Thou shall not fail: The 10 commandments every nursing school student must live by

1. Quit buying expensive a$$ textbooks

Before you go broke shelling out big bucks for textbooks, it's worth checking Amazon and free online textbook sites for pdf versions. While they may not be the latest editions, they still pack the same crucial information.

2. Develop a study plan, ASAP

This will make studying so much easier! Your study plan is your structure. You get so overwhelmed and lost in the sea of information that it becomes difficult to see your way through. This structure will help you navigate through the chaos of information overload without drowning.

3. Start reviewing the material early

After class and after your professor has gone over the material with you, you should start studying, reviewing, and applying this information. You do not need to wait until a week before the test to start trying to learn information from weeks ago. Start learning the information before the professor's lecture fades from memory. So, when it's a week before the test, you're only reviewing and focusing on practice questions.

4. Do what works for you

Just because your classmate swears by their study method, doesn't mean it's a guaranteed success for you. They may have aced their exams by studying for eight hours every day and swallowing every word of the textbook and you're the type who only studies on weekends and doesn't even bother to flip through the pages of the textbook, but still manages to make straight A's. We all have our own unique ways of learning and what works for them may not work for you, and vice versa. It's great to have a support system of classmates who understand your struggles but don't get too caught up in comparing your study habits to theirs.

5. Practice Questions are your best friend!

The key to nursing school is learning how to APPLY the material. That means being able to put your knowledge into ACTION in real-life scenarios. The easiest way to practice applying is practice questions! This is honestly where most of your time studying should be spent in my opinion.

6. C's definitely get degrees (well once you're in nursing school)

When it comes to nursing school, it's commonly believed that you need to maintain an impressive academic record with mostly As and Bs to make the cut. However, once you're enrolled, you may realize that getting all A's is a whole different ball game, and it's perfectly okay to settle for a few Cs to keep your sanity intact. As long as you manage to score above 75% on tests (80% for some programs), you're doing just fine. While striving for all As is commendable, don't let it come at the cost of your mental well-being. Remember, Cs definitely get degrees, especially in nursing school!

7. What happens in clinical stays in clinical!

When it comes to clinicals, the golden rule is: what happens in clinicals stays in clinicals! And this rule especially applies to those glorious moments when your clinical instructor lets you leave early. It's not the time to go around bragging to your classmates about your early release. As a student, you may find yourself sitting and observing for long periods of time, while your instructor works with other students. This can get pretty dull, depending on the unit. However, your instructor may be aware of your need to study, work on care plans, or complete other assignments during this time. So, it's best to keep quiet and use this opportunity to get ahead.

8. If you're going to cram at least cram right

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you're actually learning something by cramming. At best, you're just memorizing some random facts and hoping they'll magically appear on the test. But let's be real, nursing school ain't that easy. They wanna see if you can actually apply what you've learned. I get it, some of you might not be listening to me right now, so ill just say this; if you're going to cram at least include some practice questions.

9. 2 minds are better than 1

I know some of you are committed to studying alone. But hear me out, two brains working together are unbeatable. Teaming up with just one other person every once in a while can help you fill in any gaps in your knowledge. They might know something you don't, and vice versa. Plus, teaching each other can help you both deepen your understanding of the subject matter. Don't miss out on this fun and effective way to learn!

10. ALWAYS make time for yourself!

It's crucial to always make time for yourself - you know what they say, you can't pour from an empty cup! Don't neglect those self-care activities just because you think you're too busy. Failing to take a breather and enjoy life can take a toll on your mental health, which in turn can negatively impact your studies and exam performance. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup!