Congratulations on being accepted into the nursing program. It’s a huge accomplishment and you should be very proud. Before you officially begin your program, we’ve got seven tips to help you prepare for a successful journey toward becoming a Registered Nurse.
- There’s a lot to learn. You will be learning many different types of patient care. From newborn to geriatric to hospital care and smaller clinics, you will be filled with a slew of information each day. The important thing is to speak up and ask questions when you don’t understand something, study as often as you can and work with your classmates.
- Don’t give up when you fail. In order to be successful in any profession, you have to learn from your mistakes. It’s those mistakes that mold you and teach you valuable lessons. Embrace them, learn from them and then move on.
- Get as much rest as you can. Rest is key to avoid burnout during the nursing program. If you feel that you’ve reached a point while you’re studying that you can no longer absorb information, take a break, a quick nap or a walk around the block to clear your mind.
- It matters how you study, not how much you study. It doesn’t matter how much you study, but how effective you study. Find a way that works for you where the information sticks. Work with your career prep team or nursing instructor to learn different tools that can help. Take notes then read them. And then read them again.
- Wear good shoes. You will be on your feet a lot. So, it’s important to find a good pair of shoes that are supportive while you’re learning during school, at your clinicals and on the job.
- Learn to be resilient. Some days will be exhausting and more challenging than others during school, but it’s just like how it will be while working in the hospital or clinic. You have to be resilient. Seek out resources when needed and try to maintain a balance. Our student services teams offer a student assistance program that can help you.
- Your classmates are your new best friends. It is important to find a study group within your cohort so you can rely on and help each other throughout the program. This is crucial as it will push you to do well. Having a group of like-minded people in your corner can also help you manage stress, giving you the chance to communicate on how your experience is going. Bonus: there’s a board game you all can play that will help you with the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses.
If you’re considering a career in the nursing field, the Nursing program at Pima Medical Institute prepares you as an entry-level registered nurse giving you hands-on training starting in the very first semester.
If you’re a registered nurse and would like to continue your education, Pima Medical offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program 100 percent online.
