Strategies for Success in Nursing School

Time ManagementStress Management

Study Skills

What About These Issues?

These 3 things are critical to students’ success in Nursing SchoolThey are all interrelatedYou need to:

Understand themWork on themMaster them

Closer LookTime Management

How you manage your time?Most think they know how to manage their time, but they DO NOTNursing school must be the priority

Stress ManagementHaving Nursing school be the priority WILL cause you stressYou must be able to balance it with the rest of your lifeYou must be able to manage it or it will do you inMust do it everyday. It is a lifestyle, not a quick fix

Closer LookStudy Skills

Most students do NOT know how to studyParticularly

Prepare for classActively listen in classTake notesReview after classRead their text book for comprehensionStudy for learning not memorizationApply recent material to really learn it

Time ManagementLet’s take a test (It is nursing school after all)Where does your time go? test

Time + Nursing School

If you are taking an 8 credit hour nursing class, then your only in school 8 hours a week. Right?Wrong: Your 8 credit course gives you

4 hours for class4 hours for lab preparation

For every hour of class the NLN requires 3 hours of clinical

4 hours of class = 12 hours of clinical

How Much Time Does One Nursing Class Take?

So let’s figure out the hours for your 8 credit classIt wouldn’t be nursing school without math

8 credit hours

+ 12 clinical hours

20 hours

20 hours of direct time on your nursing course

What About Study Time?

There is a general rule in college that every credit hour, will require 2 hours of study time.Nursing school is probably 3:1

8 credit hours

X 2 hours

16 hours

So what do we have so far?

20 hours of time in class or clinical

+ 16 hours of study time

36 hours of time each week

Time + Nursing School

So you will spend a minimum of 36 hours on your nursing class36 hours is a full time job

This doesn’t even take into account time spent completing clinical paperwork

How Do You Swallow an Elephant?

One bite at a time

The elephant here is NURSING SCHOOL

1 day at a time1 hour at a timeYou can do it

Time ManagementYou need to know how to manage time using a calendarSteps in making a weekly calendar

Stress Management

What is YOUR stress level?What are your biggest stressors?How are you going to manage them?Hints:

YOU must manage themYou probably CAN manage themIf YOU can’t, you will not succeedIt may not be the time for you to be here

Myth About Stress Management

This is impossible to manage. Probably not true unless you have personal stressors that are not under control. Millions of students do it every day. We have all done it.What do I mean by IT?

Go to schoolStudyWorkFamilyLife

What Are the Personal Stressors That Will Do You

in?Problems with your spouse or partnerProblems with your childrenNon-supportive family Non-supportive friendsFinancial issuesHealth problemsWork problems

Un-addressed personal psychological issues

Anxiety DepressionGriefAngerPsychiatric problems

You MUST have a handle on these types of issues

Did I Forget a Big One?YES: TOO MUCH WORK!One of the most common things students say: I have to work!One of the most common things professors say: They shouldn’t be working full time!What’s the obvious problem here?It CAN’T be both ways

Do You HAVE to Work?If you do, it can NOT be the priorityYou must work around it, school can not work around your jobAsk for a break (help) from employer, you just might get itCan it be part time? (Insurance)Remember time managementSounds harsh? To bad!You will not succeed unless you have this mind set

How Stressed Does Nursing School Make You?Very stressed and it’s not just the amount of time that must be devoted to it. Other sources of stress in Nursing SchoolInadequate knowledge. You can’t know everything all the time, but you have to know a lot most of the time

In classIn clinicalFor exams

Inadequate support from family and/or peersReal or imagined pressure from instructorsFear of making a mistake or “hurting someone”Actually making mistakes or doing poorlyDealing with pain, death and dying

Symptoms of Stress?

Feel: overwhelmed, fatigued or angryFrequent minor physical complaints or illnessesFeelings of fear or anxietyStarting, returning or an increase in smokingDependence on caffeine usageSubstance abuses

Coping With Stress in Nursing School

Basics Maintain balance in life (make time for school, family, yourself)Plan daily relaxation or quiet timeGet outside each day for sunlightPlan physical activity (at least 3X week)Eat wellSleep wellAvoid cramming or staying up all night

Coping With Stress in Nursing School

Put yourself firstLearn how to say NOLearn how to ask for help

Help with errands, children, studying, etcHelp with feelings

Share feelings (not complaints) with your peersCreate support groupsFind a mentor

Coping With Stress in Nursing School

Grow UPAlways be prepared ahead of time (class, exams and clinical)Take on a professional demeanorDo not miss classLearn to accept mistakes; grow from themAccept responsibility for your statusLearn to handle problems constructively instead of defensivelyAccept what cannot be changed

You must constantly evaluate your level of

stressIf you’re not aware of your level of stress then you can’t manage itYou have to do a lot of self evaluationIf you’re not good at it, you better get good or find tools to help youHere are some examples:

Study Skills for Nursing School

You need to understand the process of learningMost information in nursing school cannot be memorized it must be appliedHow do you go from sitting and listening in class and reading your textbook to applying what you’ve been taught

The First Step in Improving Your Studying Skills

Understanding and improving your foundationPoor basic foundation skills brought into nursing school. 3 most common

Poor reading skillsPoor math skillsPoor computer skills

There are resources available to address these, but only YOU can do it

Next Step in Improving Studying Skills

Analyzing your overall strengths and weaknesses as they related to studying

Improving Your Study Skills

Preparing for classComplete assigned readings

To prepare for the large amount of material in each classCan scan, no need to read in depthDo not highlightFocus on pathophysiology

Right before class spend 5 – 10 minutes reviewing notes from previous class

Improving Your Study Skills

Actively listen in classIf you have trouble paying attention sit in frontMake eye contact with instructorListen when others ask questions and/or ask yourselfThings you should be thinking about:

What will this client look like?How will I assess them?How will I take care of them?What are the priorities?How will I know when something is wrong?

Improving Your Study Skills

Take notesIf you have difficulty studying, do not rely on power point handouts – take additional notes Use a proven “method” for taking notes (see web-sites and on-line videos)Write legibly in an outline formIf using PP then write in “focus” notesLeave space in your notes to later fill in answers to previously asked questions

Improving Your Study Skills

Review after classSpend 5 minutes right after class reviewing notes or power pointsIf you have questions – ask for clarification immediately after classDo not change gears to quickly

A few minutes now will save study time laterThis is part of the “rehearsal” process for learning

Re-read your notes fully within 24 hours of class

Improving Your Study Skills

Read your text book for comprehensionRead the assigned chapters for topics covered in class within 48 – 72 hoursUse a “proven” method for reading text books (see web-sites and on-line videos)Use your notes for outline of what to focus on and make comparisons between book and notesGet it into long term memory by writing summary of each section in your own words

Improving Your Study Skills

In order to really learn, rememberThat nursing is all about the process and applying what you’ve learnedExams primarily test your ability to apply this processThe NURSING PROCESS!

AssessmentPlanningInterventionEvaluation

Improving Your Study Skills

Study for learning, not memorizationReviewing your notes is important, but

Just reading you power points 5, 10, 50 times will not help you in nursing exams, it’s all about applicationGo back to readings and read questions at end of chapter and complete any learning activities suggested by bookPay close attention to things that are bolded, italicized, underlined or tabled as well as medication management and nursing interventions

Improving Your Study Skills

Study actively with partner or group

Take turns asking questions that focus on application

What will this patient look like?How will I assess and take care of them?What are the priorities based upon the problems?What will I teach them and how will I know they have learned it?

Improving Your Study Skills

Pay attention to medication management

What is the class of drug? How does it work?How will I know it is working or not working?What are the side effects? What teaching does it require?Quiz yourself

Improving Your Study Skills

Apply recent material to really learn itAlone or in your group:

Develop a concept map for each disorderIdentify: pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, assessments and interventionsUse nursing process by developing a care plan for each topic to be covered on exam

Web ListA multitude of sites to assist youNo one can do it for you, you have to put in the timeView the videos for more in depth information about these topics, especially reading and note taking