The Story Behind My Nursing Journey

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by Darian Arias

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Darian Heaven. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and I am proud that I recently graduated nursing school with my RN-BSN. For this blog, I wanted to take this opportunity to share why I choose to become a nurse. Most individuals working in the healthcare field have one “life-changing” moment or experience that motivated them to pursue a career in the medical field. For me, however, it was quite the opposite.

Initially, when I first went to college, I did not know what to major in and was labeled as “undecided”. During my freshman orientation, I heard many students say that they were going to school for nursing and wanted to become an RN. It just so happens that I ended up changing my major to “pre-nursing” because I thought it was an easy major to pursue, given that many students choose this. I ended up taking my first pre-science class. Instantly, I knew that if nursing was going to be a book-based approach to learning, I wasn’t going to succeed in it. I eventually changed my major to public health because I felt like I wasn’t “smart enough” to push through nursing. As the weeks went on, I knew deep down inside that I wanted to become a nurse, so I changed my major back to nursing again. This pattern continued over and over until I finally had to ask God about what major I should choose. I asked the Lord to send me a sign of what I needed to do with my life. Later that week, He gave me three distinct signs that nursing was my calling, and I needed to go forth with it. After I received these signs, I knew that I needed to become a nurse. I knew that nursing school was going to be challenging. But no matter how hard the program was, I remained hopeful and believed that God would get me through it.

It was exactly one year after I changed my major back to nursing that I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana, Africa, for a medical brigade. My trip to Africa taught me many things, not only in the medical field but also in my personal life. It was during this trip that I received confirmation that I needed to become a nurse. 

Now, I want to dedicate my life to helping others, and nursing is the perfect career to do my calling. In this world, I believe that we are all destined to do something great in this world. I want to encourage all of you to always believe in yourself, no matter how difficult life may get.  If there is one thing that I have learned from nursing school, that is: No matter how big your goal is or how much work it takes to get there, always remain focused because anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

The Shadow Health Digital Clinical Experience

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Last semester, my cohort was introduced to SHDCE; not only as a clinical replacement, but as a learning tool as well. The change was welcomed by all, since three of our classes were incorporated into the software. Initially, we had no idea what to expect, and many shared similar thoughts, this was just another form of busy work. We quickly realized the benefits of this software when we had our first maternity, pharmacology, and didactics lecture.

Below are a few highlights on how SHDCE can make any nursing student successful of nursing courses: 

Focused Exams

These assignments are designed specifically to test student’s critical thinking abilities during patient interviews. It is a safe and comfortable learning environment that nurtures confidence and skills in nursing students. The guided prompts provided each step of the way, streamline student’s data collection by allowing us to ask the relevant questions needed. Having these specialized assignments greatly improved my patient interaction skills and my interview skills. I was able to follow the guided prompts to elicit pertinent information needed to develop a patient specific plan of care.

Here is a snapshot illustrating my final grade on one of those focused assignments. This specific assignment was on Preeclampsia, and it was incorporated into my Medical Surgical Nursing class. As you can see, the assignment grades on subjective data elicited, education and empathy provided, and objective data gathered. This is the takeaway, SHDCE greatly improved my patient interview skills by having these focused assignments.

 

Concept Labs

After using SHDCE, I cannot imagine pharmacology being taught without this software. This software should be credited for my pharmacology success. Concept labs are just amazing! You can manipulate elements of a drug or organ system to see its effect on the body.

Simulations

Learning drug actions and the effects on the body is not the only tool in regards to pharmacology. The Medication Administration simulation is exactly like the hospital setting. Students are in a real life simulation documenting, assessing, administering, and communicating with the patient about specific medication actions and side effects. The simulation tests your attention to details and knowledge about specific meds.

Here is a screen shot highlighting only a few elements in the medication administration simulation:

 

There are many more elements to SHDCE. It is up to each student to utilize the resource to be successful in nursing. If a concept seems difficult to understand, maybe try SHDCE concept labs. If confidence is your issue, try practicing a focus assessment. Maybe that will boost your confidence in asking patients the appropriate questions. Remember, we are accountable for our education.

How To Make the Most of Your Time in Nursing School: While Building Your Resume in The Process

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As we all know, nursing school requires time, dedication, and commitment. We spend hours away from our friends and family because we are either studying for an exam, writing a paper, completing EAQs, catching up on assigned readings, practicing for skills check off, and catching up on more reading… (the list continues until the end of the semester).

On most days, before the COVID-19 outbreak, we are on campus for lectures, didactics, study sessions, and clinical sites. This valuable time spent away from our families is used to cultivate a professional relationship with our colleagues, instructors, and various members of the healthcare team. This relationship creates the opportunity to form future references, which is very important when job searching. Your time in nursing school should have meaning that makes you a better person both professionally and personally.

Here are a few ideas on how to make the most of your time in nursing school:

  • Building Relationships with Faculty

My professor once told me that I am accountable for my education, which is very true. You need to show initiative when it comes to nursing school. Go to office hours, ask questions, explain to faculty your ideas about the program – like what can be better, or changed. Form a student group and involve your instructors.

For example, here is what I did this past semester:

I had noticed that during didactics, my peers and I struggled to remember what was practiced during class time. Most of us had different understandings of how to perform some of the skills and conflicting information was being shared. We had eight instructors for didactics, and we always receive eight different explanations for one concept. To help solve this issue, I initiated a 15 minute round table discussion at the end of every class where students and faculty discuss what was learned during that day, what skills were not understood, and address any questions that remain. Taking initiative like this shows leadership skills, your ability to think critically, and to maybe even be a future charge nurse.

  • Volunteering

Ideally, you want to volunteer in some healthcare capacity, but any volunteer opportunity is great – especially one doing something you’re passionate about. This is a great way to not only show off your various skill sets, but to learn the different scopes of practice in each profession. Make sure to add this to your resume and always put your best foot forward. A job or a recommendation might come out of this.

  • Shadowing

Shadowing is like volunteering, but also very different. To shadow an MD, RT, RN, PT etc., you must be the initiator. You must put yourself out there to land a shadowing gig. Your academic performance, your nursing skills competence, your past experiences, and a solid recommendation from your faculty or your volunteer project will aid in your shadowing opportunities. See how these aspects build on each other? Because of my clinical presence, my care plan writing, my ability to ask questions when in clinical, and willingness to observe new procedures when on a unit; I was offered to shadow a PICU RN (my clinical instructor) anytime I wanted to. This is how you build relationships with members of the team. Yes, we are students, but we are held to the standards of an actual nurse when on clinical.    

  • Clinical Presence

Never show up to clinical unprepared. Read up on your patient’s conditions the night before. Become familiar with the labs and medication your patient is on. You are a rock star when you show up to clinical prepared with questions and knowledge about your patient. Ask questions about why your patient is on a certain medication. Be engaging in your reflection session and during shift change. Your SBAR as a student nurse is a tool that helps to show not only your communication skills, but your competency as a nurse. Always have a solid recommendation in your SBAR. Your nursing peers on the unit will develop a level of respect for you and will probably request you as their student nurse. Last semester, I was unsure if I heard course crackles on my patient when auscultating the lungs. For my SBAR, I recommended that the nurse verify lung sounds because I was unsure. The same thing happened when I thought I heard mitral valve regurgitation. L1 nurses, for my program, fall within a certain scope. It was not within my scope to diagnose regurgitation, so I recommended the nurse or MD take a listen.

  • Hobbies

If you are not working, spend your “free” time in nursing school doing hobbies that you love. Create an image outside of your professional image. Personally, I’m a beekeeper. I also have two 30-foot herb gardens, I tutor middle schoolers who are interest in STEM, and I hike. That is how I spend my “free” time. These activities add to my resume and show that I have other interests outside of nursing. You become relatable to your patients and you can share stories about hiking with a patient who is anxious. Basically, add it to your arsenal when partaking in therapeutic communication.

At the end of the day, your time is your time; what you do with it is up to you. But I believe nursing school is a growing experience. Once we’re out, we are a new person.

Tips for Studying at Home

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As many of us are transitioning from in-person to online classes, studying at home can be very challenging. Our homes can be full of distractions: family members, pets, fridges, beds, Netflix… Altogether, you might find yourself less motivated and productive than usual.

As someone who used to spend all of their time studying in libraries and coffee shops, I have had to put in a lot of time and effort into learning how to study from home.

That being said, here are tips that work for me!

  1. Establish a Routine.
    Prepare to study in similar ways that you prepared to go to the library or class. Especially if you are a morning person, set a specific time to wake up and get dressed. Establishing routines can help signal to your brain that “hey, it is time to get work done.”
  2. Have a Dedicated Space.
    Whether it is a dining room table or a desk, have a designated study space. Try to reserve your bed for sleeping and avoiding studying in it. I used to make the mistake of studying in bed but I found that I could not focus while studying and, when I wasn’t studying, I was not able to easily fall asleep. Don’t do it, friends. Lastly, keep your study space clean and organized – that way, you’ll spend more time studying and less time trying to find a pen that works.
  3. Shut Off Unnecessary Technology.
    Put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode. Turn off social media on your laptop. Try not to distract yourself while you are trying to focus!
  4. Find a Study Method – with Breaks!
    I love to use the Pomodoro effect to guide by studying, which involves 25-minute work intervals with a short break (~5-minute) in between. After every 4 work intervals, you take a long break (~15-30 minutes). Bonus: I use an app on my phone that helps me and, as per above, not use my phone for other reasons while I am studying. However, you can use any timer to help keep track of time and to make sure you stay focused. Lastly, when you take breaks – make them guilt-free. Scroll through Instagram aimlessly (psst, you can check out my profile @baileybscn). These breaks are not meant for you to be productive so keep them that way!
  5. Study Groups.
    Technology is amazing, hence why we are learning from home. That being said, there is no reason that you cannot continue to study with your friends! We all know that nursing students who study together, stay together.

I know there are dozens of different tips out there, which leads to my last tip: personalize your study habits to you. My tips are not going to be helpful to everyone. Finding what works for you may be trial and error and that is okay.

Happy studying, future nurses!

Hello Nursing School, Goodbye Social Life: Balancing My Social Life and Nursing School

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Let’s face it, we have all heard “Wow, nursing? How do you have a life?” My simple answer to that question: Balance. We are all familiar with the time commitment that nursing requires – between studying for tests, preparing for clinicals, gathering patient information, or writing patho papers and care plans for patients, nursing school is a huge commitment. On top of nursing school, I’m always learning how to balance relationships, social life, volunteer work, exercising, a job, and my relationship with God. Here are few of my tips for maintaining balance in the crazy life of a nursing student!

Disclaimer: My life is not perfect and never will be. I am still learning to apply these tips in my own life, and they are helping me daily.

Plan your week and days in advance.

Having an organized agenda is very helpful for me. Before a new month begins, I go to Blackboard and write down every assignment so I don’t forget anything. I am always on top of my assignments when I write them down, but if I don’t, 9 times out of 10 I will probably forget about them! If I have plans during the week or on the weekends, I schedule my studying around what I have to do. This helps me ensure that I can have free time without worrying about missing an assignment. I have specific time frames to study, and I plan out what I’ll be studying during those times. I prioritize study time before fun events or time with friends so that when I do attend these events, I am not stressing about an assignment or test the entire time.

Communication is key.

Nursing is a huge time commitment, and some may even say you will lose friends because of it. That may be true for some people, but if you communicate with your friends and family that you’re busy, they will understand. For example, “Hey friend, I have a big pharm test tomorrow and need this time to study, can we make time to hang out on Friday? I have been so occupied with studying this week and I would love to spend time with you soon”. It’s as simple as that. If you’re at school that’s far away from family, you may even say, “Hi family, I’m sorry I haven’t called recently. I have been busy with nursing. I will call first thing in the morning. I miss you and I can’t wait to see you very soon”. Communication is key to keeping healthy relationships because no one can read your mind if you don’t tell them what’s going on. We all get caught up in the business of life, but communication allows everyone to be on the same page.

Do not procrastinate, plan how much you will study each day.

I have learned to plan full-on study days periodically throughout the month. I’ve also found that planning what I will study in a day allows me to keep focus and have valuable study time. For example, I will write in my planner: 1 hour to study for health assessment test with a break in between, then study for my check-off final for another hour. Planning out my study time prior to when I start has been beneficial for my productivity. If I start studying blindly, my focus is all over the place and basically non-existent.

PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN.

My phone is my biggest distraction. I can easily admit that I love checking Instagram and always go to Twitter for a good laugh. But – I’ve learned that leaving my phone in my dorm, as hard as it is, helps me to grind out a good study session without the distraction of my phone. If I have my phone with me, I try to put it on a different side of the room I’m in and turn it off. Having it out of sight while I’m studying helps me to keep my focus on the task at hand.

Conclusion

With these tips, I have learned how to balance daily tasks without the anxiety of not knowing how I will finish everything. Some days feel much longer than others and I do get stressed but planning and finding a balance has helped me to keep my sanity throughout nursing school. Being a Christian, a great source of my positive mindset also comes from being at a like-minded University that encourages us to lean on the grace of God to get through our days.

I hope that you take it day-by-day and remember, you are doing amazing! We all have our own journeys and each journey is beautiful. Whether you are a new college student in nursing school, or a single mom of 2 trying to balance being a mom and a student, you are doing the best you can with the cards you have been dealt. I pray you all find the strength you need to get through the hardest days of nursing school and to enjoy easier ones. Keep pushing through, you got this!

Surviving Your First Clinical

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It’s the night before your first day of clinical. You can’t sleep because you’re thinking of every possible bad outcome that could happen to your patient. You can’t stop thinking about how you will mess something up. You get to clinical in the morning and it is not as bad as you think. The patient you are assigned to is very kind and the day ends up being great.

I am sure every nursing student is familiar with this feeling and experience. As a nursing student who has completed two semesters of clinicals, here are some tips that helped me survive and excel in my first clinicals and beyond.

1. Get everything you need ready the night or morning before clinical.

If you set everything up and make it easy for yourself to grab everything and go, you will not be stressed about forgetting something or packing something you may not need.

For every clinical I have a small notebook and pen to write down reminders for my patient tasks, vitals that I need to chart, and anything that my nurse may tell me throughout the shift. Just remember to not write down any patient identifiers!

Second, I always have my stethoscope; it is a necessity! Next, be sure to always have a watch. I use a scrub watch that I attach to my scrub top because I have a personal preference of not having anything on my wrists to avoid getting it wet or keeping germs around. You will use your watch for tracking medication administration times, glucometers, vitals, and SO much more. I also keep my penlight with me for vitals and anything else you may need it for!

Since you will be washing your hands a lot, it is important to keep some unscented hand lotion with you to keep your hands moisturized. Sometimes this is not a necessity because hospitals provide their own hand lotion for you to use.

Depending on your shift, be sure to pack lunch or dinner! Pack foods that will give you energy and keep your mind and body fueled for the shift. Make sure to pack and drink LOTS of water. You need to stay hydrated so you can be your best for the patients!

Last thing is compression socks. If you have long 8+ hour shifts, these come in handy! If you pack all these items and keep them in a neat place and ready to grab before clinical, you will be all set!

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help.

You do not know everything and will, of course, need help or clarification. Do not think you are being a burden by asking your clinical instructor or Registered Nurse a question. They were in your shoes before and should understand. You may have nurses on the unit that are irritated or unwilling to help, so I would just approach them politely but do not hesitate to ask questions.

You are in the hospital to learn and become the best nurse possible. This is a cliché, but no question is a dumb question! Take advantage of the learning experience in the hospital and the opportunity to see RN’s do what you will be doing in just a few years.

3. Be humble.

It is so important to be humble in clinical. Admit when you don’t know how to do something or don’t know the right answer. The last thing you want is to make a medical mistake because you did not admit that you couldn’t complete a task properly. It is better to get a nurse to demonstrate the skill before you perform it to be sure on how to execute it.

4. Relax and enjoy the experience to learn.

Last but not least, just relax! You are a nursing student in clinical to learn. No one expects you to know everything and be able to complete every task on your own. But – that is the joy of nursing school! You are there to grow and take advantage of the opportunity to learn new skills in a hospital setting. Enjoy the amazing opportunity that you get to preview your future profession in nursing.

From my first day of clinical, I was reassured that this profession is what I want to do. Nursing is such a rewarding field because we get to care for people at their most vulnerable moments in life. That is a great role, and we get the incredible opportunity to provide care for our patients. I hope these tips help you to get through clinical. We got this!

Test-Taking Strategies

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Preparation is just one of many test-taking strategies for students. Walsh (2015) reveals that preparation is key to passing tests. Preparing for tests can be time-consuming because students generally don’t know what will be tested. Therefore, students should create enough time for preparation. They need time to study key concepts, commit to refresher courses and read through publications and manuals. Moreover, students need time to practice problems, work, and time for family and friends. Time is crucial in preparing for tests. Hence, Walsh (2015) suggests that students should begin preparing for tests as soon as possible. Early preparation builds students’ confidence for test-taking.

Self-assessment is also essential for test-taking. Students should begin performing a self-assessment once the exam date is confirmed. Walsh (2015) states that self-assessment can be done using tests related to the course and rating knowledge of the subject matter. This way, students evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and adjust accordingly before the actual test-taking date. Once students perform self-assessment, they should register for refresher courses, which are a valuable resource for test preparation (Walsh, 2015). In addition to refresher courses, students should read, review, solve practice problems, and take practice exams. Walsh (2015) suggests that students should also consider tutoring as a strategy for exam preparation. In essence, Walsh (2015) observed that tutoring allows students to cover challenging areas and gain more confidence for taking the test.

Students who prepare for tests early are more likely to excel than others. Academic success requires preparation and resource utilization, which enhances students’ confidence. Walsh (2015) says that confidence eliminates text anxiety that is caused by uncertainty and fear regarding the subject material. Thus, more preparation builds more confidence for test-taking.  

Most importantly, students should understand instructions before taking tests. Sullivan et al. (2020) observed that students are often overwhelmed when reading test instructions for the first time. However, thorough reading helps them understand the instruction and reduce anxiety. Students are often anxious about tests because they don’t know what exactly is on the test (Sullivan et al., 2020). Reading through the test more than twice helps students understand the test. Hence, Sullivan et al. (2020) encourages students to read the directions carefully to avoid mistakes that would lead to failure.

Before answering the questions, students should ensure that they understand all the requirements. Sullivan et al. (2020) found that some students rush to answer the questions and later realize that they haven’t met the requirements. For example, a test may require students to choose specific questions, but the person ends up answering all the questions because they didn’t identify the requirement. Sullivan et al. (2020) encourage students to go through the questions slowly to grasp all the requirements. This way, students avoid skipping important instructions and assuming that they know what the question asks.

References

Sullivan, B., Dunn, K., & Berry, V. (2020). Test preparation: An international comparison of test takers’ preferences. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 28(1), 13-36.

Walsh, K. (2015). How to pass exams: evidence-based advice?. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 98(6), 294-294.

How to Gain Confidence in the Clinical Setting

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Nursing students can gain confidence in the clinical setting by surrounding themselves with positivity. According to Panduragan et al. (2017), a nursing student should try to build relationships with positive people and avoid negative people. A clinical setting involves critical activities that require confidence. For example, a nurse requires confidence to provide adequate care for a patient. Therefore, a nurse should evaluate their inner circle because friends and family can affect their confidence significantly. Panduragan et al. (2017) encourage nurses to avoid individuals who affect their confidence negatively. A nursing student should put some positive enthusiasm into their interactions. In essence, Panduragan et al. (2017) found that personal problems can affect nurse performance in the clinical setting. Therefore, a nurse should focus on making positive changes rather than focusing on problems.

Another way to improve confidence in the clinical setting is by complimenting others. Confidence can lead to positivity or negativity. If someone has the confidence to compliment others, he/she is positive (Yang et al., 2015). Hence, complements show confidence. Paying people compliments has a mutual benefit; it encourages a person to speak their mind and makes the recipient feel better. Yang et al. (2015) observed that nurses who appreciate colleagues have high confidence levels. Compliments create a foundation for a conversation, which is essential in portraying confidence. Therefore, nursing students should complement colleagues in the clinical setting to enhance their confidence. Yang et al. (2015) say that people feel valued and appreciated when given a positive compliment. Appreciation is a foundation for relationships, which are essential in the clinical setting. Thus, a nursing student can cultivate healthy relationships with nurses by complimenting them; therefore, developing clinical confidence.

Most importantly, nursing students can gain confidence in the clinical setting by working on their weaknesses. According to Panduragan et al. (2017), the most important way to improve confidence is improving on things that seems challenging. Thus, Panduragan et al. (2017) encourage nursing students to do whatever there are not good at repeatedly to increased efficiency and confidence. If a person continues practicing the skill that makes them feel the least confident, they will gradually get better and improve their confidence. Rather than working hard to hide mistakes, a nursing student should admit her weaknesses to get the necessary help. Panduragan et al. (2017) state that admitting mistakes encourages a nurse to do what they believe is right. Hence, rather than governing behavior on other people’s ideas, a nursing student should do what they believe is right to gain clinical confidence.

References

Panduragan, S. L., Abdullah, N., Hassan, H., & Mat, S. (2017). Level of confidence among nursing students in the clinical setting. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 18, 404-407.

Yang, Y. O., Kim, M., Park, K. Y., & Yang, J. H. (2015). Factors influencing the confidence in core clinical skills among hospital nurses. International journal of nursing practice, 21(6), 831-838.

What to Expect Before Starting Nursing School

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Each and every one of us experiences nursing school in a different way. One thing to always keep in mind is that you are about to begin a journey on a life changing career path. One that requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and many sleepless nights.

Before you start your nursing school journey, make sure you know what qualities a nurse must embody. A nurse is an advocate for their patients – meaning you stand up for them at all times. A nurse is caring, loving, and can put all of their personal problems aside to care for someone else. Are you ready to start your journey?

To help get you ready, here’s my survival guide to starting nursing school:

Expect things to be different…

I am currently a senior nursing student and I remember when I first started nursing school. I thought my life would remain the same only with school as an addition to my life. Boy, was I completely wrong. You have to know that nursing school is very demanding, and you must learn how to balance both your personal life and nursing school. So, the takeaway here is to remember that your life will change, because nursing school will become your number one priority.

Learn how to say no…

This is a very important to note. While you’re in nursing school, life outside remains the same. Life does not wait for you – meaning that events and holidays still occur with or without you. You must learn how to say no in times where you should be putting school first. For example: let’s say you have a test next week, but the day before your exam it’s your best friend’s birthday. You have two choices. Either study in advance and attend your friend’s birthday outing, or tell your friend ‘no’ and that you will make it up to them after your exam. The takeaway here is learning how to say no to things that can be a distraction. Remember, nursing school is only for a certain time frame – and it is important to do well so that you can become the best nurse possible.

Put your schoolwork first…

In nursing school, you must learn to put schoolwork first. This is the biggest tip I can give for being successful in your nursing program. Whether in a planner or on your phone, write down all of the things you have to accomplish throughout the week. Study in advance and don’t leave things for the last minute.

Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX…

I cannot stress enough how useful this book has been to me in nursing school. It has all the information you’ll need from your first semester to your last, and I love that it’s broken down by body system. It also gives you in-depth rationales and test-taking strategies for each practice question to help you be successful on exams. This book will get you used to the types of NCLEX-style questions that you’ll also see on course exams. It also comes with access to online resources and the ability to make custom quizzes using a ton of different filters.

Test-Taking Strategies for Beginners:

  • Remember your ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)  In that order.
  • READ the test question thoroughly and remember that sometimes the last part of the sentence is really what the question is asking you. Sometimes the first part of the question can be a distraction!
  • Pay attention to the wording of the question for example “what indicates the patient needs further teaching” or if it says, “what indicates the patient understands the teaching”.
  • Learn Maslow’s hierarchy of needs!
  • Use mnemonics.My friends call me the mnemonic queen because I always come up with the funniest/craziest ways to remember things. If it sticks, use it!        
  • Always take notes in class and then go home and type them out or re-write them! I’ve found that studying right after lectures makes thing much easier to remember.
  • When studying, use the Pomodoro technique.

How to Achieve Balance in Nursing School

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The life of a nursing student can get very busy. However, it is an exciting time in our lives where we are introduced to a whole new world. We learn the language of nursing and manage a complicated course load while studying countless hours and participating in clinicals. In the midst of our crazy schedules, I believe it is important to find balance. I am a big advocate of implementing balance into my life and I love to inspire others to do the same! 

Here are some tips on how to achieve balance in nursing school 

  • Planner: A planner will help you master time management. Organizing your assignments, quizzes, exams, and volunteer events will aid you in staying on track. Managing your time should be about simplifying how you work to relieve stress rather than squeezing multiple tasks into one day. Remember work smarter, not harder. 
  • Self-care: The director of our nursing program always reminds us to make time for ourselves whether it’s watching a movie, spending time with loved ones, or hiking. Taking the time for yourself is so important for your well-being. Find ways that work best for you, it will help to reduce stress and prevent burn out. If you want to take care of others, you must first be able to take care of yourself. 
  • Practice healthy habits: Get 6-8 hours of sleep each night, drink lots of water, eat nutritious foods, and exercise. As a nursing student, your emotional and physical well-being play a role in balancing your academic and professional success. Establishing healthy habits early on in nursing school is essential. This will help to revitalize your energy and incorporate wellness into your everyday life. 

Ultimately, I hope you enjoy the beautiful journey of being a nursing student. Throughout all the challenges of nursing school that you may face, always remember to find your balance. Take the time to learn and grow from these experiences and never forget how far you have come. Invest in your mind, invest in your health, and invest in yourself.  

Six Things I Learned During my Final Year of Nursing School

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2020 is the Year of the Nurse. Florence Nightingale once said, “To be ‘in charge’ is certainly not only to carry out the proper measures yourself but to see that everyone else does so too.” I feel as if the class of 2020 is a testament to this quote. We were the bunch of future nurses experiencing a pandemic that brought together the meaning of nursing and the duties that we will fulfill as Registered Nurses in the work field.  

No one expected the world to be dealing with such a huge pandemic crisis 6 months ago, but it happened. I was starting my senior year of nursing school just months away from getting that BSN and RN license. I was expecting to do my senior preceptorship in my dream unit, Labor & Delivery/Postpartum. I was expecting to be with my friends in the study room, counting down the seconds until our exit exam and finding out we passed nursing school. I was expecting to have a big celebration with my cohorts at our pinning ceremony. I was expecting many things this year that unfortunately did not pull through because of the pandemic. And that’s okay!!! There was no book on how to go to nursing school through a pandemic, but since we’ve been in this quarantine style learning for 6 months, here are 6 things I learned during my last year of nursing school.  

  1. Online learning is harder than it looks.
    – If you love online classes, that’s awesome! If you’re more of an in-person learner, this pandemic situation may have been a struggle. Adapting to a new learning style may be difficult at first but ensure that you are staying organized and managing your time wisely. It’s important that we don’t slack off even though we are stuck at home doing school all day, every day.
  2. I have never loved my bed so much in my life.
    – I had to include this in here because for me, it’s an understatement. I never was a person who took naps but being on my butt in a chair for 5 hours can do a lot to your body. Ensure that you are taking breaks and even a nap to recharge yourself for that next lecture or even clinicals.
  3. Be patient with your school and professors.
    – Transitioning from on-campus to online was a shock to everyone. Your school probably wasn’t prepared to have to close down or make changes within the curriculum. It’s completely frustrating and I get it. I was a part of the many programs that had to do their skills check-offs online and do clinicals online (Swift River for life!). Your school’s deans and professors are doing everything they can to provide you the best education in different circumstances.
  4. Blue light glasses are your best friend.  
     – Staring at the screen all day can do damage to your eyes. Blue light glasses help to block out the blue light emitted from screens. One of my favorite blue light glasses is on Amazon! Effective and affordable! 
  5. Zoom Study Meetings are a LIFESAVER
    – My friends and I always met up with each other to study for quizzes and tests but not these past 6 months. Of course, we had to maintain the social distance of 6 feet apart, so we did the next best thing: Zoom Study Meetings! It’s the best way to stay connected with your friends while getting work/studying done.  
  6. Cherish the last few moments you have with your cohorts.  
    – I know that it is hard to accept that you cannot see your nursing friends right now. But we just have to make the best of the situation. Reminisce on the times you guys had at school and think of all the memories you could make after graduating nursing school and passing NCLEX®! 

But if you are a nursing student right now, something I want to tell you is everything will be okay. You are on this path of nursing for a reason and do not let any external barriers get in your way. There’s a world full of sick people waiting to be treated. Although the circumstances aren’t what we expected it to be, we need to remember that the future is bright. Provide yourself a good foundation with positive affirmations. 

I AM capable of passing nursing school. 

I WILL be a Registered Nurse. 

I CAN do anything I set my mind to. 

When Your Battery Runs Low

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Burnout is defined as “a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity”. Most of us hear this word and will deny that we are experiencing it. We tend to ignore it and think of it as something that will happen after years of working in the same position or at the same place, but it does not always happen like this. There are a lot of signs of burnout that we are not aware of.

As we all know, burnout can happen to any of us who are continually exposed to high levels of stress. Being caregivers, we reach this stage much faster than others. Speaking from my personal experience, those who struggle with their mental health to begin with will feel that loss of enjoyment and accomplishment at an even faster rate.

So how can we prevent this caregiver burnout? Here’s a list of things you can do:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Needing help doesn’t make us a bad nurse/Health Care Professional (HCP)/caregiver. Remember that we are not alone in this battle. If it must, consider seeking professional support. There is no shame in healing yourself.
  • Allow yourself to take a break. We often think of taking care of ourselves as the selfish thing to do when we have so many others to care for. But allowing ourselves to refuel is vital. Focus on relaxing and recharging during your rest days. Be firm about your needs. Talk to others and let them know what’s happening.
  • Ask someone to keep you accountable for your self-care. Have someone check in on you every once in a while to make sure you’re doing the things you should be doing for yourself. They can help keep you accountable for things like taking your medicine, making appointments, eating/drinking enough, cheering you up, and more. Remember, no man is an island!
  • Allow yourself to feel your feelings, and then find a way to express them. This may look different for everyone. Never invalidate, deny, reject, or dismiss your feelings. Learn how to just accept and feel them. One way to overcome burnout is to meditate, pray, or journal your feelings or whatever comes into your mind.
  • Work on prioritization and organization. Once you know what you must do and when you have to do things, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks. We were never made to take everything on. No matter how small the progress is, still consider it as an achievement.
  • Communication and honesty with your support team and with yourself are key throughout all of this. If you’ve tried all these steps and you still find yourself drained and unhappy with where you are, consider a change. Admitting that you need something new is not a failure. Sometimes, taking that leap of faith is all we need!

Burnout is real, and it is rough. Be open to help and be open to change. And remember, you are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for!