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Written by Jehr Dotson
I never thought I would be writing a post like this so soon. It seems like I was just signing my forms to attend orientation yesterday. I would like to say that I was successful in nursing school, but I want you to know that our journey in nursing will always be a journey of endless learning. So instead, I would like to believe that there is always room for improvement.
Before I get into my top five tips for nursing students, I’d like to introduce myself. I am Jay Dotson. I graduated from the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing back in May 2021. I accepted a position at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on a Cardiac Stepdown Unit. After two years of tutoring my peers during my undergraduate studies, I decided to enroll in a Master of Science in Nursing program this fall to advance my degree in nursing with a concentration in education. After the completion of my MSN, I want to go back for a post-certification Nurse Practitioner (NP) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
As someone who has been in your shoes, here are my top five tips for nursing students:
Most students struggle with managing their time. I think it is important to create a realistic schedule that reflects everything that you are doing for a day including commuting, cooking, and any other tasks that take up more than 30 minutes of your time. This will allow you to see how much time you must study and to see what adjustments you may have to make to achieve a particular study goal.
Most people are afraid to ask questions out of fear, but most likely your peers have the same questions that you may have. Asking questions allows you to gain clarification on a specific topic and prevent mistakes on an exam or even worse, in the clinical setting. Asking questions shows that you are engaged in the topic and will open doors to new information. Always carry a mini notebook to write down any questions that you may have. Aside from your professors, it is important to research when you don’t understand something.
As a tutor myself, I learned the importance of going to tutoring even when I think I understand something. I noticed the most successful students attended tutoring, including myself as a tutor. Nursing school requires a different level of thinking and a new way of answering questions. Tutors will give you other ways to think about a topic and provide sample questions or allow you to teach them what you know and give you feedback on areas that you can improve in.
Nursing school is a temporary sacrifice for a long-term goal. It is important to set boundaries with family and friends that want to spend time with you all the time. Learning to say no can be a challenge at first but there is nothing worse than knowing you could have done better if you just said no. Most of your time should be dedicated to your studies but it is never a bad thing to celebrate an exam with friends/family. Balance is key. I would always reward myself with eating out with friends or spending time with my family after an exam.
Mentors are an absolute cheat code to nursing school. Having a mentor or three made a significant impact on my journey through nursing school. Most of my mentors were professors or staff at my college of nursing. They were able to assist me with anything academically. Most importantly, they guide me through the program and provide a listening ear whenever needed. Even months after graduating, I still have access to my mentors, and they give me tips and advice for transitioning into my role as a Registered Nurse. I am always grateful for my mentors and I believe that every nursing student should establish a relationship with a mentor before graduating.
