Is Nursing School Manageable? : 5 Ways to Get through Nursing School and Become a Registered Nurse

Debo
Nov 5, 2022
4 min read

Becoming a registered nurse is challenging. It’s also one of the most rewarding careers out there, in large part because you get to make such a big difference in people’s lives every day. You probably won’t find it easy at first – after all, nursing school is quite demanding and you’ll be learning brand new things as well as reinforcing what you learned in your prerequisites. But with the right strategies and mental tricks, you can get through nursing school and succeed as a registered nurse!

Make a Schedule

Make a schedule and stick to it

This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s crucial! Nursing school can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it while working another job. But if you don’t set up a schedule and make time for everything you need to do, you’ll never get it done. First, figure out how much time you need to spend studying per week. You may want to round this number up, just in case you need to spend extra time on certain classes or need extra time to complete projects. Then, make a schedule for everything else in your life. Your schoolwork and job commitments, your social life, and whatever self-care activities you want to make time for (more on this in a bit!). It’s important to keep this schedule as closely as possible, or you’ll quickly get overwhelmed and fall behind.

Network and ask for help

Nursing school can be an incredibly stressful time, especially if you’re working while going to school. It’s easy to feel like you have to do everything yourself, and unfortunately, sometimes you will have too much to do on your own. You’ll likely have access to a list of support services, which can make a huge difference. Many nursing schools also have student associations, which are great places to find people to reach out to. Your classmates will likely understand your situation better than anyone else. They’ll also have the same struggles as you and can make great sounding boards or study partners. If you’re working, ask your co-workers if you can take breaks during certain times of the day or week. You can also reach out to your human resources department for flextime or reduced hours options.

Be kind to yourself

Nursing school will make you feel like you’re constantly behind or not doing well enough. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who is struggling or not living up to expectations. You’ll undoubtedly make mistakes along the way, and there will be times where you feel like you can’t handle it. That’s completely normal. The important thing is to not let your mistakes snowball and let those feelings of inadequacy drag you down too much. Instead, focus on your successes and forgive yourself for your mistakes. Letting go of that inner critic who always tells you that you’re not good enough will go a long way in letting you move forward.

Find a stress-relieving activity

Stress is a big cause of anxiety, and nursing school can be incredibly stressful. Finding a way to relax and de-stress can help you stay on top of your game and keep stress at bay. There are many activities that you can add to your schedule to help with this. You can try and fit a regular exercise routine into your week, which can also help with anxiety. You can also try and fit in regular moments of self-care, such as regular breaks from your schoolwork, putting your phone away when you need to focus, and eating healthy meals regularly. Another option is to find a support group for people going through similar struggles. A support group can help you find your feet and make connections with others who understand what you’re going through.

Take care of your physical and mental health

Nursing school is incredibly stressful. It’s also demanding physically and mentally, so it’s important to take care of your health. Try and get enough sleep, eat regular healthy meals, and stay hydrated. It’s often easy to let these things slip when you’re studying or working, but they’re crucial. Sleep is especially important. Not getting enough sleep can make you more anxious, and sleepiness can make it harder to focus while studying. There are also some things you can do to help mentally. While you can’t completely avoid stress, there are things that you can do to help deal with it. Meditating or doing some guided visualizations can be great for dealing with stress. Being mindful can also be helpful, as well as trying to see the positive side of a stressful situation.

You got this future nurse!

As you can see, there are many different things you can do to get through nursing school and succeed as a registered nurse. Remember that everyone goes through this, and you are not alone.