Back-to-school season is in full swing, with the end of summer just around the corner! Whether you’re excited to get back into your fall schedule or dreading the new semester, ensuring you’re prepared before nursing school starts is important. For all our nursing student friends, whether you’re a first-time student, graduating senior, or somewhere in between, here are a few of Medely’s nursing school essentials.
1. Note Cards
While note cards are more of an old-school approach to studying, they have a lot of advantages over studying on your electronics. Electronics can make nursing school a lot easier, but they come with their own set of problems – like a lot of distractions. From texts to social media notifications to making to-do lists in your notes app, studying can quickly turn unproductive. If you have the discipline to use your electronic device and not be distracted, kudos to you, but if you need a little more help staying on track, note cards are a great option. Physically writing things down can even help you strengthen the connection in your mind and help you remember the information better. And with bite-sized pieces of information, note cards can also make studying feel like less of a daunting task.
2. Pocket Nursing Guides
Another nursing school essential is a pocket nursing guide like this one. As you go through nursing school, having a book like this can help you get more comfortable as you learn how to diagnose patients and recommend the best treatment plans. It’s a great compact book to keep in your bag, or even grab an online copy that you can have on your computer or phone. Becoming familiar with symptoms and treatment plans is a long process, so a pocketbook with lots of information can help you learn to identify symptoms and diagnoses quickly until you start to get a handle on everything you’re learning.
Nursing School Tip – “I made sure that I always ate a good breakfast with coffee before classes to start my day. I wore comfortable clothing to class and supportive shoes, especially during clinical. I would also record classes and re-listen during study time to ensure I retained the information.”
3. A Cute, Functional Water Bottle
Being dehydrated is not how you want to enter your nursing school year. You’ll be working hard in classes and moving around quite a bit, so make sure you’re replenishing your fluids. Find a cute water bottle that’s easy to carry with you and that you’ll use. If you’re looking for options, don’t worry. You have many options, and finding one that works for you is easy! Whether you prefer a larger water bottle you fill up less frequently or a smaller one that’s easy to carry around, find a water bottle you’ll take with you everywhere and won’t forget to drink out of. If you struggle with drinking enough water, set yourself a reminder on your phone to hydrate!
4. Pens (and lots of them)
Taking notes is an important part of nursing school, and as we mentioned above, research shows that physically writing down notes can help you remember them better. So, we recommend stocking up on a bunch of your favorite pens. Make sure to get a few backups, too, because pens and pencils always seem to go missing. And remember, just because you’re in nursing school doesn’t mean your pens must be boring. Find some cute colored gel pens or some fun mechanical pencils. Having something fun to write with will make the note-taking process easier and more fun.
5. Noise-Canceling Headphones
If you don’t already have noise-canceling headphones, now is the time to get them. Since you’re going to be doing a lot of studying in nursing school, it’s important that you can be fully focused on your study time. Whether your study routine looks like going to a coffee shop or sitting in your living room, noise-canceling headphones can help eliminate any outside noise or unnecessary distractions that might shift your focus from your study time.
Nursing School Tip – “I made sure that I always ate a good breakfast with coffee before classes to start my day. I wore comfortable clothing to class and supportive shoes, especially during clinical. I would also record classes and re-listen during study time to ensure I retained the information.”
6. Car Storage Crate
Nursing school will be busy, and small things can slip through the cracks. If you’re worried about forgetting your books and folders at home, get a storage crate for your car; it can be a lifesaver. All your school supplies will be easy to access when you get to class, and you can take what you need for your current class and leave everything else in the car. This will be incredibly beneficial for giving your brain a break from remembering one more thing, and your back will probably thank you, too.
Sign up for Medely!
Wherever you’re on your nursing journey, whether in school for the first time or coming back for a higher degree, it’s important to plan how you want to work. With Medely, choosing how you work is easier than ever. You can choose what works best for you and your schedule with travel assignments, local assignments, and per diem shifts.
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