The decision to go to nursing school to begin your career as a nurse may be one of the most important decisions in your life. It shows a commitment to helping others along with securing a financial future for you and your family. Before starting nursing school, you will want to make sure that you are properly prepared for the challenges that will await you as you train for one of the most rewarding careers you could choose. Check out the following things you can do to help you prepare for nursing school.
If you are not entirely sure if becoming a nurse is for you, it helps to shadow a nurse who has several years of experience. This will allow you to experience what a typical day is for a nurse and what will be expected of you.
If you do not know of any current nurses that you could shadow, the next best thing is volunteering. Hospitals, nursing homes and blood drives are always in need of volunteers. You would be working under experienced medical professionals and gaining valuable experience that can help you as you go through your training and nursing career. One of the great things about volunteering is that you can also use it to build up your resume if you have very little job experience that relates well to nursing. It also shows potential employers you can be an asset as a team member and that you care for your community.
The best people to ask what it's like to be a nursing student are actual nursing students. Visit the nursing school during a lunch break and introduce yourself to current students. Many are willing to share their experiences and answer any questions you may have about student life, including:
You are very likely to get some really useful advice because a current student can tell you what they are experiencing being a student right now.
It's easy to get distracted from studying because of other responsibilities you may have, such as work or your family. However, to succeed in nursing school, you need to develop good, strong study habits. Set aside enough time to do your assignments and allow you to study without cramming.
Do not be afraid to reach out to your fellow students or instructors for help if you feel overwhelmed or are having difficulty grasping a concept. Everyone needs a little help once in a while, and having a support system to fall back on is always a good thing.
You also need to make sure that you take care of yourself:
If you have questions about enrolling in nursing school or what requirements may be needed, speak with your admissions advisor. It is their job to help you with enrolling and any concerns you may have about going to nursing school. Some questions you may have might include:
Your admissions advisor can point you in the right direction of whom you need to speak with to get answers to all of your questions.
By following these tips, you will be prepared and ready to go once your first day of class rolls around.
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