When working while in nursing school, studying often gets put on the back burner. However, nursing school requires a significant amount of study time to stay on top of class material. Here are the main tips for staying on top of the curriculum of your current nursing program:
- Create a support network – Discuss your desire to become a nurse with immediate family members, such as your spouse or life partner, children and parents, as well as your close group of friends. Ask for their commitment to your future endeavor in nursing education. You will have less time to spend with these important individuals but will rely, like never before, on their emotional, domestic, and, at times, financial support.
- Look for a workplace with flexible working hours – Having a flexible work schedule is important during your nursing studies, as your availability might change from one semester to another. For instance, you may have to work fewer hours during exam periods or clinical rotations, therefore, it’s essential you maintain an ongoing conversation with your employer so you can adjust your work and school schedules accordingly. Generally, you should research in advance the requirements of the program, so you’ll be prepared to make adjustments to your professional as well as personal life.
- Explain your situation to your nursing school – Speak to the nursing department and ask whether there are limitations to the number of hours per week that you would be able to work and the expectations of the weekly time commitment for school work. Some schools may have rules preventing you from working while attending school. Clearly understand the requirements for lectures, labs, simulations, field experience, and personal study. A good rule to follow: for every semester credit hour, approximately 30 minutes of outside preparation are required per week.
- Explore funding opportunities for your nursing degree – Schedule an appointment with a financial aid adviser at the school you wish to attend and explore all available financial aid options for paying for your nursing education, which might include federal and state grants, federal loans, personal loans, scholarships, and other programs. If you are employed in a health care setting, ask about tuition reimbursement, balancing work and school schedules, working hours reduction programs, loan forgiveness, and references to others in the organization who have successfully managed simultaneous work and school responsibilities. Read our blog post on how to manage your finances as a nursing student.
- Develop a financial plan for studying – Make a financial plan that includes any additional school expenses, including tuition payments, living expenses, transportation and, possibly, overnight costs of commuting to field experience classes that may be far away. Adjust this financial plan based on working full-time, part-time, or not working and evaluate the possibilities. Another strategy to this end is to make a list of all your personal and living expenses and think about which ones you could temporarily eliminate. It is important to categorize your spending into must have and nice to have and plan accordingly.
- Create a routine study schedule – Even if your work schedule changes, it is important to stick to a routine that you designed. A study schedule that works well for one person may not benefit another. Studying a little every day is recommended as it helps cement concepts in your mind. Take an hour or two in the morning, over lunch, or before bed to review recent class material and to reread sections in the assigned textbook. Every day you are giving yourself a refresher.
- Join a study group – First off, study groups are not for everyone. If you find no value in study groups, then do waste time joining one (and see the next point). Focus on studying techniques that work. For those that benefit from study groups, find a few members in your cohort and schedule a time to meet. Again, it is about creating a set study schedule. Be each other’s support and use the time to ask questions, clarify concepts for another group member, or to be around like minded individuals. Sometimes knowing that you are not alone is the motivation needed.
- Discover your studying niche – Time is wasted on useless studying techniques that are of no benefit. We focus a good portion on steering learners towards more useful studying techniques that fit their learning style. Explore the various studying techniques such as using colors to differentiate concepts, recording yourself “teaching” the subject, and using mind maps. As one of the more important recommendations, if time is an issue, stop and consider if your current study methods are on point.
- Be open with your employer and ask for support – Have an open conversation with your supervisor and/or HR department about advancing your education. While you may feel uneasy with letting your employer know, being open about your goal of finishing nursing school will give you peace of mind. Invested employers will cheer you along and may even end up as a helpful resource. Another benefit to sharing your goal with your boss is that as job positions become available, you may be lucky enough to secure the position upon graduation with the recommendation from your boss, which may not have been possible if you did not share your future aspirations.
- Hold yourself accountable – Holding yourself accountable for your progress is the key to success. Only you are responsible for passing the class, acing the skills, and even showing up on time. Be accountable for sticking to your set study schedule, and do not place fault with others. Finding the time to study while working requires dedication that only you are responsible for. Always be accountable for your success, and in nursing school, that requires continuous studying.
