How To Study for Nursing School Success

Welcome to Sumner College – February 6th Nursing Classes Start Today!
Today we welcome the new students enrolled in Sumner College's February 6th cohorts for Registered Nursing, Practical Nursing and RN-BSN.…
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Welcome to Sumner College – New Arizona Phlebotomy Technician Students Starting Today!
Today we welcome the new students enrolled in Sumner College-Arizona's February 6th cohort for Phlebotomy Technician.…
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Interested in Becoming a Nurse?
Learn more about becoming a nurse, nursing salaries, and the future of nursing. Nurses are considered some of the most trusted professionals in the United…
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Honor HealthCare Heroes – National IV Nurse Day
INS celebrates IV Nurse Day each year on January 25th, to recognize the decades of continuing education, advocacy, and professional development that have driven the…
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Enroll Now in our Phlebotomy Tech Program
Have you been dreaming about a career working in healthcare? Sumner College Arizona can get you there with classes in Phlebotomy Tech, Medical Assisting and…
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2023 Nurse Appreciation Calendar
Enjoy The DiversityNursing.com, 2023 Nurse Appreciation Calendar and remember to honor our healthcare heroes for their dedication to our health and work in our world.…
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Honor our HealthCare Heroes – National CRNA Week
A Celebration of CRNAs Since 2000, National CRNA Week has been our annual celebration of the nearly 59,000 practicing nurse anesthetists in the U.S. From…
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Laboratory Phlebotomist Projected Growth in the US
Research Summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that: Salaries have increased 11% for laboratory phlebotomists in the last 5 years…
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Mobile IV Nursing Is Trending Due to Earning Potential
Mobile IV nursing is growing and offers nurses the opportunity for higher pay and a flexible schedule. Explore this popular career. Mobile intravenous (IV) nurses…
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How You Can Set SMART Goals for 2023
Did you know 91% of people don't reach their New Year's goals? Dive into how SMART goals for nurses may increase your potential success. SMART…
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How the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act Impacts Nurses
The Improving Care and Access to Nurses legislation significantly impacts nurses and their patients. Consider seven ways to advocate for improved access to care. The…
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Dream It. Do It.
If healthcare is your passion, and a career in the field is your dream, it is time to look at Sumner College. 2023 nursing classes…
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Happy New Year!
Make way for 2023!…
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The Future of Oregon’s Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations
The Oregon Center for Nursing recently published "The Future of Oregon's Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations The Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Health Care Workforce…
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What’s the work environment for a Phlebotomy Tech?
Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and doctor’s offices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Phlebotomists held about 135,500 jobs…
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Holiday Break – December 19 to January 2nd
There will be no classes at Sumner College during Holiday Break - December 19th thru January 2nd.…
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Expert Simulation Educators Across Oregon – OCN
Sumner College's Simulation Lab provides a comprehensive learning experience for our students. As nursing education and professional development needs evolve, schools and healthcare systems are…
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2022 Holiday Greetings
Sumner College President, Joanna Russell, shares a big announcement for our nursing school happening in April 2023 and wishes a warm holiday greeting to all…
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Finding balance around the holidays
The holiday season can be a stressful time. For years, I allowed this time of year to completely take over my mind and wellbeing because…
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It’s a good time to pursue a career in healthcare. Joanna Russell and Nicole DeCosta discuss nursing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQA8dkHbFc…
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RN Well-Being Project
The well-being of all licensed LPNs, RNs, and APRNs, as well as their certified and unlicensed support staff, is essential to Oregon's health [Article shared…
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Oregon Facing Nurse Shortage by 2025
With demand for registered nurses in Oregon continuing to grow, Oregon is facing a nursing shortage by 2025, according to The Demand for Nursing Professionals…
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Occupational Outlook Handbook – Phlebotomists
Sumner College's Phlebotomy Tech classes are held in Mesa, Arizona Next classes start in January 2023 Quick Facts: Phlebotomists 2021 Median Pay $37,380 per year…
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Professional Nursing Organizations
There are more than 100 different national and international nursing organizations, many of which have chapters in Oregon. You may want to consider the benefits…
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How a nurse is improving health equity with a touch of a button
This article is shared from Johnson+Johnson's Nursing website. LINK Watch a special TODAY show segment featuring nurse innovator Bre Loughlin, MS, RN This segment features…
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Now Hiring – Assistant to the President
Sumner College is accepting applications for the position of Assistant to the President. Visit the Careers at Sumner page for details on the position and…
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Now Hiring – General Education/ Science Instructor
Sumner College is accepting applications for a general education/science instructor position that is part time and hybrid. Job Description - General Education/Science Instructor - Part…
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Bringing Well-Being into the Workplace
For healthcare to work, it takes a thriving nurse workforce. From nurse-led solutions to evidence-backed guidelines, innovation in workplace well-being isn't just possible, it's happening.…
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Thanksgiving Memorable Recipes from Sumner College’s Team
Thanksgiving is a time to show gratitude for friends, family and business associates. This year, the Sumner College team is sharing a few delicious, must-have,…
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It’s the time of year when eager students are venturing into their first semester of nursing school. Most likely, they have been bombarded with advice from other seasoned students. However, starting nursing school is like jumping into frigid water. You know I is going to be a shock to your system and yet, you can’t comprehend just how much of a shock until you jump in. Fortunately, there are effective study strategies that can help students to make a smooth transition.
Effective Study Strategies
STEP 1 You Must Study … STUDY!
Unless you have a photographic memory or some other learning super power, you will have to study. I was one of the many nursing students who cruised through prerequisite classes and rarely broke a sweat. I realized early in my first semester that what had worked for me in previous courses, was not going to be enough. Most students have to “step up” their study skills in nursing school to be successful.
STEP 2 Lay a strong foundation
There is a way you can spend less time studying and still be successful. The secret? Put a consistent effort into all of your coursework. For example:
STEP 3 Attend class
I often hear students say, “I don’t go to class because they just read off powerpoints”. Even if this is the case, instructors place emphasis on important and “need to know” information. Attending class gives students an opportunity to hear the information and ask questions.
STEP 4 Listen in class
Pay attention, take notes and review your notes for a few minutes after class. It also helps to compare your notes with another student’s and see what they thought was important.
STEP 5 Rethink assignments
Students often lament course assignments as “busy work” that distracts from study time. It helps to reimagine coursework as additional exposure to information and an opportunity to test knowledge.
Schedule Yourself for Study
Time management in nursing school is crucial to your success. Studying will compete with personal, academic and social responsibilities for a valuable chunk of your time. Therefore, go ahead and schedule your study time. Here are a few tips:
STEP 1 Master the calendar
Just thinking about your nursing program, personal and work schedule can quickly lead to feelings of chaos. It is important to see the “big picture” of your schedule instead of trying to keep up with all the separate moving parts. Develop a master calendar plotting out all your scheduled activities (class, work, clinicals, appointments, family responsibilities) and then schedule your study time. Be sure to include due dates for exams, assignments and other important deadlines.
STEP 2 Be realistic
Scheduling yourself only a few 20 minute study sessions a week will most likely result in very intense cramming sessions. Schedule adequate blocks of study time, but be sure to work in breaks. Studying without breaks leads to fatigue and poor retention of information.
Take Good Notes
After scoring low on exams, students would often show me pages and pages of detailed notes and ask with obvious frustration, “What am I doing wrong?”. When it comes to note taking, quantity is not always equal quality. Here are a few tips:
STEP 1 Read before the lecture
Having a general awareness of the material before you attend the lecture will put you a step ahead. This doesn’t mean reading in detail all 200+ pages to be covered, but it does help to have an idea of the topics that will be presented.
STEP 2 Get organized
There are many different note taking strategies and it is important to find the method that works for you. Remember, you may need to change what you have done in the past. A few methods for you to explore include:
You can read descriptions, pros and cons of each method here.
STEP 3 Handwritten vs electronic notes
Research has shown handwritten notes have an edge over electronic notes when it comes to retaining information. However, there are pros and cons to both depending on student preferences and learning style. Here are just a few:
Laptop Notes
Pros:
Cons:
Handwritten Notes:
Pros;
Cons:
The bottom line- finding the note taking method that is best for you. But first, you need a commitment to explore and put different strategies to test.
Author J.Adderton, BSN, MSN