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Top Tips for Surviving and Thriving When Studying Nursing Online
Ernest Hamilton
First Posted: Sep 11, 2020 04:28 PM EDT
Top Tips for Surviving and Thriving When Studying Nursing Online
There are so many benefits to studying nursing online. This is true whether you are an undergraduate with a passion for helping others and dreams of becoming a registered nurse, or whether you are already a highly qualified, experienced nurse looking to advance your education even further. However, just because you will not need to worry about traveling to campus every day does not mean that the journey will be easy! It will still require dedication, perseverance, motivation, and lots of hard work!
Before you embark upon this exciting, educational endeavor, here are some top tips to help you survive and thrive from day one through to when you are finally awarded your online nursing certificate.
Choose the right college
There are many online nursing colleges offering access to programs that will enable you to obtain a variety of seemingly impressive online nursing certificates. However, not all of these programs or colleges will be quite up to scratch in terms of quality, accreditation, and support. To make sure that you select the right college, it is important to take note of the following:
-
Does the college offer the online nursing certificates that you are interested in? A few great online nursing certificates to look into include post-master's certificates:
-
Family Nurse Practitioner (NP to FNP)
-
Family Nurse Practitioner (non-NP to FNP)
-
Adult-Gerontology (non-NP to AGPCNP)
-
Nurse Educator
-
Is the college in question properly accredited? Obtaining online nursing certificates from an unaccredited online institution could make it extremely challenging to find a job following your graduation.
-
Does the college offer a flexible study schedule that fits in with your lifestyle and current responsibilities? Most postgraduate online nursing certificates should only require an estimated 10 - 15 hours of your time per week.
-
How big are the online classes? The fewer students involved, the more personal attention you can expect to receive from lecturers. If the online classes consist of any more than 30 students at a time, you might be better off applying elsewhere.
Work on your time management and self-discipline
Successful online nursing students all have impeccable time management skills and have all learned how to prioritize their workflow. Further to this, they are especially adept at keeping themselves motivated and sticking to a well-planned, yet flexible schedule. Time management and self-discipline go hand in hand to ensuring success for students in pursuit of online nursing certificates. So, how can you make sure that you perfect both of these crucial online learning components? Here are some pointers:
-
Create a daily schedule in conjunction with a weekly schedule. Your daily schedule should list all of the necessary tasks for the day, along with the time required to complete them. Your weekly schedule should provide a snapshot look at the various deadlines of which you need to be aware.
-
Find ways in which to manage your stress. When you are stressed, it becomes difficult to concentrate or to think clearly. This means that your time management abilities will be significantly reduced and that you will be a lot more likely to give in to the temptation to procrastinate. A few wonderful ideas for effective stress management include yoga, Pilates, meditation, long walks, martial arts, puzzles, etc. It is important to find a hobby that you enjoy, and that also relaxes your mind, all the while engaging in regular me-time sessions. Strive for at least a half an hour of me-time every day.
-
Ask for help when you need it. Trying to figure something out on your own could take hours, which can have a detrimental impact on your productivity and your time. If you are confused about something, make use of the support resources available to you by your chosen college. Most online colleges and universities specializing in online nursing certificates and degrees will provide you with access to a mentor who will be available to assist you with any queries quickly and with minimal fuss.
Familiarize yourself with the contents of the NCLEX exam
Upon receiving their online nursing certificates and degrees, all nursing students in the United States of America will need to take and pass the NCLEX exam before being cleared to practice nursing in a medical facility. This exam lasts approximately six hours, with two optional breaks and a short tutorial included in this time. Follow these guidelines to help you ace it first-time:
-
Take practice tests online. You can start taking these tests months before the exam to help you prepare and maximize your confidence.
-
Make sure that you arrive at least 40 minutes before the scheduled exam starting time to avoid unnecessary stress.
-
Make sure that you bring an acceptable form of ID along with you. Your driver's license, passport book, state identification card, or permanent residence card are all appropriate choices.
-
Afford yourself a minute - a minute and a half to answer each question. If you are spending longer on a particular question, rather move on and make a note to come back to it later if you have the time available to do so.
Do not worry if you do not manage to pass the exam the first, or even second time around. It is easy to re-register and re-take the exam at a time convenient to you. Do note, however, that you will need to wait for a minimum of 45 days between each examination.
Form a study group
Just because you are not studying at a traditional university does not mean that you should not have any interactions with other students. Why not take action and form a study group with other postgraduate nursing students who are pursuing the same or similar online nursing certificates as you? There is plenty of research to show that group study is more beneficial than self-study. This is because when you study in a group, there are certain to be fewer distractions, you can all help each other with different aspects of the coursework, and there will be individuals to hold you accountable if you do not live up to your full potential.
Do keep in mind, however, that not all study groups are conducive to online learning success. For example, if the group tends to get too talkative or it is challenging for everyone to stick to scheduled times for meetings, you might be better off studying on your own, but some social interaction will help you feel less alone.
Figure out your learning style
There are seven learning styles in total, each of which impacts how a person best learns, understands, and retains information. When you figure out which of these seven learning styles you most identify with, you can begin to tailor your approach to your studies to ensure that you can retain a high amount of information in less time. Here is a breakdown:
-
Visual learners: Visual learners, otherwise known as spatial learners, respond best to visual imagery. Hence, they tend to gravitate towards concept maps and drawings when studying.
-
Aural learners: These types of learners find it difficult to read through textbooks or online content. On the other hand, they have impeccable listening skills and often learn best when their coursework is spoken aloud to them, either in lectures or when recorded themselves and played back. Aural learners also often thrive in group discussions.
-
Verbal learners: Verbal, or linguistic, learners, enjoy the process of reading and writing and usually turn to mnemonic devices, such as retrieval cues, to solidify a concept or a list within their memory. They also learn best in role-playing situations.
-
Physical learners: Physical learners are also commonly referred to as kinesthetic learners, and they are the types of students who are extremely hands-on and prefer practical-style rather than theory-style lessons.
-
Logical learners: These learners are especially adept when it comes to numbers and mathematics. They recognize patterns with ease and tend to form a good understanding of concepts faster than their peers. A great approach to studying for logical learners is to classify or group information to make it easier to understand.
-
Social learners: Social learners, along with physical learners, are the only types of learners who may struggle to adapt to an online learning environment. However, that does not mean that studying online is impossible for them. Since social learners love to be surrounded by other people and are excellent communicators, they thrive in group study sessions and interactive lectures.
-
Solitary learners: Solitary learners, on the contrary, find it quite effortless to adapt to e-learning because they are already independent and introspective. However, solitary learners need to take steps to seek out support or clarification when necessary rather than spending too much time trying to figure something out on their own.
Find a mentor
Perhaps you have a friend or relative who is also involved in the medical field as a nurse? If not, it is possible to connect with older, more experienced nursing professionals by reaching out on LinkedIn or attending industry-relevant events. Many RNs will make it a priority to find a mentor who can help them to decide in what they want to specialize and how to navigate the high-pressure environment shortly after they graduate and receive their online nursing certificates. The question is, why wait? Finding a wonderful mentor while you are still at nursing school can provide you with an 'edge' and assist you in gaining valuable knowledge and insights long before you even start looking for a job.
Think about volunteering to gain hands-on experience
Even if you are an undergraduate and not yet a licensed nursing practitioner, you can still put your skills and strengths to good use by volunteering in between study sessions. Doing so will help you gain hands-on experience and develop a better understanding of your course material - plus, it will look incredible on your resume, too! Other benefits of volunteering for nursing students who are pursuing online nursing certificates include a significant mood boost and reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation.
While studying online is certainly a convenient and enriching experience, there is no doubt that it can also feel lonely sometimes. Volunteering provides the perfect opportunity to reach out and help others, interact with people, and generally make a difference. After all, when you do good, you feel good.
You might be wondering where to volunteer as an undergraduate or postgraduate student nurse. Many organizations would be thrilled to welcome you to their team, including the American Red Cross, Project HOPE, International Medical Relief, and Action for Healthy Kids. You can also be certain that your local clinic or hospital or a nursing home would be happy to provide you with a chance to assist and develop your skills in some way or another.
Take proper care of yourself
Pursuing online nursing certificates in conjunction with a host of other responsibilities is going to take a physical and mental toll on even the hardest working, most well-organized students. As such, it is vital to take proper care of yourself to keep your productivity and your positivity high. Here is some advice to take to heart:
-
Be kind: As a nurse, you are naturally empathetic to others, and yet you are probably quite hard on yourself. Be kinder to yourself and accept that you can only do your best.
-
Take breaks: You also need time to recharge and do the activities that you enjoy.
-
Eat well: Be sure to eat nutritious meals to keep your blood sugar stable and to boost your focus.
-
Sleep: Avoid pulling all-nighters and try to get between seven- and nine-hours' worth of sleep every night.
-
Exercise: Exercise is especially important after a day of sitting stationary in your desk. It will encourage the release of endorphins and improve blood circulation, leaving you feeling happier and refreshed.
Keep these helpful tips and guidelines in mind, and you will be well on your way to obtaining as many online nursing certificates as you wish! Good luck for the remainder of your online educational journey.
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
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First Posted: Sep 11, 2020 04:28 PM EDT
Top Tips for Surviving and Thriving When Studying Nursing Online
There are so many benefits to studying nursing online. This is true whether you are an undergraduate with a passion for helping others and dreams of becoming a registered nurse, or whether you are already a highly qualified, experienced nurse looking to advance your education even further. However, just because you will not need to worry about traveling to campus every day does not mean that the journey will be easy! It will still require dedication, perseverance, motivation, and lots of hard work!
Before you embark upon this exciting, educational endeavor, here are some top tips to help you survive and thrive from day one through to when you are finally awarded your online nursing certificate.
Choose the right college
There are many online nursing colleges offering access to programs that will enable you to obtain a variety of seemingly impressive online nursing certificates. However, not all of these programs or colleges will be quite up to scratch in terms of quality, accreditation, and support. To make sure that you select the right college, it is important to take note of the following:
-
Does the college offer the online nursing certificates that you are interested in? A few great online nursing certificates to look into include post-master's certificates:
-
Family Nurse Practitioner (NP to FNP)
-
Family Nurse Practitioner (non-NP to FNP)
-
Adult-Gerontology (non-NP to AGPCNP)
-
Nurse Educator
-
-
Is the college in question properly accredited? Obtaining online nursing certificates from an unaccredited online institution could make it extremely challenging to find a job following your graduation.
-
Does the college offer a flexible study schedule that fits in with your lifestyle and current responsibilities? Most postgraduate online nursing certificates should only require an estimated 10 - 15 hours of your time per week.
-
How big are the online classes? The fewer students involved, the more personal attention you can expect to receive from lecturers. If the online classes consist of any more than 30 students at a time, you might be better off applying elsewhere.
Work on your time management and self-discipline
Successful online nursing students all have impeccable time management skills and have all learned how to prioritize their workflow. Further to this, they are especially adept at keeping themselves motivated and sticking to a well-planned, yet flexible schedule. Time management and self-discipline go hand in hand to ensuring success for students in pursuit of online nursing certificates. So, how can you make sure that you perfect both of these crucial online learning components? Here are some pointers:
-
Create a daily schedule in conjunction with a weekly schedule. Your daily schedule should list all of the necessary tasks for the day, along with the time required to complete them. Your weekly schedule should provide a snapshot look at the various deadlines of which you need to be aware.
-
Find ways in which to manage your stress. When you are stressed, it becomes difficult to concentrate or to think clearly. This means that your time management abilities will be significantly reduced and that you will be a lot more likely to give in to the temptation to procrastinate. A few wonderful ideas for effective stress management include yoga, Pilates, meditation, long walks, martial arts, puzzles, etc. It is important to find a hobby that you enjoy, and that also relaxes your mind, all the while engaging in regular me-time sessions. Strive for at least a half an hour of me-time every day.
-
Ask for help when you need it. Trying to figure something out on your own could take hours, which can have a detrimental impact on your productivity and your time. If you are confused about something, make use of the support resources available to you by your chosen college. Most online colleges and universities specializing in online nursing certificates and degrees will provide you with access to a mentor who will be available to assist you with any queries quickly and with minimal fuss.
Familiarize yourself with the contents of the NCLEX exam
Upon receiving their online nursing certificates and degrees, all nursing students in the United States of America will need to take and pass the NCLEX exam before being cleared to practice nursing in a medical facility. This exam lasts approximately six hours, with two optional breaks and a short tutorial included in this time. Follow these guidelines to help you ace it first-time:
-
Take practice tests online. You can start taking these tests months before the exam to help you prepare and maximize your confidence.
-
Make sure that you arrive at least 40 minutes before the scheduled exam starting time to avoid unnecessary stress.
-
Make sure that you bring an acceptable form of ID along with you. Your driver's license, passport book, state identification card, or permanent residence card are all appropriate choices.
-
Afford yourself a minute - a minute and a half to answer each question. If you are spending longer on a particular question, rather move on and make a note to come back to it later if you have the time available to do so.
Do not worry if you do not manage to pass the exam the first, or even second time around. It is easy to re-register and re-take the exam at a time convenient to you. Do note, however, that you will need to wait for a minimum of 45 days between each examination.
Form a study group
Just because you are not studying at a traditional university does not mean that you should not have any interactions with other students. Why not take action and form a study group with other postgraduate nursing students who are pursuing the same or similar online nursing certificates as you? There is plenty of research to show that group study is more beneficial than self-study. This is because when you study in a group, there are certain to be fewer distractions, you can all help each other with different aspects of the coursework, and there will be individuals to hold you accountable if you do not live up to your full potential.
Do keep in mind, however, that not all study groups are conducive to online learning success. For example, if the group tends to get too talkative or it is challenging for everyone to stick to scheduled times for meetings, you might be better off studying on your own, but some social interaction will help you feel less alone.
Figure out your learning style
There are seven learning styles in total, each of which impacts how a person best learns, understands, and retains information. When you figure out which of these seven learning styles you most identify with, you can begin to tailor your approach to your studies to ensure that you can retain a high amount of information in less time. Here is a breakdown:
-
Visual learners: Visual learners, otherwise known as spatial learners, respond best to visual imagery. Hence, they tend to gravitate towards concept maps and drawings when studying.
-
Aural learners: These types of learners find it difficult to read through textbooks or online content. On the other hand, they have impeccable listening skills and often learn best when their coursework is spoken aloud to them, either in lectures or when recorded themselves and played back. Aural learners also often thrive in group discussions.
-
Verbal learners: Verbal, or linguistic, learners, enjoy the process of reading and writing and usually turn to mnemonic devices, such as retrieval cues, to solidify a concept or a list within their memory. They also learn best in role-playing situations.
-
Physical learners: Physical learners are also commonly referred to as kinesthetic learners, and they are the types of students who are extremely hands-on and prefer practical-style rather than theory-style lessons.
-
Logical learners: These learners are especially adept when it comes to numbers and mathematics. They recognize patterns with ease and tend to form a good understanding of concepts faster than their peers. A great approach to studying for logical learners is to classify or group information to make it easier to understand.
-
Social learners: Social learners, along with physical learners, are the only types of learners who may struggle to adapt to an online learning environment. However, that does not mean that studying online is impossible for them. Since social learners love to be surrounded by other people and are excellent communicators, they thrive in group study sessions and interactive lectures.
-
Solitary learners: Solitary learners, on the contrary, find it quite effortless to adapt to e-learning because they are already independent and introspective. However, solitary learners need to take steps to seek out support or clarification when necessary rather than spending too much time trying to figure something out on their own.
Find a mentor
Perhaps you have a friend or relative who is also involved in the medical field as a nurse? If not, it is possible to connect with older, more experienced nursing professionals by reaching out on LinkedIn or attending industry-relevant events. Many RNs will make it a priority to find a mentor who can help them to decide in what they want to specialize and how to navigate the high-pressure environment shortly after they graduate and receive their online nursing certificates. The question is, why wait? Finding a wonderful mentor while you are still at nursing school can provide you with an 'edge' and assist you in gaining valuable knowledge and insights long before you even start looking for a job.
Think about volunteering to gain hands-on experience
Even if you are an undergraduate and not yet a licensed nursing practitioner, you can still put your skills and strengths to good use by volunteering in between study sessions. Doing so will help you gain hands-on experience and develop a better understanding of your course material - plus, it will look incredible on your resume, too! Other benefits of volunteering for nursing students who are pursuing online nursing certificates include a significant mood boost and reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation.
While studying online is certainly a convenient and enriching experience, there is no doubt that it can also feel lonely sometimes. Volunteering provides the perfect opportunity to reach out and help others, interact with people, and generally make a difference. After all, when you do good, you feel good.
You might be wondering where to volunteer as an undergraduate or postgraduate student nurse. Many organizations would be thrilled to welcome you to their team, including the American Red Cross, Project HOPE, International Medical Relief, and Action for Healthy Kids. You can also be certain that your local clinic or hospital or a nursing home would be happy to provide you with a chance to assist and develop your skills in some way or another.
Take proper care of yourself
Pursuing online nursing certificates in conjunction with a host of other responsibilities is going to take a physical and mental toll on even the hardest working, most well-organized students. As such, it is vital to take proper care of yourself to keep your productivity and your positivity high. Here is some advice to take to heart:
-
Be kind: As a nurse, you are naturally empathetic to others, and yet you are probably quite hard on yourself. Be kinder to yourself and accept that you can only do your best.
-
Take breaks: You also need time to recharge and do the activities that you enjoy.
-
Eat well: Be sure to eat nutritious meals to keep your blood sugar stable and to boost your focus.
-
Sleep: Avoid pulling all-nighters and try to get between seven- and nine-hours' worth of sleep every night.
-
Exercise: Exercise is especially important after a day of sitting stationary in your desk. It will encourage the release of endorphins and improve blood circulation, leaving you feeling happier and refreshed.
Keep these helpful tips and guidelines in mind, and you will be well on your way to obtaining as many online nursing certificates as you wish! Good luck for the remainder of your online educational journey.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone