Nursing school is where nurses are prepared and trained for a challenging but meaningful career ahead. Here they learn everything that will stand them in good stead in the years to come. Long hours and intense focus are common in this process. But through it all students need to be able to balance academic commitments with personal life in order to ensure their own mental and emotional wellbeing. Read on to find some suggestions for nursing students on how to manage time, stress, interpersonal communication and personal commitments.
Good time management is the very key to balancing nursing school with life. This can be ensured by creating a detailed schedule that includes class times, study sessions, clinical rotations, and personal commitments. Prioritisation of tasks and clever usage of digital tools like calendars or apps to set reminders goes a long way in effective time management.
Stress can be a killer, and it’s ever present, especially for nursing students. Stress reduction techniques need to be weaved into a student’s daily routine to obviate the harmful effects of stress. Mindfulness meditation, yoga, simple breathing exercises – as well as regular physical activity like a daily walk can act as mood uplifters and combat anxiety. Equally important is to take regular breaks during study sessions. According to the Pomodoro Technique - 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break can work wonders when it comes to productivity.
Nursing is a profession that demands strong communication skills as nurses need to interact constantly with both patients and peers. To boost communication skills students should practise active listening and expressing thoughts clearly, foster collaboration and teach others to reinforce understanding.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – this adage applies just as well in nursing school. Personal commitments are just as important and need to be nurtured and pandered to. Students should make sure they carve out moments for family, friends and self-care. Regular social activities are a surefire way to recharge and network and hence should never be relegated to the back burner.
Indeed, one can only deal with the academic demands well when one is able to successfully balance life with the needs of the nursing school. This can only be ensured by effective time management, reduced stress, open communication and by respecting personal commitments.