Top Time-Management Tips for Nursing Students

Nursing students often have overwhelming schedules. However, we all have the same amount of hours in a week, and successfully accomplishing all of your tasks in that duration requires good time management. Some people are naturally born with a good understanding of how to schedule their days; for others, it might be a bit more challenging.

For nursing students, good time management is essential. Like anything else, to be successful time management takes practice and dedication, especially when you're coming toward the end of your time in nursing school.

Here are four time management tips for busy nursing students.

1. Schedule and prioritize.

Scheduling your time might sound like a no-brainer, but it will help you stay on task throughout each day and week. Purchase a planner and calendar to write down important academic deadlines and other relevant dates that are found in your syllabi or are mentioned by your professors. Consider how you are spending your time outside of class and then prioritize matters of importance. Are you losing an abundance of time on tasks that could be made more efficient? Do you spend excess time socializing? Once you've created a schedule and identified how you use your time throughout each day, it becomes easier to effectively manage it.

2. Think big picture.

Plan as far in advance as possible to avoid having deadlines sneak up on you. By thinking big picture, you'll be able take a more holistic approach to time management. Furthermore, this will allow you to divide work up into daily, weekly or monthly tasks.

3. Stay organized.

Organization is imperative to good time management. Create to-do lists and develop a system for organizing your study materials. If you can efficiently keep track of all of your paperwork, you'll save time that would otherwise be spent digging through clutter. Maintain an organized workspace where you study as well. The more you are organized at school and at home, the easier it will be to keep track of all your materials and obligations.

4. Form a network.

Find study buddies to keep you motivated when you're studying for long hours or approaching difficult subject matter. This will give you someone with which to collaborate, as well as make it easy to talk out hard-to-understand concepts. Study buddies also provide you with partners for expressing academic stresses, attending school-specific events and sharing notes.

May 17

Debra S. McDonough, RN, MSN, EdD