Tips for Nursing Student Success!

Meet Nursing Student Brandon who shares 10 Tips for Nursing Student Success!

Nursing Student Mentor | Motivator | Advocate

Brandon Thompson (future BSN, RN) is in a dual degree nursing program in Albuquerque New Mexico. Where he recently graduated from central New Mexico community college with his ADN & now he is at the University of New Mexico completing the BSN portion of his program. Brandon recently became a dual citizen, & is Jamaican American. He has previously studied business management & he has worked in education & alongside school nurses. Brandon has also dabbled in botany research during his undergraduate studies & recently I submitted a research article to the MedEdPortal! Let’s Learn from Brandon!

You can also listen to these awesome tips on The Nursing Strategies for Success Podcast!

Here is a summary of the 10 Tips for Nursing Student Success:

Tip #1: Do some self-reflection (using a SWOT analysis) to identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats so you can improve your practice and performance.
Tip #2: Know when to ask for help! Don’t wait until you’re drowning to ask questions.
Tip #3: Complete assigned reading by “Reading Smart” – Focus on the bolded texts, tables, charts, images & lists. Knowing the main points is what’s most important – not every single detail.
Tip #4: Practice a LOT of NCLEX Style Questions! Applying and Analyzing data & leveraging the rules & concepts that guide decision making is what helps you to PASS!
Tip #5: Build your Resume while you’re in Nursing School! Your experience & skills while you are a student is valuable & it is transferrable for future jobs!
Tip #6: Avoid tunnel vision! Nurses can do ANYTHING – so dream big & make it happen!
Tip #7: Learn how to accept your failures! Failure is not the end – learn from it & “Fail Forward”
Tip #8: Be Flexible! Triage your workload or the situation you’re in & go with the flow!
Tip #9: Focus on your strengths to overcome your weaknesses! (We didn’t name Tip #9 – Whoops!)
Tip #10: Work on your confidence with communications – online etiquette, in person, on video, or via audio – PRACTICE your tone, facial expressions, body language, background, lighting, etc. Get on Zoom and chat with your friends and record the session so you can improve!
BONUS Tip: Your Experience is VALID! Don’t diminish experiences that are outside of nursing – what you know is transferrable to nursing! Again, focus on your skills, strengths, knowledge, and talents to do your best and to help others – share what you have because your skills are needed!
My BONUS TIP: If you need help – BE SPECIFIC when asking for help. The more we know what you need help with – the better we can help you!