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10 Ways to Achieve Success in Nursing School

4. Keep Things in Perspective

Nursing School is nerve-wracking, there is no question about that. But it really helps to keep things in perspective. You are working your butt off but there is only so much you can do. Have you gotten a grade you are not happy with? Vow to to better and move on instead of dwelling on it. Not getting along with your clinical instructor? This clinical will be over before you know it and you will be ready to start the next one. Do you feel overwhelmed? Remember, each and every nurse out there has gone through what you are going through now. Even the best nurses on the planet had to learn how to start IVs at some point in their careers.

5. Stay Connected to the Outside World

When I was in nursing school, many of us used to wish we could just sit down and read a book or a magazine that had absolutely nothing to do with nursing. In retrospect, I wish I had actually taken the time to do this because it probably would have helped me to maintain my perspective.

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It’s great to stay focused on nursing, but life goes on all around you and it will help you to not lose site of that. Do you have a hobby that you’ve been ignoring? Take some time on a Saturday afternoon to get back into it. Spend some time with your kids/spouse/friends doing something that is fun. Then, when it’s time to get back to the books, you will feel rejuvenated.

6. Take Care of Yourself

Yes, you will be pulling some all-nighters to get that term paper done. Yes, you will find yourself toiling away in the library and will have no choice but to hit the vending machine. These things are inevitable aspects of nursing school. The key to staying in shape is making sure you counteract that with some healthy habits. Take a long walk on your lunch break. Take some deep breaths. Eat some healthy food. Spend the weekend catching up on the sleep you lost the night before a big exam. You will be glad you did.

7. Invest in Comfortable Shoes

Happy feet= happy nursing student. Not much more can be said on that subject! I personally have always been a big fan of the Danskos, but Crocs are a close second as far as comfort is concerned.