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I bet when you received your acceptance for nursing school, you never thought you’d be taking some of your most vital classes through a computer. When COVID took over our world, it unfortunately changed the way most of us did nursing too and left most of us wondering…what now? If you’re anything like me, you thrive off of face-to-face interaction, hands-on learning, and a set schedule. Because of this, I already knew that moving to a virtual format would not come without challenges. Because I attend an accelerated BSN program, my classes change every 8 weeks. With that being said, I am currently in my 4^th online class and I wanted to share some tips and tricks I have found useful in making the most of being a virtual nursing student.

Form a Routine.

This is so very important. Being at home can make it easy to fall into your usual day-to-day routine and push off school related tasks. This is an easy way for you to fall behind. By creating a daily schedule, you are putting yourself back into a routine and practicing self-discipline.

Be Active in Class.

Although your professors may not be right in front of you like they would be in a traditional classroom, it is important to know that you still have your faculty’s support. If you are not understanding a concept, don’t be afraid to ask because chances are someone else in the classroom doesn’t understand as well. I know it can be intimidating to ask questions during online lecture, but the only silly question is the one left unasked! Remember that this is your learning experience and keeping an open line of communication with your professors is an important part of your success.

Use a Planner.

I cannot stress this enough! It is so easy to lose track of deadlines and due dates when your days seem to run together. Taking a day out of the week to fill out your planner will help you tremendously by allowing you to see what is due when and also how much extra time you’ll have from week to week.

Connect with Classmates.

Remember that during this challenging time, you are not alone! Connect with your classmates and set up virtual study dates. This is a great way to bounce ideas off of each other and to gain a different point of view on concepts of nursing.

Open Mindset

While this is a very trying time for most of us, it is important to remain optimistic. As future nurses, resilience is important, and this is the perfect opportunity to practice that personality trait. We did not ask for this and unfortunately it is the way of the world right now so keeping an open mind and remaining positive is important. Remind yourself of why you want to a nurse and remember that this is only temporary!