Written by Rashana Mahamane.
When it’s time to take the exit exam, many of us begin to feel overwhelmed. No matter which exit exam you’re taking, it’s a lot of material to cover and somehow remember for the exam. But, don’t stress!
A good study plan and study materials are all you need. The best thing you can do is identify your weak areas, meaning the information you remember the least. It’s also important to know your strong areas. How do you accomplish this? Take a practice exam. If you have the NCLEX Saunders book for RN or LPN/LVN, then you’re in luck because the online portion of the book comes with a pre- and post-test for the NCLEX. After taking the pre-test, you get results that pinpoint the subjects in which you’re strong and weak. The analysis of the exam is pretty detailed and creates a personalized, 6-week study guide that puts the different subjects in the order of your weaknesses (what you should concentrate on first, next, etc.). If you follow this schedule, a lot of the stress that comes with preparing for the exam will hopefully subside.
If you don’t have the book, that’s okay. Take an online practice test and review the material you got right and wrong. Pay attention to the areas where you missed the most questions. For example, maybe maternity, pediatrics, or cardiology. Based on the number of questions you missed, arrange the content in priority order from the subject where you missed the most questions to the subject where you missed the fewest questions. This organization will allow you to strengthen your weak areas and increase your chances of passing the test on the next try.
In addition to the pre- and post-tests, there are many practice questions available online. Those questions allow you to quiz yourself on the information as you study, enabling you to see how well you grasp the material. Once again, if you don’t have the book with access to the online practice questions, you can use any nursing quizzing program you may have purchased during your nursing program.
If you follow these tips on preparing for the exam, I have faith that you can ace it. Remember to challenge yourself, but don’t compare yourself to others. Wishing you all the success in the world!
Written by Joy Clark.
Now this may seem like a laughing matter for some, but I think it's something that can be (at least in part) attained.
My last blog piece was on living a balanced life, managing time wisely and making time for the things you enjoy. Those things may assist me in being stress free but there is more that goes into living stress free.
I actually wrote a research paper last year on the effects of stress in nursing school. Qualitatively, we assessed the positive and negative behaviors that developed due to stress. Surprisingly, exercise and healthy eating seemed to remain unchanged. However, a troubling change in sleep patterns emerged. The most distressing example of this, came from a student who reported that each night before an exam they would wake up every fifteen minutes to check the clock, despite setting six alarms.
The results of the study, aside from the change in sleep patterns, were fairly positive. We concluded that everyone found a way to manage their stress somehow but that no two-people managed it the same. I acknowledge that some level of stress is good. It enables us to push through for those all-nighters or make important, quick decisions. Yet living with constant stress is unhealthy, and leaves us feeling drained.
Let me briefly describe my own struggles with stress and share a few tips that I have found to be life-saving.
I’ll begin by stating I have never failed to turn an assignment in on time…yet. However, this past September I was more disorganized than I had ever been. Due dates loomed over my head and I felt unprepared for every one of them. I was not prioritizing my education and I felt like I was finishing my senior year strictly out of obligation. I was continuously fatigued. Finally, after complaining about the mountains of work I had and consistent stress, a good friend reminded me who I was.
I am an organizer. She encouraged me to make my lists and fill my calendars. Previously, I assumed I had so little time that I couldn't take time to plan. However, taking ten minutes to spend with my syllabi and daily planner so I could organize my assignments brought immediate peace.
I like to say that my house depicts my mind; when it is in a disarray, so am I. Yet, when it is clean and tidy I feel calm and organized. I lie to myself constantly saying that I don't have time to put my clothes away. Inevitably, it doesn't take long for piles of laundry to collect on my floor. Somehow, it only takes five minutes to actually put them away and I always feel so relieved when I’m finished.
There are many more things that can reduce your stress. Planning a girl’s night out, a night in, date night, studying ahead of time, getting assignments/group projects done ahead of time, even positive thinking can make a major difference in our week, and the list goes on and on. Every person is unique. If being an uptight planner doesn't work for you, that is ok! While nothing is going to take away pre-exam jitters, organization is what has made a big difference for me. I advise you to explore different techniques and find what works for you.
Wishing you a happy, less stressful, New Year!
Written by Meagan MacDonald.
Balancing a family, nursing school, and trying to have some sort of social life is not easy. Nursing school on its own requires so much time and dedication, plus having a family to take care of sometimes makes me wonder how I can get everything done.
When I feel completely overwhelmed I’ve found it’s best to leave the house, and either go to school or the public library. This separation between school and home makes assignments easier to complete since there’s less distractions. To be honest, most of my studying at home is done after everyone is asleep. For example, I have a 12-hour clinical, I get home, cook dinner, get the baby fed and ready for bed, then do some homework and get to bed at some point. Talk about a busy day? What is important for you to realize is that it’s all manageable.
After a long day in clinical, it’s nice to come home, take a breath, and hang out with my boys. This time stands as a reminder as to why I work so hard and do what I do. My husband works until 6 at night and leaves for work around 5:30 in the morning, so we both have very long days. After everyone is settled, and I finally do get to sit down to study, the house is quiet, and it’s time for me to accomplish what I need to for school.
My recommendation to anyone beginning nursing school would be to find that time slot, whether its early in the morning or after everyone goes to bed, to give yourself time to get your school work done and prepare for what you need. Also, don’t forget to give yourself some “me” time. Whether it’s watching your favorite tv show or getting your nails done, find time to do things that you enjoy and make time to relax.
I know balancing nursing school with the day-to-day sounds tough (and believe me it is), but it is totally possible and completely worth it.
Written by Ari Anderson.
There is no question that life as a nursing student is nothing short of busy; somedays there is barely enough time in the day to eat and sleep! We can probably all agree that if we could stretch our day more than 24 hours or freeze time for a bit to accomplish all our tasks with ease, we absolutely would. Since this is not a possibility.... yet, here are some ‘nursing student life-hacks’ that I have picked up along the way that have really helped me with time management during my schooling.
Each student has certain things they do to help them achieve their necessary tasks daily. Some things work and some don’t for certain types of people and their way of accomplishing them. What are some things you’ve learned in nursing school that help you? Share them with us!
Written by Alannah Davis.
Nursing school can be very overwhelming at times, and sometimes you would rather go shopping or watch a movie instead of studying for an exam. When this happens later that night or the next day you are frantically trying to get everything you need to do finished in order to feel semi-prepared for your exam or to turn your homework in on time. Generally, everyone is guilty of this, including myself. This creates copious amounts of unnecessary stress, and in my case, a lack of sleep when I already don’t get enough. I have finally learned my lesson about procrastinating after countless nights of barely sleeping. Below I have included 5 steps to help you keep from procrastinating:
Written by Kate Dookie.
As nursing students, we are constantly busy. We have virtual calendars, paper agendas, and to-do lists to keep track of our slightly chaotic lives. Towards the end of nursing school, we have the privilege of adding “study for the NCLEX” and “land my dream job” to the ever-growing list of tasks. After years of studying, we will begin to pursue careers as nurses. So, as soon-to-be-grads, how can we make ourselves marketable to potential employers?
First, begin to network while still in school. There are many professional organizations that will allow students to attend, such as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses or the Society of Pediatric Nurses. Many of these meetings offer education regarding their specific specialty, so you can add to your education as you network.
Second, evaluate your previous work experience. Even if you have not worked in healthcare, many job skills will ease your transition into nursing. Have you served in a restaurant? You’ve mastered time management. Have you worked in customer service? You have good people skills and can connect with guests (and patients). Have you worked in retail? Your organizational skills are sought after. These job skills are important to broadcast when you begin to write your resume.
Next, assess your clinical experience. Did you have a unit you loved learning on? Did you connect with a nurse or a nurse manager on that unit? When you are learning in a hospital setting, introduce yourself to the nurse manager and ask what they look for in new hires. Ask your preceptor questions and learn as much as you can about the unit’s procedures. When units hire a new graduate nurse, they want to make sure you are teachable.
Above everything else, don’t give up! Decide on your dream job, develop your resume, collect a few letters of recommendation, and remember that you have put in years of hard work and studying to land this job!
Written by Justina Dreschler.
Getting involved in something takes time, effort and often times a financial commitment. Nursing school is a huge commitment in and of itself, so it’s easy to ask this question when it comes to leadership opportunities during nursing school.
Why should you get involved? Well, I can tell you from personal experience that it is worth the time, effort and energy! During my first semester of nursing school I was actively involved in my SNA chapter at my university. Before I knew it, I was approached by the previous President of the club and she encouraged me to run for a position and currently I am the President. I was not too sure about it at first because I was involved in other things and nursing school is already a big commitment. However, I am so glad that I chose to run because now I look back on all the opportunities that have come up because of my willingness to take a risk.
Some of the amazing benefits of being involved may include connections with local hospitals, professors, other staff at your university’s nursing school knowing who you are and willing to write recommendations, and the opportunity to attend conventions. In my time of being in a leadership position, I have been able to grow in my personal and professional skills as I interact with several different people to help coordinate events. I also have grown in public speaking as I have lead several meetings of up to 100 students, and spoke at different events in which hospital representatives attended. I have made a name for myself in the College of Nursing at my university and most professors know who I am and can see my work ethic by the amount of effort I put into the club. I have attended several conventions both on the state and national level and have been a delegate at both. I’ve been a part of national level change we make as the National Student Nurses’ Association when we vote on resolutions and join movements that are influential to give our patients the best quality of care we can.
Overall, I completely recommend getting involved because this blog post only scratches the surface of what I have gained from my time leading the SNA chapter at my university. I feel more qualified to take on the world of applying to several different hospitals as I have all this valuable experience under my belt. It may take some time and effort but it will pay off in the end!
Written by Ari Anderson.
“Begin with the end in mind” as said by Steven Covey, is one of my favorite quotes. In nursing school, we often get so wrapped up in focusing on the present and just “getting through” it all, that we tend to forget to also start preparing for the next step—getting a nursing job! Although the job outlook for nursing is positive, with the field expected to grow about 15% from 2016-2026 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018), this doesn't necessarily make things any easier for ‘new grad' nurses. Applying for new grad nurse positions is a competitive process and should be approached with strategy and extra care. There are many aspects of the application process that the student nurse should try their best to excel in and positively set themselves apart from the other applicants. Here is some advice directly from a nursing supervisor, an experienced charge nurse, and an experienced staff nurse who have all participated in the hiring of new grad nurses
The Application
The application is the first thing seen by the hiring managers before they even consider bringing you in to interview you for a position. Having a strong resume that sets you apart from the average applicant will help you better your chances of making it further in the application process. Here is some advice on how to construct your resume and a few things that hiring managers look for that makes your resume stand out.
The Interviewing Process
First impressions are extremely important and can make or break how the rest of the interview progresses. Here are a few things you should keep in mind before and during an interview, to make your interview the best it can be.
The Final Steps
After it is all said and done, then comes the worst part: the waiting game! Although in a perfect world, it would be amazing to be offered the job ‘on the spot', often times the hiring manager would prefer to meet and interview all of their options and then compare everyone so they can pick the new grad nurse(s) that they feel is the best fit. After an interview, it is always a good practice to send a follow up “Thank you” email. About a day after the interview, follow up with the hiring manager and thank them for their time and express how much you enjoyed the opportunity to speak with them. Finally, if there is a follow up call asking for further information, respond politely and promptly. These are all things that will positively affect the outcome.
Hopefully following these tips will help you get the nursing job of your dreams! Good luck to those in the application process and those who are approaching it. I want to give a special thanks to Barbara McGuinness, RN, MS, the Nursing Supervisor on the Heart and Vascular Unit at AAMC, Laura Kistler, RN, BSN, B-C, Charge Nurse on the Heart and Vascular Unit, and Diana Cole RN, BSN, an experienced staff nurse on the Heart and Vascular Unit for their help and feedback with this post.
Written by Joy Clark.
We have all heard that nursing students have no lives, seen the t-shirts that state "I can't I'm in nursing school", or heard people say "I'll sleep when school is over". However, I want to give you hope that this chaotic lifestyle isn't always the reality. I was not willing to simply stop living when I started nursing school.
I have always lead a pretty jam packed life. From working part time in high school, participating in sports, and taking AP classes. Then into college with 18 units, joining clubs and playing on intramural sports teams. My life has been full, but never overwhelming. Neither was my transition from my exhaustive prerequisites into nursing school. Time management has always been an area of my life I had to stay on top of.
Nursing school did change a few things. I no longer looked at assignments and did them in the order they were due. Instead, I learned to work as far ahead as possible. If I found myself with a free afternoon I would write a paper even if it was not due for another month. The syllabus usually does a great job outlining assignments and utilizing it to get as many projects done ahead of time really relieves a lot of stress. I also learned I needed more than just one day to study for an exam. On days I had extra time in the morning I would review PowerPoints from that week to keep the information fresh.
The most important part of balance is making sure you allow time for things you enjoy so you don't get burned out. Saturday's were my day off. I would sleep in, play ultimate frisbee, go out for lunch, volunteer at my church and then go out in the evening. I made sure that I saw friends outside my nursing world by getting lunch/dinner with them throughout the week. I strategized my study habits to ensured that if there was an event I wanted to go to, even one that was the night before an exam, I had studied sufficiently ahead of time.
Now you might be thinking this girl must never have slept. I usually managed 6 hours of sleep a night.
I pray that this gives you hope and relieves some of your fears if you are an incoming nursing student. Plan out your days, use your time wisely, and schedule in fun things! Spend an hour at lunch with a friend. Take a nap when you need one. Say yes to going to the movies on Friday. Just ensure that you are aware of your time spent and that you are focused when you are studying. Bring balance into your life.
“Wherever you are be all there” Jim Elliot
Written by Kate Dookie.
Nursing school is one of the most intense and stressful programs for students. Many hear how time-consuming and difficult it may be, but you never understand it until you have jumped off the diving board, head first, into your nursing school curriculum. Nurses have their own language, including nursing diagnosis, medical terminology, and the many abbreviations for all the above. It is important to remember, that it is difficult just to begin nursing school. If you are in your first semester, give yourself a pat on the back; you made it through all the prerequisites and entrance exams.
As you continue through your program, you will experience many accomplishments, a little anxiety, and possibly, a few bad days. It's important to remember that we all have bad days. There is not a single person going through nursing school right now that will not have a bad day. Bad days are okay. You might have a bad day because you didn't score as well on a test as you would have liked. Or, you did not pass your checkoff or dreaded simulation on your first try. Maybe, you had a tough patient during clinicals and it pulled at your heartstrings. No matter the reason, you have bad days because you care about your education and most of all, your future career. You care because you know how important your education is, because you desire to be the best nurse you can to provide exceptional care to your patients. So, when you have that awful day, tears are streaming down your face, and you consider giving up, just know that you are right where you are supposed to be.
On these bad days, give yourself a break. Find a way to relieve some of your stress, like going to the gym, taking a yoga class, cooking some comfort food, spending time with your family or friends, or escaping into a good (non-nursing) book. Have a friend that you call to vent to or go out to dinner with a group of your friends, they are there to celebrate the good times and support you during the rough days. Take the night off and remember the next day will be a new day, full of opportunity.
When you awake the next day (hopefully refreshed) take a minute to evaluate the previous day. What made it so bad? Did you not do well on that dreaded nursing school test? (Don't worry, those Select All That Apply Questions make us all cringe.) Evaluate how you studied and change what didn't work. This is trial and error. For me, using Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing helped ensure I really knew the information. After I mastered the concepts, I began my practice questions to prepare for the test.
If you didn't pass your checkoff/simulation, know you are not alone! Many don't pass the first time, and that's okay. The reason you have simulations are to prepare you for “real life” when you have graduated, and you have that beautiful license number that makes you a Registered Nurse. These can be difficult because they want to make sure you are prepared to assess and care for your patients in the field. If you didn't pass the first time, go practice! Remember that you are still learning, and you are preparing yourself to be a safe, exceptional nurse.
When you have a bad day because a patient really tugged at your heartstrings, know that this is because you truly care. Compassion and caring is something they cannot teach you in nursing school but are qualities that will make you a great nurse. Find a stress relief outlet like we discussed before and continue to use this as you graduate and become a nurse.
Bad days are okay! With the bad days, you will have many good days. Keep your eye on your long-term goals and know that you are one day further than you were yesterday. Keep pushing forward and be proud of your accomplishments, there are more to come!
Written by Alannah Davis.
Nursing school is a roller coaster of emotions, and to be completely honest the first year feels like you are going on the scary upside-down ride at the carnival for the very first time. You feel terrified during orientation and oh boy the first day of clinicals might be one of the hardest things you have ever done, but if you just keep pushing through you will realize that it is filled with experiences that will make it all worth it.
Nursing school coursework and clinicals are hard don't get me wrong but learning the tricks to keep yourself calm and focused are some of the most important parts.
Step One: Do NOT Procrastinate!!!!
This was the toughest thing that I had to learn. I was used to being able to complete a homework assignment or a project the night before it was due and not even bat an eye. Saving 100 practice questions for OB that were due the same day of the test was not the smartest move of my nursing school career, and my grade on the first exam definitely could vouch for me. If you know that you have an assignment due in a week and have a little extra time, make sure to do it then and skip the shopping trip.
Step Two: Actually Study.
I was never a good studier before this past year, but when my grades were not all A's like I was used to I decided I needed to change my study habits. I practiced studying the same day as I learned the material in class and not the night before the test. I am still guilty of not studying as much as I should until the last minute, but I have gotten a lot better. This takes a lot of practice and dedication, but in the end your grades will improve.
Step Three: Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help.
This is something that is very important that you must learn in order to succeed throughout nursing school. You have to realize that your professors are there to help you and not hurt you, as well as your peers in the classes above you. If you don't understand something or are even confused on assignment it is always better to ask someone who can point you in the right direction. Ultimately one day you will be in charge of saving someone's life so now is the time to get clarification on whether something is correct or not.
Step Four: Get Sleep and Take Care of Yourself.
This is the most important step that I have given to survive nursing school. Sleep is an amazing thing and you really don't retain anymore information after 2:00 a.m. On test day make sure you get plenty of sleep. Also make sure that you are taking care of yourself mentally and physically. You can't drink coffee and energy drinks or eat chicken nuggets for every single meal, even though I personally wish I could. You also need to have some fun. I like to go shopping, running, or mostly come home and visit my puppy.
If you just take a deep breath and realize that nursing school isn't impossible your life will be so much easier your first year! I hope this article helps.