28 Tips for Successfully Passing Nursing School - (By a Nurse) (2023)

Written by: Kasee ​​Wiesen DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Nursing is a satisfying job. You can care for patients throughout their lives - interacting with the patient and their family and having a lasting impact on their lives. A nurse's preferences are endless, leading to countless possibilities. Also, you can easily advance in your career which leads to even more opportunities for the nurse. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. But one thing that stops many people from pursuing a nursing career is nursing school - because they've heard it's hard. Want to be a nurse but want to know how to pass nursing school? Below are 28 expert tips for successfully passing nursing school.

What exactly does it mean to pass a nursing school?

Passing nursing school means completing your nursing program. This could be a Graduate Nursing Program (ADN), a Bachelor of Nursing Program (BSN), or even a graduate program. Graduation requirements vary depending on the program you attend, but ultimately, you must earn the degree to pass nursing school. However, it is important to note that just because you passed nursing school, you cannot practice nursing. To practice as a registered nurse, you must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam, which is taken upon completion of your accredited nursing program.

Is Nursing School Difficult to Pass?

One of the many questions prospective nursing students ask is, is nursing school hard to pass? Yes nursing school is challenging but not impossible as there are approx.4 million nursesin the United States. As someone who has successfully graduated from nursing school, I am a firm believer in thisNursing school is hardbecause it has to be. The nurse's role is extensive and her responsibility is great. You are preparing to be a registered nurse through nursing school. Here you will learn about anatomy and physiology, learn how to care for people throughout your life, and practice your caregiving skills in a clinical setting. The nursing school also prepares you for the NCLEX-RN national licensing exam, which you must pass before you can work as a registered nurse.

6 common reasons why students fail nursing school

Unfortunately, not all students who start nursing school go on to nursing school. It is difficult to complete nursing school successfully and below I have listed six common reasons why students fail nursing school.

1. Nursing is not your passion:

People choose the nursing profession for many different reasons. Some love the flexibility of the job, while others know nurses and want to follow in their footsteps. There is no bad or wrong reason to go into nursing. Still, some people choose careers based on their friends, family, or even the media, rather than fully understanding the profession and role responsibilities. Therefore, some people start nursing school with a desire to become a nurse, but they soon find that it doesn't suit them, causing them to drop out of the program.

2. Poor time management:

Time management is critical to success in nursing school. Nursing school has many components, including clinical and classroom learning, testing, and projects. This is also often balanced between household responsibilities, work and social activities. Failure to manage your time properly can lead to the failure of a nursing course or even a program.

3. Lack of studies or insufficient time for studies:

Nursing school is hard and studying is mandatory! Many people underestimate the amount of study that must be completed to succeed in nursing school - the amount of study required has been compared to working a part-time job or more. Therefore, it is important to have realistic expectations about the time that should be devoted to studying. For some people, having a full-time job, family commitments, or other commitments makes it impossible to devote enough time to studying.

4. Stress and lack of support:

Nursing school can be stressful, and stress can lead to failure in a nursing course or program. Strong support systems can be helpful, and examples of support systems include study groups, friends, family, and even your teachers.

5. Not asking for help early:

If you don't understand a concept or fall behind, you need to ask for help. Waiting to ask for help, especially if you don't understand a concept, can make you fall further behind, do poorly on tests or tests, or get frustrated and want to give up. Instructors have office hours available for you to ask questions and can also refer you to other resources that can help you complete your nursing degree.

6. Falling behind the course:

Falling behind can mean falling behind on tasks or not fully understanding content. Regardless, if you fall behind in many nursing courses, it is difficult to catch up, resulting in course or nursing school failure. To avoid this, time management is key! You also need to talk to your teacher early on and seek help at the first sign of lagging.

HOW TO ENTER NURSING SCHOOL?

As mentioned above, nursing school is tough as it prepares you to become a nurse and provide direct patient care. But that might leave you wondering how to pass nursing school? However, passing nursing school is very achievable, and below I provide 28 tips in no particular order to make passing nursing school easier.

1. Time management

To succeed in nursing school, you must manage your time properly. This isn't easy for many, but time management is the key to success. Nursing school is challenging and requires a balance between school, work, and other outside commitments. The school itself is a challenge, as you have theoretical and clinical classes, but you take into account study time, work time and time to relax. You can see how difficult it can be to get everything done. One effective way, as many nursing students, myself included, learned to better manage time in school, is to buy a planner and write down everything for the week - time each day to study, relax, work, exercise, etc. . This way, you have a plan for each week that will allow you to better manage your time and stress.

2. Organize-se

Another tip for passing nursing school is to get organized - and I think staying organized goes hand in hand with time management. Organizing refers to organizing your day/week/month and organizing your classes, including your notes, study guides, etc. time more wisely and get more done in potentially less time. It will also give you a sense of control that many believe is lost in nursing school.

3. Use mnemonics

Mnemonics are a very useful tool that many nurses use to succeed in nursing school. Mnemonics can help a nurse remember information and can be a pattern of letters or phrases. An example of a commonly used mnemonic is the ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation), which is used to remember the plan of care. Another example of a mnemonic is MOANS (morphine, oxygen, aspirin, and nitrates) to remember the treatment of someone who has had a heart attack.

There are numerous mnemonics that are often considered very useful for passing nursing school, but are often used in a person's daily practice to aid in information retrieval. In my own experience, I use certain mnemonics quite often to ensure proper care is provided.

4. Study every day

Another tip for succeeding in nursing school and passing your nursing school exams is to study a little bit every day. This could include reading, studying for an upcoming exam, practice questions, assignments, etc. If you do a little each day, you are more likely to stay on track in your courses and not fall behind. You are also less likely to struggle for exams, feel overwhelmed with homework and required studying, and ultimately lead to a better work-life balance.

5. Answer the practice questions

Another tip for passing nursing school is answering practice questions. Practical questions are a nursing student's best friend! They allow the student to apply the knowledge learned and identify areas of weakness or insecurity. After identifying vulnerabilities, you should return to your reading, notes, or other resource to better understand the concept and solidify the information. Just because you scored well on the questions doesn't mean you need to review that information for upcoming tests or application opportunities. It just means you don't have to put as much emphasis on it compared to your areas of weakness. These questions may have come from your teacher or textbook, but you can often find questions from other resources online. You will often hear many nurses say that one of the best ways to pass advice is by asking practical questions, and this is true in nursing school as well.

6. Join a study group

Study groups are an excellent way to learn in nursing school. Learning groups allow a group of people to come together to review content, quiz each other, and educate peers who may not understand a particular concept. Study groups can also teach you tips and tricks for remembering information, staying organized, and better managing your time. Study groups help you take responsibility and encourage and support you when you are frustrated with school. I honestly cannot say enough good things about study groups and I believe they can have a significant impact on a person in nursing school.

7. Focus on study goals during your studies

Another tip for success in nursing school is to focus on your study goals while studying. Often nursing students feel overwhelmed with the reading and learning assigned to them by the instructor. While reading all of the material is important and necessary, your focus should be on understanding the content outlined in the course objectives. When I was in nursing school, I would typically read the assigned texts, skim through the content I was comfortable with, and then write very detailed and complete responses to the course objectives. This method worked well for me and for studying for nursing exams - but it might not work for everyone.

8. Know your learning style

Knowing your learning style is the key to successfully passing nursing school. This will help you to reduce stress and anxiety while studying and preparing for classes. This will also lead to better time management and save you time on unnecessary study techniques that don't benefit you. As a nursing instructor, I know that I provide students with a variety of tools to try to cater to all learning styles and better prepare them for success.

9. Don't be afraid to use external learning resources

Let me reiterate, don't be afraid to use external learning resources. Nursing professors do their best to provide you with the resources you need to be successful in your classes, but other resources may be needed depending on your learning style or weaknesses. I know I've referred students to various websites and videos to clarify information because the methods I used didn't "click" with students. Many nursing educators feel the same way, so don't hesitate to reach out to your educator early on and ask about other resources they might recommend to further solidify your knowledge.

10. Give yourself a break

Give yourself a break. It's so important to remember! In nursing school, there's a good chance you won't do as well as you'd like on an assignment, test, or quiz—and that's okay! The most important thing is not to get angry about it. Depending on your strengths and areas of interest, you may not fully understand all of the content in each course - and that's okay as long as you pass the course at the end. If you feel like you're falling behind in a course and you realize that your test, quiz, or bad assignment wasn't a one-time thing, contact your instructor to see if there are resources available to help you succeed in the course.

11. Find activities outside of school

Finding activities outside of school—and work—is important if you'll be working throughout your RN program. These activities should be relaxing and allow you to relax. During these activities, you should do your best not to think about nursing school and focus your attention on your work. This could include hanging out with friends or family, watching your favorite TV show or movie, or exercising. While the timing for this activity is variable - some days it can last an entire night while other days it's only 30 minutes, there are benefits. This is your time to relax, de-stress and remember that there is life outside of school.

12. Breathe

Don't forget to breathe. While it may seem like a simple tip, many student nurses don't do this - I have personal experience both as a student nurse and with my student nurses. Forgetting to stop and catch your breath can lead to burnout, high stress levels and even quitting. Deep breathing can lower your stress levels and help focus your energy in productive and positive ways.

13. Good sleep habits

Many nursing students feel that sleeping is a thing of the past. This is because many students stay up all night or sleep less than 5 hours to do homework or study for exams. I understand that in some circumstances this is unavoidable; It's important that you get at least 7 hours of sleep most nights. This is where time management and organization come in. Sleep has significant health benefits, including improved focus and memory, reduced stress, and improved overall mood. All of these are important for overall health and success in nursing school.

14. Eat a balanced diet

Eating a balanced diet is another essential part of successfully passing nursing school. That means eating a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish and whole grains. While it's important to eat these foods routinely, it's okay to treat yourself every now and then. Good nutrition leads to better blood sugar control - which ultimately leads to more energy and focus, which is important in nursing school. The energy and focus provided by a good diet can also lead to a reduction in your daily caffeine intake, which can also have beneficial effects. This will also lead to less stress as you will be more alert, leading to greater success in nursing school.

15. Exercise daily

We all know that exercise has its benefits, but many still don't practice daily physical activities. Many nursing students do not routinely exercise because they are overwhelmed with school and feel too busy. The idea of ​​exercising for at least 30 minutes a day might seem impossible to some students. But in reality, the 30 minutes don't have to be all at once, but can be completed throughout the day. In other words, take three 10-minute study breaks throughout the day and do some cardio or strength training. This will lead to many benefits including stress reduction, improved mood and better focus. All this is important for successfully passing nursing school.

16. Ask questions

Don't be afraid to ask questions! Questions show that you seek clarification on a topic, develop critical thinking skills and really want to understand the content. I wish someone had told me that in nursing school. I can tell you from experience that in school I was nervous enough to ask a question because I felt it made me look incompetent. As a practicing NP and nurse educator, I know that asking questions makes me a better student and ultimately a better nurse.

17. Schedule meetings with your instructor, especially if you are having difficulty with a specific course or content

Nurses who became nurse educators chose this career because they enjoy teaching. They are there to help you and offer support and guidance along your journey to nursing school. So, don't be afraid to find them, especially if you're having difficulties with the course or specific content in the class. Often the instructor has other resources that can help you better understand the content. Most instructors also take the time to review the questions you got wrong on exams and quizzes to better understand your thought process and provide deeper justification for why the right answer was the right answer. Nurse educators want to help, so use them in school to help you succeed.

18. Not studying for exams

I can't stress this enough - don't struggle for exams! Studying for a test sounds like a good idea since it worked for you in high school, right? In nursing school, it can still result in a passing grade. However, your stress level will increase significantly and you may not retain the information that is causing difficulty in learning the content in future courses. To avoid studying too hard for exams, you need to manage your time and study a few hours a day. For most students, this leads to more confidence in the content, which ultimately leads to better grades and generally less test stress and anxiety.

19. Complete pre-course preparation

My next tip is to complete the pre-course preparation. Most nursing professors will provide preparatory work, whether reading, worksheets, or quizzes, to prepare the student for the content that will be taught in that specific class. The objective is to present the content to the student and allow for more advanced discussions and questions about the content to achieve a higher level of learning. It also leads to more confidence in the content and recognition of concepts you don't fully understand and allows you to ask questions during or after class to ensure comprehension. This prep work usually doesn't take long, and once completed, it will help you to avoid studying too hard for the exam.

20. Maximize clinical experiences

For many students, the clinic is one of their favorite parts of nursing school. While waking up early might not be fun, it's an opportunity to apply what you've learned to real-world experiences. Clinical experience encourages the development of critical thinking skills and essential nursing skills such as obtaining and recognizing abnormal vital signs, administering medications, and patient education. However, the clinical experience can be as boring or as robust as you make it.

Don't sit back and just take care of your patient - this can make for a very boring day. Instead, ask to accompany your nurse throughout the day. This allows you to be exposed to other patients and learning opportunities, and helps you better understand a nurse's daily routine. In most situations, the nurse will say absolutely. On the rare occasion that you can't follow them around all day, they'll come after you to help with a specific skill or task. It's important to remember that clinical experience is in part what you make of it - and it's your job to maximize that experience!

21. Positive attitude

A positive attitude goes a long way. As someone who graduated from nursing school, I can tell you that I tended to be more productive when I maintained a positive attitude, which resulted in better overall grades and satisfaction with my schoolwork. Other people want to be around positive people so you can surround yourself with like-minded people. This can also lead to more productive and efficient group study sessions. Positivity also leads to thinking outside the box, thinking critically, and even being more open and successful in solving problems and challenges. A positive attitude has excellent health benefits, including less stress and better sleep quality.

22. Set realistic goals

Setting goals is another tip to help you succeed in nursing school. Plans provide purpose and focus for what you want to achieve. However, the key is to create realistic goals, and using the SMART method for writing down your goals will help with that. After writing down your goal, make a plan for how you will achieve it. To become more accountable, write down your goals and put them somewhere you'll look at them every day. Again, the key is to set realistic goals. If you choose goals that are too high or too difficult to reach, you will get frustrated and might even give up because you will have a hard time reaching your goal.

23. Have a good support system

A solid support system is essential for getting through nursing school. The support system can consist of friends, family and even instructors. Support systems can provide numerous benefits for mental and physical health, as well as success in nursing school. Those who have strong support systems tend to experience less stress and anxiety and have greater self-confidence. When they are having a difficult day, week, or even month, the support system offers the student a healthy option by providing encouragement and support to the nursing student to help them pass nursing school.

24. After class, take 5 minutes to review the information learned

After class, take 5-10 minutes to review what you just learned. While this may sound simple, I can say that I haven't seen this in my educational experience. And now that I'm also a nursing instructor, perhaps less than 10% of my students will tell me yes. I strongly believe this is an important step, as is the prep work to ensure you understand the content of that day's talk. By taking 5-10 minutes to review your notes immediately after class, you can immediately formulate questions and consolidate the information you've learned to better prepare for upcoming exams and ultimately the NCLEX.

25. Know your instructors

Don't be afraid to meet your teachers. As I mentioned earlier, most, if not all, instructors are there to help you get through nursing school. They don't want to be strangers to their students, they want you to reach out to them - whether that's with questions, problem clarification or additional resources to meet their learning needs. Your instructors are another resource for successfully passing nursing school. They all graduated from nursing school at some point, so they know and understand what you're going through.

26. Review your course exams

After nursing exams, most, if not all, instructors will allow you to review your test. There is usually a set amount of time to do this, so it's important to know what you specifically want to review in your exam. This allows you to identify the questions you got wrong and read the logic behind the correct answer. Reviewing your exam will ultimately help you in your nursing career and possibly future exams including the comprehensive degree.

27. Don't be left behind

Whatever you do, don't get left behind. While this looks easy to follow, it is very challenging. The amount of work that comes with outside commitments such as children, family, or work can affect your ability to keep up. When you fall behind, it's a challenge to dig your way back and get back on track. Time management and communication with your instructors are essential to reducing the risk of falling behind.

28. Don't give up!

Do not give up! Nursing school is tough and can sometimes even make you reconsider your career choices - I know I did! It's challenging because it prepares you to be the best nurse possible. Remember, it will be worth it in the end. Flexibility with work, including hiring and growth opportunities, is endless.

my last thoughts

After reading the above article, do you feel more confident about passing nursing school? Nursing is a great job and I believe in that. The flexibility within the profession and the opportunity to advance your career are endless. I hope the 28 Expert Tips for Successfully Passing Nursing School will give you some ideas and confidence to succeed in Nursing School.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT

1. How many hours a day should I study for nursing school?

The number of hours per day you should study will depend on your current course/number of credit hours and how well you retain information. Someone once told me that during nursing school you should study at least 3 hours a week per class hour. On average, however, you should dedicate 3 to 4 hours a day to studying or completing nursing school assignments. Ultimately, you must learn enough to retain the information learned in order to be a successful nurse.

2. How do I spend my first semester in nursing school?

To pass the first semester of nursing school, I recommend following the 28 tips for passing nursing school listed above. The first semester of nursing school is one of the toughest because you have a lot of feelings of the unknown, learning how best to study and learn for nursing school and learning how to manage your time. Developing relationships with your instructors, being afraid to ask questions, and finding activities outside of school and study will lead to success in your first year of nursing school.

3. How do I pass the last semester of nursing school?

To pass the last semester of nursing school, you must do the same as you did the first semester. I recommend following the 28 Tips for Passing Nursing School listed above. While you may feel more confident as a student nurse having been in this role for several years, your last semester is not a time to relax or stop giving 100%.

4.How do I pass my clinical training in nursing school?

Passing your clinic in nursing school is very easy - hand in your pre-clinical and post-clinical assignments and keep yourself busy throughout the clinic. In other words, maximize your clinical experience! Nothing makes a nurse or nursing teacher more frustrated than seeing a student nurse sitting around doing nothing. There is always something that can be done to maximize the clinical experience. This includes following up with your nurse with your other patients, looking up diagnoses, tests, medications, etc. that you are not familiar with, complete clinical assignments, or review course content associated with that clinic. Just stay busy and use your time wisely.

5. Can I pass the NCLEX-RN without nursing school?

No. You cannot complete the NCLEX-RN without completing an accredited nursing program. You can get more detailed information about this from your state's office of nursing orNCSBNWeb site.

6. What if I pass nursing school but fail the NCLEX-RN?

If you pass nursing school but fail the NCLEX-RN, you cannot practice nursing. The good news, though, is that you can retake the NCLEX at least 45 days after your last attempt. Retake requirements may vary by state of origin. Therefore, check with your state's nursing agency for details before registering to repeat the NCLEX-RN.

7. Do my nursing school grades really matter?

The answer to this question is not so simple. Grades are important as they are a clear indicator of whether you understand the content taught in nursing school - they are also an indicator that you are ready to pass the NCLEX. However, grades are not everything. You must earn a C or C+ in most programs to pass the course and only fail one class before being asked to leave the nursing program. Grades also don't always indicate whether or not a student will make an excellent nurse, but to start your nursing career, you must pass the NCLEX.