Now Nursing, What Next? A survival guide for Nursing students to navigate through Nursing school

Globally, one of the most respected and distinct professions or career paths a person can follow is NURSING. Embarking on a journey through nursing school is a noble and rewarding endeavor. It's a path that leads to a career filled with compassion, knowledge, and the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives. However, the road to becoming a Nurse is not without its challenges. Nursing school demands dedication, resilience, and a solid strategy to successfully navigate the complexities of healthcare education.

In this article, we will explore essential tips and strategies to help you not only survive but thrive and navigate well during your time in nursing school. Whether you're a prospective nursing student or already in the coursework, this article will provide valuable insights to ensure your journey through nursing school is as smooth and successful as possible.

Have you ever found yourself thinking about how you can scale through nursing school? You don't have to worry anymore. Here are the ways that can help you navigate well through Nursing school.

1. What is your why?

If you are very conversant with my writings, you would know that I'm an advocate for “know your why” before venturing into anything because I've come to realize that the motivation to continue when it gets hard won't come from external sources, it is more of your inside. External sources can help but then, what is on your inside? What do you believe? What drives you? These are the questions you need to answer because a person who has no internal motivation cannot be motivated no matter the amount of “aspire to perspire talks” that you give the person.

So here's a question for you. What is that thing that drives you in Nursing?

For me, my WHY is “You can be a Nurse and More”. It's a testimony that I want to have. I don't want to be just a Nurse but a nurse with a lot of affiliates. To challenge the status quo that I'm not just a Nurse but a nurse with THE DIFFERENCE and this guides Everything I venture into. Yours might not be like mine that's why you need to discover your why.

Probably your story is similar to mine, I never wanted nursing but along the run, I found purpose in Nursing. I opened my mind and my eyes to see what I can do in Nursing and this led me to explore Nursing in different ways.

So ask yourself now that I'm here, what can I do differently? That is how you find a reason to stay in the choice of study.

2. Get informed early from the right sources:

Don't navigate blindly. You might end up using yourself to learn rather than learning from the mistakes of those who have gone ahead of you. Get quality information from your seniors consistently and at every stage so that you won't walk blindly when you should have just gotten a guide for free.

3. Find out what study plan works for you and stick to it:

Know what works for you. Some are good with studying during the day while some are night owls that work best at night. For me, when I was in 100L, I read a lot during the day and also at night (the fact that I had a goal to cross into medicine couldn't let me sleep in peace so I read a lot). When I got into my second and third year I realized that studying was much more efficient for me in the morning and evening. so I gave my best to those times.

I stopped going to night classes because I realized that no matter how much I try, I end up reading so little. So this is what I do; I study my school books during the day but at night, I read other books and work too and I enjoy my night's sleep. So that's what worked for me.

Some of my friends read at night instead so I don't compare myself with them. We all are different.

4. Don't walk alone, find your people:

Nursing school is so challenging and it's not easy to walk alone. Have friends you can always reach out to, form study groups, and interact consistently because walking alone might get you overwhelmed. Knowing that you are not the only one in that shoe will help you ease your mental stress.

6. Have a positive attitude to failure:

Just as I've said earlier, Nursing is a roller coaster journey. You might experience the low moments along the way. But don't let those periods weigh you down or cage you from achieving more. When you fail, don't waste time brooding on it and feeling depressed about it, rather learn from it and move.

I could remember then, I had a resit in a particular course in 200L. It was so painful because I knew how much I read for it and what I did during the exam but how come I failed it? It was such a tough moment but then, I had to quickly get over it before it grinds me. How did I do that?

I love journalling so I wrote down how I feel, what could have caused my failure, and most importantly what can I do to make sure it doesn't repeat itself. Even after that, I generated an Affirmation for myself that I speak daily to boost my confidence again concerning the course. And that was how I overcame that period.

7. Take care of your Mental Health:

Nursing can be so mentally draining. The fact that you have a whole lot to cover, back-to-back classes coupled with clinical rotations. It can be so overwhelming and that is why you should not walk the journey alone. Have friends and mentors, and most importantly have fun!

Everyone's definition of fun differs. For me, fun is cooking a special delicacy or ordering food and enjoying it in my room and sometimes with my friends when they come around (I am not an outdoor person (smiles)). Yours might be hanging out with friends, going to parties, etc. Just make sure as much as you are reading have fun too. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and I know you are not that jack (laughed).

8. Finance matters a lot! It does:

Nursing and bills are 5&6, always together. At every level, you will pay for things, including things that you can't explain (chuckled). That's why you should pray for whosoever is sponsoring you and find a means to support yourself in school too in case you don't get much from home.

Nursing isn't an easy journey but when you look into the future or you ask those who are already out of school and now practicing in one way or the other, you realize that it is worth it.

On a final note, I would end this article with a quote made by the Founder of Modern Nursing, Florence Nightingale, which states “I ATTRIBUTE MY SUCCESS TO THIS – I NEVER GAVE OR TOOK ANY EXCUSE.” Don't make excuses your best friend as you journey through Nursing school because if you do, it will limit you in a lot of ways. I hope this helps.

Thanks for reading!