Success Strategies for Nursing Students Prepared by: N. Gail Yearick, RN, BSN 11/12

WELCOME This slide presentation touches upon several elements that will help you to be successful in nursing school. It is intended to offer some assistance for identifying some of the challenges in nursing school and some ideas for overcoming them. Best wishes to you on your journey into the nursing profession!

Nursing School – What to expect … Lots of studying Variety of experiences Classroom Laboratory Clinical

Care Planning Process Assessment Plan Implementation Evaluation Nursing Diagnoses Outcomes Interventions Implementation Evaluation

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Time Management Schedule your time wisely! Review your time schedule routinely. Don’t wait until the last minute!

Stress Management Recognize stress and its sources. Have a plan for accomplishing tasks. Plan for relaxation.

Motivation Identify your goals. Have a plan to accomplish your goals. Stick with the plan. Don’t proscrastinate!

Confidence Identify reasons to feel good about yourself. Work to strengthen your weaknesses. Recognize that you are a student and that learning takes time.

Personal Health Management Balance work and play! Manage any health conditions that you have. Eat, exercise and sleep properly.

Concentration Set aside a place and time to study. Know your goals and the plan for accomplishing them. Divide work into short term goals that can be accomplished quickly.

Reading Strategies Have a reading system. SQRW – Survey, Question, Read, Write REDW – Read, Examine, Decide, Write

Note-taking Cornell Note-taking System Divide note page into two columns. Write key word/concept in first column. List pertinent information in second column.

Study Skills Mnemonics Grouping Alphabetizing Rhymes, songs, poems Study cards Outlining RCRC (read, cover, recite, check) Rehearsal Visual aids Chaining Color coding

Study Groups How to get started … Functions Exam prep Homework completion Note-taking Learning strategies Reading How to get started … Identify 3-5 classmates to work with. Decide when and where to meet. Identify goals and set agenda. Divide work evenly.

Test Anxiety Test Time Everyone has some level of test anxiety. Strategies to combat this … Study and over-learn material Positive attitude Eat, sleep, and relax Follow plan for test-taking Analyze graded test for strategies to help with future testing Test Time

Test Preparation Study Study Study Start studying early – like the first day of class! Research what to expect on the test. Practice test questions. Maintain your self-confidence! Study Study Study

Test-taking Have a strategy, such as DETER … Directions (Read carefully). Examine the entire test to decide how to complete. Time (Be aware of how much time there is to complete each item). Easiest (Answer the easiest items first). Review the test when finished to assure correct responses.

Test-taking Multiple Choice Tests Note important words. Read all answers. Cross out wrong answers. Look for opposite answers. Look for language used by teacher or in your texts. Change answer only if certain about the change. Choose “all the above” or “none of the above” only if certain.

Need Help??? Nursing Student Association (NSA) College Success Center

Professional Nursing Associations Nursing Student Association We want you!