09/30/2021
The Reality of Nursing School
Admission into most nursing programs is a highly competitive process. When you receive your letter of acceptance into a program the experience can parallel winning the lottery. Later, toward the end of your first semester in nursing, reality sets in and your social life is replaced with endless hours of studying. Then you realize that you didn’t win the lottery and quickly learn how to survive being cut from the program.
The only relationship you have time for is your new love affair with coffee. You muster up the courage and determination to get through your nursing program. Amazingly, as you near the end of your program, you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You can practically taste the freedom and eagerly await the beginning of your new life. Can you even remember what it was like to have a social life? Now, the only thing holding you back is preparing for and taking the NCLEX-RN® which is the ultimate culmination or your whole school experience.
Preparing for the NCLEX-RN®
However, why wait until your NCLEX® is over for your life to begin? The key to NCLEX-RN® preparation is to strike a balance between studying and life. Here are five tips to help you have a life while preparing for the NCLEX®:
1. Start preparing as early as possible. Try studying in mini sessions for the NCLEX-RN®. At first, this strategy may seem counterintuitive. However, you could spend the same amount of time studying over a longer time period as opposed to cramming for days on end which leaves you unable to have time for any other activity. The habit of studying NCLEX® practice questions on a daily basis will help you gain confidence. “Cramming” is not an effective study method for learning complex material.
2. Prepare a daily schedule. Allot a certain amount of time for every activity in your day. Be sure and set aside time for friends and activities. For maximum effectiveness, stick to a set schedule. If you find that your schedule is not
