Strategies for Success in Nursing School Time Management Stress Management Study Skills

What About These Issues? These 3 things are critical to students’ success in Nursing School They are all interrelated You need to: Understand them Work on them Master them

Closer Look Time Management Stress Management How you manage your time? Most think they know how to manage their time, but they DO NOT Nursing school must be the priority Stress Management Having Nursing school be the priority WILL cause you stress You must be able to balance it with the rest of your life You must be able to manage it or it will do you in Must do it everyday. It is a lifestyle, not a quick fix

Closer Look Study Skills Most students do NOT know how to study Particularly Prepare for class Actively listen in class Take notes Review after class Read their text book for comprehension Study for learning not memorization Apply recent material to really learn it

Time Management Let’s take a test (It is nursing school after all) Where does your time go? test

Time + Nursing School If you are taking an 8 credit hour nursing class, then your only in school 8 hours a week. Right? Wrong: Your 8 credit course gives you 4 hours for class 4 hours for lab preparation For every hour of class the NLN requires 3 hours of clinical 4 hours of class = 12 hours of clinical

How Much Time Does One Nursing Class Take? So let’s figure out the hours for your 8 credit class It wouldn’t be nursing school without math 8 credit hours + 12 clinical hours 20 hours 20 hours of direct time on your nursing course

What About Study Time? There is a general rule in college that every credit hour, will require 2 hours of study time. Nursing school is probably 3:1 8 credit hours X 2 hours 16 hours

So what do we have so far? 20 hours of time in class or clinical + 16 hours of study time 36 hours of time each week

Time + Nursing School So you will spend a minimum of 36 hours on your nursing class 36 hours is a full time job This doesn’t even take into account time spent completing clinical paperwork

How Do You Swallow an Elephant? One bite at a time The elephant here is NURSING SCHOOL 1 day at a time 1 hour at a time You can do it

Time Management You need to know how to manage time using a calendar Steps in making a weekly calendar

But some strategies just won’t work! Don’t throw the baby in with the dishwater!

Stress Management What is YOUR stress level? What are your biggest stressors? How are you going to manage them? Hints: YOU must manage them You probably CAN manage them If YOU can’t, you will not succeed It may not be the time for you to be here

Myth About Stress Management This is impossible to manage. Probably not true unless you have personal stressors that are not under control. Millions of students do it every day. We have all done it. What do I mean by IT? Go to school Study Work Family Life

What Are the Personal Stressors That Will Do You in? Problems with your spouse or partner Problems with your children Non-supportive family Non-supportive friends Financial issues Health problems Work problems

Un-addressed personal psychological issues Anxiety Depression Grief Anger Psychiatric problems You MUST have a handle on these types of issues

Did I Forget a Big One? YES: TOO MUCH WORK! One of the most common things students say: I have to work! One of the most common things professors say: They shouldn’t be working full time! What’s the obvious problem here? It CAN’T be both ways

Do You HAVE to Work? If you do, it can NOT be the priority You must work around it, school can not work around your job Ask for a break (help) from employer, you just might get it Can it be part time? (Insurance) Remember time management Sounds harsh? To bad! You will not succeed unless you have this mind set

How Stressed Does Nursing School Make You? Very stressed and it’s not just the amount of time that must be devoted to it. Other sources of stress in Nursing School Inadequate knowledge. You can’t know everything all the time, but you have to know a lot most of the time In class In clinical For exams

Inadequate support from family and/or peers Real or imagined pressure from instructors Fear of making a mistake or “hurting someone” Actually making mistakes or doing poorly Dealing with pain, death and dying

Symptoms of Stress? Feel: overwhelmed, fatigued or angry Frequent minor physical complaints or illnesses Feelings of fear or anxiety Starting, returning or an increase in smoking Dependence on caffeine usage Substance abuses

Coping With Stress in Nursing School Basics Maintain balance in life (make time for school, family, yourself) Plan daily relaxation or quiet time Get outside each day for sunlight Plan physical activity (at least 3X week) Eat well Sleep well Avoid cramming or staying up all night

Coping With Stress in Nursing School Put yourself first Learn how to say NO Learn how to ask for help Help with errands, children, studying, etc Help with feelings Share feelings (not complaints) with your peers Create support groups Find a mentor

Coping With Stress in Nursing School Grow UP Always be prepared ahead of time (class, exams and clinical) Take on a professional demeanor Do not miss class Learn to accept mistakes; grow from them Accept responsibility for your status Learn to handle problems constructively instead of defensively Accept what cannot be changed

You must constantly evaluate your level of stress If you’re not aware of your level of stress then you can’t manage it You have to do a lot of self evaluation If you’re not good at it, you better get good or find tools to help you Here are some examples:

Study Skills for Nursing School You need to understand the process of learning Most information in nursing school cannot be memorized it must be applied How do you go from sitting and listening in class and reading your textbook to applying what you’ve been taught

The First Step in Improving Your Studying Skills Understanding and improving your foundation Poor basic foundation skills brought into nursing school. 3 most common Poor reading skills Poor math skills Poor computer skills There are resources available to address these, but only YOU can do it

Next Step in Improving Studying Skills Analyzing your overall strengths and weaknesses as they related to studying

Improving Your Study Skills Preparing for class Complete assigned readings To prepare for the large amount of material in each class Can scan, no need to read in depth Do not highlight Focus on pathophysiology Right before class spend 5 – 10 minutes reviewing notes from previous class

Improving Your Study Skills Actively listen in class If you have trouble paying attention sit in front Make eye contact with instructor Listen when others ask questions and/or ask yourself Things you should be thinking about: What will this client look like? How will I assess them? How will I take care of them? What are the priorities? How will I know when something is wrong?

Improving Your Study Skills Take notes If you have difficulty studying, do not rely on power point handouts – take additional notes Use a proven “method” for taking notes (see web-sites and on-line videos) Write legibly in an outline form If using PP then write in “focus” notes Leave space in your notes to later fill in answers to previously asked questions

Improving Your Study Skills Review after class Spend 5 minutes right after class reviewing notes or power points If you have questions – ask for clarification immediately after class Do not change gears to quickly A few minutes now will save study time later This is part of the “rehearsal” process for learning Re-read your notes fully within 24 hours of class

Improving Your Study Skills Read your text book for comprehension Read the assigned chapters for topics covered in class within 48 – 72 hours Use a “proven” method for reading text books (see web-sites and on-line videos) Use your notes for outline of what to focus on and make comparisons between book and notes Get it into long term memory by writing summary of each section in your own words

Improving Your Study Skills In order to really learn, remember That nursing is all about the process and applying what you’ve learned Exams primarily test your ability to apply this process The NURSING PROCESS! Assessment Planning Intervention Evaluation

Improving Your Study Skills Study for learning, not memorization Reviewing your notes is important, but Just reading you power points 5, 10, 50 times will not help you in nursing exams, it’s all about application Go back to readings and read questions at end of chapter and complete any learning activities suggested by book Pay close attention to things that are bolded, italicized, underlined or tabled as well as medication management and nursing interventions

Improving Your Study Skills Study actively with partner or group Take turns asking questions that focus on application What will this patient look like? How will I assess and take care of them? What are the priorities based upon the problems? What will I teach them and how will I know they have learned it?

Improving Your Study Skills Pay attention to medication management What is the class of drug? How does it work? How will I know it is working or not working? What are the side effects? What teaching does it require? Quiz yourself

Improving Your Study Skills Apply recent material to really learn it Alone or in your group: Develop a concept map for each disorder Identify: pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, assessments and interventions Use nursing process by developing a care plan for each topic to be covered on exam

Web List A multitude of sites to assist you No one can do it for you, you have to put in the time View the videos for more in depth information about these topics, especially reading and note taking