Nursing school is a unique experience that cannot be compared with other schools’ curricula. During life as a nursing student, one has to sacrifice many other aspects of life. A nursing student will be spending the majority of their time studying nursing literature, attending nursing classes and practicing in clinical courses. There will not be any free time for enjoying social pleasures.

Usually, once students are accepted into a nursing school, they are also starting to look for a place to live nearby the academic environment, which adds renting a home to their list of responsibilities. Those who are lucky will be sharing their room or home with other nursing students, while others will be sharing their daily life with students that belong to other fields of study.

This article has been conceptualized for those students that will be sharing their daily routine with non- nursing students. Why is this necessary? Because, it has been already mentioned that nursing studies are not to be considered as or compared to other areas of study or disciplines.

There are several tips a nursing student can take into consideration once he/ she knows they will be sharing the same room or home with a non-nursing student:

• Try to study during nighttime hours
• Set up basic rules
• Do not expect to be understood
• Try to allocate the necessary space for each of you
• Support with professional information and intervention

Try to study during night hours

This is one of the top pieces of advice you can get once you are about to live with a non-nursing student. All other curricula not related to nursing or any other medical area of study are more comprehensive in terms of social life and entertainment. Students pursuing other areas of education will not have to follow clinical practice and deal with the emotional impact it leaves behind, mostly during the first semester.

Thus, you might come across the fact that your co-habitant is more relaxed than you and he/she might be going in and out several times throughout the day. It will be a source of distraction for you. Despite going in and out, he/she might also be entertaining himself/herself by listening to music, watching TV, cooking, having a cup of tea with one of their invited friends, etc. There is no need to mention the importance of study time for a nursing student.

Considering this, a nursing student might switch into the methodology of studying during the night. Usually this period of time is calm and quiet. There are no noises around and all sources of distraction will be disappearing.

Set up basic rules

The best approach to start a successful co-living arrangement with another student is getting to know each other and setting up some basic rules. Considering the fact that you will most likely be coming from two different areas, your habits and attitudes in terms of living and studying might vary as well.

In order to settle all possible divergences that might arise due to different lifestyles, rules are considered to be safe. You can sit down for a cup of coffee or get out for a drink and start getting to know each other. By knowing each other, you will have a better chance to understand what rules would work for both of you.

It might seem hard at the beginning, but all difficulties are just about getting through the initial phase. Once you will have set up the home rules, for example: time to get up in the morning, who will do what chores, shared responsibilities and individual ones, everything will become easier and you will be enjoying your roommate’s presence despite the fact he/ she is a non- nursing student.

Do not expect to be understood

Nursing students should be aware of the fact that their “aches and pains” will not be comprehended by their roommate even though he/ she might put all the effort in to do so. A non-nursing student’s routine for academic lifestyle is entertaining, study and then entertaining again. However, a nursing student’s life style consists of studying, practicing, studying, and then studying again.

This may not be the most enjoyable version of student life, but it is for a nursing student. Considering this, you cannot pretend from your roommate will understand your request for complete silence at 7 in the afternoon, or keeping the lights on in the middle of the night. These requests might seem quite unreasonable to a non-nursing student.

You might consider inviting your roommate into your lectures and then letting them observe your daily routine by participating in it. He/she might join you during your clinical practice and then also back home, observing your books and notes. Still, they will not be able to fully understand your demand for space and silence during the normal rush hours.

Try to allocate the necessary space for each of you

Considering the silence you will need as a nursing student, it is recommended to make proper space allocation since the very beginning. Both of you should come to an agreement regarding which parts of the home or room would be most comfortable for you. Let your roommate understand some of your core necessities. Be transparent and sincere, since you will be sharing same space for a long period of time, thus, he/ she should be made aware of your conditions and demands. Be pro-active!

Support with professional information and intervention

Living with another student means that you will be away from your family. This means both of you will be lacking family support and care due to distance. During this time, you will be sharing the same apartment or room and you can support your roommate with professional information whenever it is necessary.

If you are experiencing flu season, you might advise him/ her on the best cures to be administered in order for the flu to pass as quick as possible. If he/ she is experiencing a headache or another type of pain, you can intervene by suggesting to them the best options with the least side effects.

This approach will help both of you to create and maintain a healthy relationship. A non-nursing student will view you as the most reliable person whenever there is a health concern. You might also want to introduce him/ her to one of the professionals in your sphere of influence.

It is not easy to be a nursing student living away from the family home. It means there will be no support during your daily routines. Sharing your room with a non-nursing student might be difficult for the first few days, but it may turn out to be a wonderful experience. You will have the possibility to enrich each other’s lives with different approaches to study, employment and life in general.