Nursing is a career that you really need to have passion for, there is so much studying and continued learning to be put forth in this field. For someone who wants to get through school doing the bare minimum, this is not the career for you. Nurses are responsible for taking care of patients and using the right methods based on their studies and education. With that being said, all the incredible individuals who became nurses had to make it through nursing school. An achievement that requires a lot of studying and testing. 

1. Realize That You Won’t Have A Social Life

When you are in nursing school, you won’t have a lot of time for friends, unless they are nursing students as well. A good friend will understand that you can’t go out every weekend. This is your future career and there will always be a time in the future to make plans with friends. At first, you may feel like your missing out, especially with social media. But 5 years into the future you will be happy you scored high on the NCLEX-RN® exam and have an amazing career ahead of you. Once you pass your exam, then you can really celebrate with friends. 

2. Practice Self-Care

Yes, you will be tempted to pull all-nighters studying in the days leading up to the exam. This seems like a good idea and something college students do often, however, it is so bad for your body. Pulling an all-nighter also leads to having more difficulty concentrating and remembering details. So, staying up all night is not as useful as you think. You want to be sharp and well-rested before taking such an important test. Having alternating sleep schedules is not something you want to do. If you are studying consistently, eating healthy, and staying on a good sleep schedule, you will do well on the exam. 

3. Ask For Help 

If you are really struggling to understand a chapter, don’t be afraid to ask a teacher or another student. You should go into the test feeling as confident as you can. Chances are other students who feel the same way but are too nervous to ask. If you still don’t want to ask for help from a teacher or a friend you can hire a tutor for the nursing exam. This could be someone who took the test already and can tell you what to expect. 

4. Use A Study Guide

Every academic test from the SATs to the NCLEX-RN® exam has a study guide. This can be found at school or online. Study guides are helpful as they provide guidelines for time management, have helpful tips, and practice questions at the back of the book. If you plan on studying for the nursing exam without the help of a study group or a professor, this is your best bet in terms of being prepared. 

5. Watch Your Favorite Show

While you should be spending the majority of your time studying, you can still take a small break here and there to reward yourself. Is the new episode of Dancing with the Stars coming out tonight? Just watch the show and don’t feel guilty about it. Having a small break will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and releases dopamine from watching your favorite show. So, when you go back to studying you will feel calmer and happier. 

When you are studying for a test, whether it be the SATs or any other major exam, it seems like your entire life revolves around it. And it does for that small period of time. Even though that can fill you with frustration and sadness, it is better to experience it once than have to retake an exam again. So, it is better to take the time and study so you can feel proud of yourself and advance in your career.