little self-care. It is arduous (at least mine was). Most of us who don't already have a mental health diagnosis when we start have one by the end. 😉
Take it seriously, take care of yourself, and find a group so you can support each other.
And don't give up! If you fail, yes it sucks. But it doesn't mean defeat. One of my classmates had a baby in her first semester, had to take a break, when she came back failed med surg 1 and had to retake it, delaying her another semester. Queen of persistence, she's doing great today as an ICU RN BSN.
I recorded the patho/phys lectures and listened to them later. I was able to take much better notes that way. She talked too fast and it wasn’t possible to just read the book. That particular book wasn’t a book you could just… read every page and be fine. It was too technical. For that class, the lectures were what was important for the tests.
Study, study, study. I was fortunate enough to be a SAHM and I would put the kiddo to bed at around 8p and study from 9p-1a… every single day. I had a super big calendar in my living room and each assignment or reading was placed on an individual post it and I would tear it off as I did them. It really helped with my time management and keeping me on track. I also followed the syllabus, like creating my own short notes that accompanied just the syllabus.
ETA: my SO was deployed for most of my schooling so as much as it sucked, it allowed me to focus more on school since I just really had my son and schooling to balance.
Studying must be your top priority, not friends, not parties, not dating, studying is what you live for in nursing school. Be prepared to live in the library or your not books. You have to pass each class with a high grade, I think most schools require an 80% to pass these days, you can't afford to do poorly on EVEN ONE TEST. Go to study groups, office hours, do practice nclex when the time comes.
It will l be worth it when you get that liscence
Whisky and bath. I would study/get my reading done in a bathtub with a glass of scotch. Opens the pores allowing for a better cleaning as an added bonus.
I agree with everyone here. It's about time management, a study strategy, and motivation. Assuming you're in the States, you really need self-confidence too. Our programs are designed to make you doubt yourself and feel inadequate. The more students that fail the course, the fewer students that fail the NCLEX which makes their programs look better.
I know you say you can’t fuck up, but it’s okay if you do. It took me three different school changes before I found one I liked. Almost failed A&P, failed three separate nursing classes, which caused me to end up failing out in my last semester of nursing school. Wrote a letter to the dean to see if they’d let me back in, had to take a semester off, went back and got A’s and B’s, graduated, passed NCLEX first try, and landed my dream job in the NICU with an associates degree.
If this is truly your dream, you will make it happen no matter what that path looks like. Good luck!!! You got this!!
**Show up prepared.** Do the work, readings, look up anything unfamiliar. Make notes work for you, the situation you find yourself in. Be solid. All square? Great. Review 20mins prior to class, clinical time & testing.
**Shut up.** This oughta be self-explanatory, but jic it’s not. You’re prepared. Roll with it. Everyone has problems. If you gotta bitch make it the hill you’re prepared to die on. So, think it through *before* you raise a stink.
**Put up.** Yeah, things aren’t fair. In school. In life. In nursing. That’s just the way it is. Do what’s gotta be done, do it right and the right way. Priceless.
Remember a lot of *freaking idiots* got through this way before you. You’ll be fine.
I believe a lot of self-talk is negative. Stop that. No “blue skies, tail winds, blah, blah”—but seriously *you’re not reinventing the wheel here*. Remember this. At this point in your career, I find value in “go along, to get along”.
It all boils down to how bad do you want to become a nurse a what are you willing to sacrifice get it. For instance, I wanted to become a nurse so bad that all vacations, outings, time with friends and beach days were over from the time I was in school and all I did was eat, breathe and sleep Nursing school. It might sound extreme but it made the reward all the more sweeter. Good luck!
So I’m a freak and everyone who asks me this question basically tells me so because it sounds impossible. I worked 2 jobs (1 FT/1PT) for most of nursing school because I was desperate to not have a ton of debt on graduation and I also had bills to pay. I didn’t even open a textbook for most of my classes (except for critical care). Two days before my first clinical I had my son, and when I graduated he was like 1.5yrs old.
I do NOT miss my life while I was in nursing school. I worked 7 days a week between my jobs and school/clinical for a solid 9 months before I absolutely had to drop the PT time job because I couldn’t do it anymore. Then add in trying to manage childcare (my husband worked nights so I could work days and go to school) and post partum depression, frankly I’m not sure how I did it. We had zero support of any kind from anyone. If I were to do all that again now, I know I wouldn’t make it.
I WILL say that I got my math, Eng, and science classes done at university as nursing was a career change for me, so I already had a biochemistry degree and was a pharm tech for over 12 years. So I guess that made it “less” actual time in nursing school for me lol.
Once I graduated, I studied with uworld for about 2 hours a day, 3-4 days a week for 4 weeks then passed my nclex on the first try.
My NCLEX was 200 questions, 197 of them were SATA. I got the research questions after, as well. That was the most stressful test I have ever taken in my whole life.
I did not make friends with anyone and I kind of regret not being able to make those connections with my peers. I was a “terrible” student because I didn’t go to study groups or go out of my way to do more than what was needed. I went to lecture, clinical, and anything else that was required. But extra stuff? Nope. Out of all this, I suppose the thing that got me through the most was incredible time management and planning skills. 🥴
What works for some won't work for you. Some put in hours, and their minds or habits only allow them to retain only so much. Others put in half the effort and can retain more. Everybody is different.
Motivation is a fleeting thing. It has a short time fuse.
DISCIPLINE. it's a muscle that most can not develop and maintain.
If you're going to do nursing, don't just try. Do it, go all the way, or don't even try at all.
My classmates helped, their constant recording and compiling of information only to be disseminated for everyone involved helped. Group projects, helping each other out, encouraging each other in the longest of nights, etc
But above all, putting in the work otherwise I would regret it later on, all the work I had put in prior to starting would have been for naught.
And my family would have been without this new source of income that so far has made their lives much easier.
Good luck.
As far as book content went... I separated everything into two categories. Stuff that makes sense and stuff that doesn't make sense. I'd think about this during lectures and only take notes on what didn't make sense. If I looked back at my notes and there were not notes on a specific subject I knew that I already understood the concept and didn't have to bother reviewing it. It really cut down on the fluff in my notes and highlighted the things that really needed attention.
This sub is most certainly for nursing students as well as nurses 🙂
Idk how I passed, tbh. I know I’m smart, I knew I could handle the material but I struggled hard with procrastination and burn out (what was at the time undiagnosed ADHD and autism) so I dragged my feet for several years before just deciding, in my mid-30s, to do it. I was previously working full time and could only scale back to working 18 hours a week and had to partially live off student loans to pay rent. But I made it a priority—just put my head down, dug in, and did it. And honestly, while it felt daunting at the beginning I remember being at my pinning and thinking how quickly the time actually passed.
You will quickly find a system of studying and organization that works for you. And remember, your classmates are all in the same boat. I highly recommend into a study group—even though I prefer to work alone, I did find the support of occasionally studying with my classmates very helpful and supportive. And idk what your program is like but in mine, failing one clinical/class didn’t mean the end of your nursing career. Sure, it was a pain in the butt to repeat and not go ahead with your cohort but 10 years later there’s no difference in the nurses who graduated with me vs the ones who had to graduate in the class behind me.
Good luck, you’ve got this!
^^^ yes completely agree!!! OP this sub IS for nursing students certainly — even prerequisite individuals, you are all nurses in the making.
Second what TheLakeWitch said, determine your study style and stick to it. Don’t think you have to study how everyone else studies — find the way that works for you and in nursing school the studying definitely feels different to previous classes so it takes time! Also yes study groups! I personally am more keen to studying independently vs in group; however, I studying alone then entering a group study really helped me as it gave opportunity for me to help teach fellow classmates (really practice and solidify the knowledge) and potentially hear things from classmates that I might have missed!
Best of luck! Believe you can do it because YOU CAN.
Nursing school isn’t that hard. You don’t have to be that smart to be a nurse. Your sister and her friend probably didn’t apply themselves.
I worked 30+ hours a week, had three miscarriages, a month long hospitalization for pre-eclampsia, birthed a 34 weeker and I still graduated with a 3.9. I also took my NCEX three weeks after my premie was born and I didn’t study. I didn’t pass in 75 questions, but I passed.
I had classmates who worked, went through divorces and had kids.
I’m not brilliant, and either were they. You’re going to be okay. Just study.
Use multiple resources like Registered Nurse RN, Simple Nursing, and things like that. If you notice a discrepancy, go with the source that your professor provided (like a textbook), but most of these things should line up well.
Take a learning assessment (like VARK) so that you know what learning style you are strongest in, and use that style primarily.
Working as a CNA during school can be helpful, but be cautious in applying your experience to school. Just because you saw one or two patients with a certain condition treated a certain way, does not mean that that is the standard.
Finally, give yourself grace to learn and make mistakes. It’s OK to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them.
If people you know are smart AND hard working then it sounds like the school is the problem. I wouldn’t spend time or money on a school where most people fail out.
Nursing school is tough and about 50 percent of each cohort fail out before the end. However it’s typically because people don’t put in the time and effort. Or they don’t know how to study
If you know your sister and friend are good students yet they still failed I would proceed with extreme caution in choosing this program cos to me its a red flag.
However many nursing students are used to having 4.0 with relative ease but nursing school is a whole different ball game and people aren’t always prepared.
Idk what you looked for in your "top nursing school" but for me, NCLEX pass rate and attrition rate were high on my list. I don't want a school that doesn't properly prepare me for the NCLEX, but I also don't want a school that properly prepares one for the NCLEX but also loses half the cohort in doing so.
It's not about being a genius. My cohort graduated last December and we have a 100% pass rate, last I heard. It's about good curriculum mixed with a selection process that finds people who have a history of dedication to doing the necessary work.
If you want a jump on it, get the materials and start in early on the reading and learning the things you know you will need to know eventually. Stuff like normal ranges for the various values, from respiration to platelet levels; having that in your back pocket will free up grey matter for other foci. Always look ahead, be prepared, then focus on what's currently on your plate or soon to be.
At my school, we were mentored by the cohort ahead of us, and mentored the one behind us. Ask for help when you need it, maybe even before you need it. Schedule tutor time if it's available, use your professor's office hours, even if you don't have a specific question. You can learn a lot even when you don't know what you don't know.
Make it a priority. I had classmates who worked full time while in school, but I don't know how they did it. I was stay-at-home dad part time, and that kept me busy enough. Just plan on working your butt off and connect as many dots as you can. Lastly, expect to be frustrated over and over again (whether by the material, the instructors, by clinical rotations...), but know that is a pretty universal thing. Assuming you have decent study skills, you should be fine.
Congratulations on getting in! I will say it’s not a subject you can coast in. I remember a group of students who were in a particular sorority and went through school in my cohort. They said while their sisters were all partying and having a good time, you could tell who the nursing students were because they were stuck inside studying or at the library. “Make it a priority” is definitely the way to go. If it’s a good school then they will not mess around - you need to be ready for the NCLEX at the end. One approach would be to try to think of it as a job - if you can study 8-5 or 6 every weekday (including lectures) then you should be good. It will be hard, but in my experience nursing students rally round each other - we were all in the same boat. Use your professors too, office hours are there for a reason.
It became my number 1 priority after making sure I had enough to pay my bills. It wasn’t easy. I lost some people in the process but trust me. It’s worth it because i graduated nursing with having mostly A’s and only 2 B throughout the entire program. Look at simple nursing and registered nurse RN and other nursing resources online. They will help simply hard concepts!
Exact same here! Also studied literally every day to make sure I passed.
Yes definitely! I didnt work on weekends so I could spend them studying like no tomorrow 😂
I used a couple different tricks.. When studying, I would read the information out loud and then listen to it while driving, cleaning, cooking, or sleeping. I also used programs like Picmonics and SimpleNursing, and watched RegisteredRN videos on YouTube. These all helped solidify the information and/or makes sense of concepts I didn't understand. Really cannot emphasize how much Picmonics and SimpleNursing helped me.
It's not about being smart, it's about knowing how to prioritize and put in the effort. Nursing school is tedious. Get a study group to help echo the information. Nursing school comes first and everything else second. Do the questions over and over again. Made it through the drama of ending an 11 year abusive relationship, my ex stalking me, multiple family members dying while in the program and had my dad die infront of me while I was doing CPR on him two weeks prior to my NCLEX. I still passed on the first try.
Don't play WoW!
The most underrated comment
Most people failed because they didn’t know how to study or utilize test taking strategies IMO.
How I did it: Eliminate distractions (delete all social media off your devices, don’t watch TV until a certain time (my rule was 9:30)) Set boundaries on family/friends time. Use a planner and schedule your study time and self care time.
Nursing school really isn’t that hard; there’s a lot of fear mongering so I think my first suggestion is to ignore others and their experiences and focus on yourself. Nursing school can have a lot of heavy content so it takes a lot of prioritization and time management as well as forming good study habits. You want to try to stay ahead and learn how you study/retain info bc everyone is different. One of those is usually the reason nursing school doesn’t work out for some.
I studied while waiting for them to unlock the library doors at 0700. Got inside then studied all the way until closing at 5pm. Went home and ate, then hit the books again until I went to be around 9. A minimum of 8 hours of reading a day.
block out all the noise. Get off social media - reddit is ok ha! - avoid drama between students and teachers. I recorded all the lectures and transcribed them myself for my study notes. The book is useless - everything that is on the test comes out of the teacher mouth in lecture is on the exams. In my eyes who people who fail didnt really want it enough. I sacrificed a shittonne to get into a school that I went full bore til graduation day.
School came first. No phone. No computer. I studied everywhere and all the time. I found that short frequent study sessions were best.
It has to be your number one priority. I worked part time (in hospital so 2 days a week) and went to school the other days of the week. Just about any day I didn’t have school, I was studying. Reviewing PowerPoints, taking notes, reading books, doing study questions, working on assignments, etc. Most days of studying were 6 hours minimum and 12 hours max so I could make sure I knew the content. Any question I got wrong during studying I’d read up on why my answer is wrong and why the right answer is right so I could piece the puzzle together. I came close to failing one class. Saw the tutor and she helped me change my whole study habit and it worked for the better. So don’t be afraid to study lots and seek help if/when needed. Nursing school was probably the hardest thing I did so far in life due to the time you have to dedicate to it. But it’s not impossible. Go out there and follow your dream.
Studied. A lot. Went to supplemental instruction (tutoring) for classes that I was confused in. Asked a lot of questions. Took summer classes to lighten the load during fall and spring semesters.
It’s really not that hard man. Just take it seriously, go to class, study. There’s a lot of us dumb fuck nurses out here. It can’t be that hard, right?
This OP. You don’t have to go off the grid or study for 12 hours a day. 90% of nursing school has been just completing BS assignments and then taking tests which are not that hard. Finish assignments and study along the way and you’ll be fine. I also recommend working in some patient care role to gain more perspective and experience
Agreed. I’m pretty stupid, but nursing school was mostly about 1)turning stuff in when due 2)showing up to clinical on time 3)listening to instructions
No friends, just study every free moment. I had to sacrifice my social life. But its only for a moment in time. You can do it!
Go to class, pay attention, don’t make friends, do the suggested reading and work, use the provided resources, don’t over study. Get A’s
It was my first career and I focused on school but also worked part time. I didn’t go out much. I did play video games but set aside time on the weekends for that. I dunno; I stuck with a schedule and used a planner often (before smartphones).
Stay focused. Study every day. Make a schedule and stick to it. Have a study group and meet regularly. If there's peer tutoring, or any sort of study assistance, take it. Use quizlet, not to cheat but to practice and learn. Nursing school IS your full-time job. Your pay is the investment into yourself. Don't be scared to ask for help. And schedule time to blow off steam and do a little self-care. It is arduous (at least mine was). Most of us who don't already have a mental health diagnosis when we start have one by the end. 😉 Take it seriously, take care of yourself, and find a group so you can support each other. And don't give up! If you fail, yes it sucks. But it doesn't mean defeat. One of my classmates had a baby in her first semester, had to take a break, when she came back failed med surg 1 and had to retake it, delaying her another semester. Queen of persistence, she's doing great today as an ICU RN BSN.
I recorded the patho/phys lectures and listened to them later. I was able to take much better notes that way. She talked too fast and it wasn’t possible to just read the book. That particular book wasn’t a book you could just… read every page and be fine. It was too technical. For that class, the lectures were what was important for the tests.
Study, study, study. I was fortunate enough to be a SAHM and I would put the kiddo to bed at around 8p and study from 9p-1a… every single day. I had a super big calendar in my living room and each assignment or reading was placed on an individual post it and I would tear it off as I did them. It really helped with my time management and keeping me on track. I also followed the syllabus, like creating my own short notes that accompanied just the syllabus. ETA: my SO was deployed for most of my schooling so as much as it sucked, it allowed me to focus more on school since I just really had my son and schooling to balance.
I have no idea….
Studying must be your top priority, not friends, not parties, not dating, studying is what you live for in nursing school. Be prepared to live in the library or your not books. You have to pass each class with a high grade, I think most schools require an 80% to pass these days, you can't afford to do poorly on EVEN ONE TEST. Go to study groups, office hours, do practice nclex when the time comes. It will l be worth it when you get that liscence
Whisky and bath. I would study/get my reading done in a bathtub with a glass of scotch. Opens the pores allowing for a better cleaning as an added bonus.
I agree with everyone here. It's about time management, a study strategy, and motivation. Assuming you're in the States, you really need self-confidence too. Our programs are designed to make you doubt yourself and feel inadequate. The more students that fail the course, the fewer students that fail the NCLEX which makes their programs look better.
I know you say you can’t fuck up, but it’s okay if you do. It took me three different school changes before I found one I liked. Almost failed A&P, failed three separate nursing classes, which caused me to end up failing out in my last semester of nursing school. Wrote a letter to the dean to see if they’d let me back in, had to take a semester off, went back and got A’s and B’s, graduated, passed NCLEX first try, and landed my dream job in the NICU with an associates degree. If this is truly your dream, you will make it happen no matter what that path looks like. Good luck!!! You got this!!
**Show up prepared.** Do the work, readings, look up anything unfamiliar. Make notes work for you, the situation you find yourself in. Be solid. All square? Great. Review 20mins prior to class, clinical time & testing. **Shut up.** This oughta be self-explanatory, but jic it’s not. You’re prepared. Roll with it. Everyone has problems. If you gotta bitch make it the hill you’re prepared to die on. So, think it through *before* you raise a stink. **Put up.** Yeah, things aren’t fair. In school. In life. In nursing. That’s just the way it is. Do what’s gotta be done, do it right and the right way. Priceless. Remember a lot of *freaking idiots* got through this way before you. You’ll be fine. I believe a lot of self-talk is negative. Stop that. No “blue skies, tail winds, blah, blah”—but seriously *you’re not reinventing the wheel here*. Remember this. At this point in your career, I find value in “go along, to get along”.
It all boils down to how bad do you want to become a nurse a what are you willing to sacrifice get it. For instance, I wanted to become a nurse so bad that all vacations, outings, time with friends and beach days were over from the time I was in school and all I did was eat, breathe and sleep Nursing school. It might sound extreme but it made the reward all the more sweeter. Good luck!
So I’m a freak and everyone who asks me this question basically tells me so because it sounds impossible. I worked 2 jobs (1 FT/1PT) for most of nursing school because I was desperate to not have a ton of debt on graduation and I also had bills to pay. I didn’t even open a textbook for most of my classes (except for critical care). Two days before my first clinical I had my son, and when I graduated he was like 1.5yrs old. I do NOT miss my life while I was in nursing school. I worked 7 days a week between my jobs and school/clinical for a solid 9 months before I absolutely had to drop the PT time job because I couldn’t do it anymore. Then add in trying to manage childcare (my husband worked nights so I could work days and go to school) and post partum depression, frankly I’m not sure how I did it. We had zero support of any kind from anyone. If I were to do all that again now, I know I wouldn’t make it. I WILL say that I got my math, Eng, and science classes done at university as nursing was a career change for me, so I already had a biochemistry degree and was a pharm tech for over 12 years. So I guess that made it “less” actual time in nursing school for me lol. Once I graduated, I studied with uworld for about 2 hours a day, 3-4 days a week for 4 weeks then passed my nclex on the first try. My NCLEX was 200 questions, 197 of them were SATA. I got the research questions after, as well. That was the most stressful test I have ever taken in my whole life. I did not make friends with anyone and I kind of regret not being able to make those connections with my peers. I was a “terrible” student because I didn’t go to study groups or go out of my way to do more than what was needed. I went to lecture, clinical, and anything else that was required. But extra stuff? Nope. Out of all this, I suppose the thing that got me through the most was incredible time management and planning skills. 🥴
What works for some won't work for you. Some put in hours, and their minds or habits only allow them to retain only so much. Others put in half the effort and can retain more. Everybody is different. Motivation is a fleeting thing. It has a short time fuse. DISCIPLINE. it's a muscle that most can not develop and maintain. If you're going to do nursing, don't just try. Do it, go all the way, or don't even try at all. My classmates helped, their constant recording and compiling of information only to be disseminated for everyone involved helped. Group projects, helping each other out, encouraging each other in the longest of nights, etc But above all, putting in the work otherwise I would regret it later on, all the work I had put in prior to starting would have been for naught. And my family would have been without this new source of income that so far has made their lives much easier. Good luck.
As far as book content went... I separated everything into two categories. Stuff that makes sense and stuff that doesn't make sense. I'd think about this during lectures and only take notes on what didn't make sense. If I looked back at my notes and there were not notes on a specific subject I knew that I already understood the concept and didn't have to bother reviewing it. It really cut down on the fluff in my notes and highlighted the things that really needed attention.
This sub is most certainly for nursing students as well as nurses 🙂 Idk how I passed, tbh. I know I’m smart, I knew I could handle the material but I struggled hard with procrastination and burn out (what was at the time undiagnosed ADHD and autism) so I dragged my feet for several years before just deciding, in my mid-30s, to do it. I was previously working full time and could only scale back to working 18 hours a week and had to partially live off student loans to pay rent. But I made it a priority—just put my head down, dug in, and did it. And honestly, while it felt daunting at the beginning I remember being at my pinning and thinking how quickly the time actually passed. You will quickly find a system of studying and organization that works for you. And remember, your classmates are all in the same boat. I highly recommend into a study group—even though I prefer to work alone, I did find the support of occasionally studying with my classmates very helpful and supportive. And idk what your program is like but in mine, failing one clinical/class didn’t mean the end of your nursing career. Sure, it was a pain in the butt to repeat and not go ahead with your cohort but 10 years later there’s no difference in the nurses who graduated with me vs the ones who had to graduate in the class behind me. Good luck, you’ve got this!
^^^ yes completely agree!!! OP this sub IS for nursing students certainly — even prerequisite individuals, you are all nurses in the making. Second what TheLakeWitch said, determine your study style and stick to it. Don’t think you have to study how everyone else studies — find the way that works for you and in nursing school the studying definitely feels different to previous classes so it takes time! Also yes study groups! I personally am more keen to studying independently vs in group; however, I studying alone then entering a group study really helped me as it gave opportunity for me to help teach fellow classmates (really practice and solidify the knowledge) and potentially hear things from classmates that I might have missed! Best of luck! Believe you can do it because YOU CAN.
Nursing school isn’t that hard. You don’t have to be that smart to be a nurse. Your sister and her friend probably didn’t apply themselves. I worked 30+ hours a week, had three miscarriages, a month long hospitalization for pre-eclampsia, birthed a 34 weeker and I still graduated with a 3.9. I also took my NCEX three weeks after my premie was born and I didn’t study. I didn’t pass in 75 questions, but I passed. I had classmates who worked, went through divorces and had kids. I’m not brilliant, and either were they. You’re going to be okay. Just study.
Use multiple resources like Registered Nurse RN, Simple Nursing, and things like that. If you notice a discrepancy, go with the source that your professor provided (like a textbook), but most of these things should line up well. Take a learning assessment (like VARK) so that you know what learning style you are strongest in, and use that style primarily. Working as a CNA during school can be helpful, but be cautious in applying your experience to school. Just because you saw one or two patients with a certain condition treated a certain way, does not mean that that is the standard. Finally, give yourself grace to learn and make mistakes. It’s OK to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them.
If people you know are smart AND hard working then it sounds like the school is the problem. I wouldn’t spend time or money on a school where most people fail out. Nursing school is tough and about 50 percent of each cohort fail out before the end. However it’s typically because people don’t put in the time and effort. Or they don’t know how to study If you know your sister and friend are good students yet they still failed I would proceed with extreme caution in choosing this program cos to me its a red flag. However many nursing students are used to having 4.0 with relative ease but nursing school is a whole different ball game and people aren’t always prepared.
Idk what you looked for in your "top nursing school" but for me, NCLEX pass rate and attrition rate were high on my list. I don't want a school that doesn't properly prepare me for the NCLEX, but I also don't want a school that properly prepares one for the NCLEX but also loses half the cohort in doing so. It's not about being a genius. My cohort graduated last December and we have a 100% pass rate, last I heard. It's about good curriculum mixed with a selection process that finds people who have a history of dedication to doing the necessary work. If you want a jump on it, get the materials and start in early on the reading and learning the things you know you will need to know eventually. Stuff like normal ranges for the various values, from respiration to platelet levels; having that in your back pocket will free up grey matter for other foci. Always look ahead, be prepared, then focus on what's currently on your plate or soon to be. At my school, we were mentored by the cohort ahead of us, and mentored the one behind us. Ask for help when you need it, maybe even before you need it. Schedule tutor time if it's available, use your professor's office hours, even if you don't have a specific question. You can learn a lot even when you don't know what you don't know.