There’s no magic bullet, but here are five techniques to improve your long-term sleeping habits as a nurse.

1. Establish a sleep routine

As humans, we find patterns comforting because we know what’s coming next; in this case, the end of the line is sleep town. Creating an evening routine is especially helpful for nurses who may have variable schedules and work night shifts.

The activities you choose to include in your routine don’t have to be closely tied to sleep, like drinking a warm glass of milk, for example. Choose a series of actions that can be done at any time of day. For instance, take a bath, read a book, sketch, listen to music, or feed your cat. The key is to find two or three quiet activities that you find soothing and might look forward to. , and do it in the same order each evening to set the pattern. Before you know it, you’ll be relaxed and sleeping like a baby in no time!

Related Resource: 5 Great Things 51cg Night Shift Nurses

2. Exercise before your shift

Regular exercise is always a top tip for staying healthy, and it’s true for sleep health as well. We emphasize this to all our ASN degree and BSN degree students, especially those preparing for their first night shifts. But don’t wait until the evening sets in to hit the gym or go for a bike ride.

• Ride your bike to the clinic, hospital, or bus stop.
• Go for a fast-paced walk during a shift break (even a few minutes can add up).
• Take the stairs, not the elevator.
• Get up 20 minutes early and go for a run or brisk walk.

If you do have time for a workout, planking and calf raises are particularly helpful for nurses. Regular exercise may be the very best way to welcome a good night’s rest.

Related resource: These Are Time Management Skills Every New Nurse Needs

3. Watch your diet

Exercise is a no-brainer, but certain foods can also be a recipe for a restless night. . Pizza (sorry!) is a big offender. The high acidity of tomato sauce can irritate your stomach and keep you up; that goes for orange juice, too. We know sugary cereal is a great late-night snack, but sadly, sugar affects your sleep, with a glucose spike and subsequent crash. Spicy foods like tacos can also disrupt slumber.

If your stomach won’t stop grumbling, try foods that are high in protein like hardboiled eggs. Low-fat dairy like cottage cheese is also a good one to keep on hand. Cherries contain natural serotonin, and avocado has essential magnesium. Like exercise, you’ll want to snack at least an hour before bedtime, since eating anything right before bed can keep you up.

Related Resource: 50 Self-Care Ideas for Nurses to Recharge on Days Off

4. Write it down

Being physically fatigued is one thing, but when your mind is spinning in circles, it can be hard to stop. Anxiety about the day’s events — a tense exchange with a coworker or the dreaded, “Did I forget to do x, y, and z on my rounds?” — can keep your mind abuzz for hours.

Keep a notebook around to . When you write down the things you need to remember, your mind can release them. You can write about things for which you’re grateful, or ideas you just can’t get out of your head, also as a means of release.

5. Lighten up

Light levels affect sleep in many ways. In fact, exposure to light stimulates a nerve pathway from the eye to parts of the brain that control hormones, body temperature, and other functions that make us feel sleepy or awake. Good,��. This is true whether you’re working a day or night shift — so you may need to use blackout curtains or put a towel under the door to block out light from other rooms. Even small LEDs put out a lot of light promoting wakefulness, so make sure to cover LED lights like those on a charging cable. And don’t forget to turn off tv, phone, and tablet screens!

Try different combinations of techniques to prepare your body for sleep, and establish a consistent pattern that is unique to your habits and fits your lifestyle. Remember, it takes 21 days to build a habit, so be gentle and give yourself time to adjust. Soon, you’ll be rising bright-eyed and ready to shine!

How do you get the rest you need? Share your sleep hacks and tips on our  page!

1. Plan.

The best way to be in control of your finances is to have a plan for them. Define your financial goals, develop a plan to reach those goals, and put your plan into action until your goals are accomplished. Are you wanting to pay for books or a portion of your tuition in cash? Perhaps you want to save to purchase a new car after graduation. Define what it is you’re wanting to accomplish so you can plan what you need to save on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

2. Write everything down.

You’ll be amazed at what you spend and where you spend it if you can see it on paper. Write down everything you spend in a month and break it out into categories. This will help you identify where you can cut back. It’s common to feel that your budget is stretched to its max, but you’ll never truly know why you’re spread thin until you itemize how you’re spending.

3. Try the envelope method.

This is a popular method for budgeting in college. Why? Because it works! Plan out your monthly, weekly, or per pay period budget by listing how much you plan on spending for miscellaneous expenses such as groceries, gas, and splurge items. Next, label envelopes for each budget item with the exact amount you want to spend during a set time period (example: groceries: $200 per week). Place the money in a labeled envelope and pay for those expenses ONLY out of that envelope. It’s much easier to keep from overspending when you physically see how much cash you have left. This is the kind of forced discipline that will help you create better financial habits after college.

4. Leverage student discounts.

Many colleges and universities have partnerships in place where students receive discounts at local shops and restaurants. Joyce is no exception. Not using these discounts to your advantage is like throwing your money away. Leverage it to the fullest! Ask what discounts agreements your college has in place. If discounts aren’t currently offered at your favorite shopping or food spots, see if your student services team can secure an agreement. It never hurts to ask!

5. Avoid credit cards.

This isn’t always easy to do (especially during the holidays), but remember that credit cards carry extremely high interest rates. One trick to fight the impulse to charge is to consider the extra hours you’ll have to work to pay off the debt. Perhaps the splurge isn’t worth the extra shift you may have to work to pay off the charges and interest. You can also try saving in advance for a “splurge fund” so you can treat yourself without accumulating avoidable debt.

With a little effort and discipline, you’ll develop habits that will pay off in the future. Happy budgeting!

1.

Merck is an institution in the medical reference world. The manuals have been around in some form or another since 1899, when they started as a reference for pharmacists. Since then, the manuals have grown into a comprehensive medical guide for both patients and professionals, and are now available for free online. The site is a wealth of information about drugs, procedures, medical topics, and nearly everything else in the realm of healthcare.

Related resource: 10 Tips for Creating Your Ideal Study Space

2.

PubMed should be your first stop if you need to roll up your sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty of medical literature. The site is publicly funded and a project of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, so it’s free to use. Whether you need to know the latest research or are just curious about what’s happening in certain areas of study, PubMed can help you out.

Related resource: A Guide to Continuing Education in the Medical Field

3.

Being a healthcare professional isn’t just about knowing science and medicine; it’s also about knowing processes. How you practice it can be just as important as what you actually do. The National Guideline Clearinghouse is a project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and archives specific guidelines and best practices for different organizations and specializations. If you need to know how a particular kind of institution or caregiver is supposed to do things, head there.

Related resource: 5 Ways to Make Studying Less of a Chore

4.

Like the sites above, Medscape has plenty of technical medical information. But it’s also a useful online news source for healthcare professionals. Their coverage includes plenty of details about diseases, drugs, and treatment. They also touch on the state of the industry and how medical professionals live their daily lives.

Related resource: 10 Tips to Sleep Better During School

5.

There are certain challenges, issues, and quirks that only nurses face. Allnurses.com is a clearinghouse for all things nurse-related. They’ve got plenty of articles, but more importantly the site is a community with over half a million members who all share in the experience of nursing. What’s more, they have a .

Related resource: 6 Things to Keep in Mind While Studying for Finals

6.

If you’re studying to be an RN, the NCLEX is probably on your mind pretty often. The test is a monumental undertaking, and passing it is an achievement to be proud of. Given all that, you definitely don’t want to go into the test cold. At Joyce, we’ll put you through an NCLEX review course, but more practice is always good.  offers a solid archive of past NCLEX questions that you can use to test yourself or try to stump your classmates.

Related resource: Passing the Licensure Exam: An NCLEX Study Plan

7.

Studying healthcare means studying healthcare terminology. There’s a lot of it, and it’s a big undertaking for any student. Keeping hundreds of terms in your head pertaining to anatomy, physiology, and hospital administration is a challenge. In a lot of ways, you really are learning a new language. Picmonic makes that language-learning process easier by teaching you medical terminology with fun, memorable illustrations. Their courses can be tailored to your path of study, too. So whether you want to become an RN or MA, they’ll have an array of lessons that’s right for you, with terms broken down into easy-to-navigate subcategories.

Are you studying for the NCLEX? Download our free e-book guide: “Proven Strategies to Conquer the NCLEX.” It’s full of expert tips and strategies that will help you ace the exam so you can begin a rewarding nursing career as soon as possible. Happy studying!

Are you considering a major change in your life? Perhaps you’ve started down a new path and are experiencing the discomfort that is inevitable with learning and growing. Navigating change is tough, but here are 4 helpful tips to help you thrive during times of change.

1. Address your feelings.

If you’re uncomfortable with change, successfully navigating change starts with figuring out what your worries and fears are. Often it’s a matter of a perceived lack of control – even if the change is self-directed. Take the time to understand what’s driving your fear. Write down your feelings. This will take work, but it’s worth it!

2. Communicate with others.

At Joyce, we encourage Joyce pride. To us, Joyce pride is about selflessly giving of one’s time to help someone else achieve whatever goal they’re trying to accomplish. It’s a way for our students to understand we’re all in this together. An essential component of Joyce pride is the willingness to openly communicate your feelings or goals with those around you. Fear of change is due in part to the fear of the unknown. Communicate with others. It is likely that someone around you has gone through similar circumstances and can impart some wisdom.

3. Be fluid.

Flexibility is often touted as the strongest weapon in your arsenal for navigating change. While powerful, flexibility implies being firmly rooted and simply bending and flexing based on changing circumstances. As professionals who have spent decades in patient care, we understand fluidity is king! To be fluid means to go with the flow of circumstances. It’s the ability to adjust and adapt during change. A person who is fluid can transform and think in new ways. Flexibility will help you get by, but those who are fluid with thrive!

4. Take time for healthy habits.

It’s seems cliché, but it’s impossible to overstate. Creating healthy habits is one of the most important parts of successfully navigating change. Stress increases during times of change. Exercise, eat healthy, sleep well, and be open with your emotions. All other steps are less relevant if change is not managed along with a steady dose healthy habits.

Change encourages growth. It pushes us past our comfort zones and makes us stronger as a result. When change occurs, remember these tips and thrive!

First, we’ll address the practical issue that gets you into college or technical school in the first place.

Financial Aid

Fact: School is expensive.

It’s a rare student who can afford higher education with the money they already have in their bank account. At least 66 percent of students rely on financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study programs to help pay for school.

Related resources: Who Qualifies for Financial Aid?

First-Generation FAFSA

Student financial aid is available to most students to make higher education possible. It’s important to remember that  when school is over. Scholarships and grants do not need to be paid back.

The federal  provides financial assistance to 13 million students every year to pay for college or career school.

How do you apply for FAFSA? Here’s the step-by-step process if you’re applying to Joyce:

1. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Register for a FSA ID. You will need a FSA ID to sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically. If you don’t have a FSA ID, you can  If you were born after 1/1/1994 your parents may also be required to obtain a FSA ID and include their information on your FAFSA. Dependency status will determined by questions answered on your FAFSA.

2. Complete the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

3. Visit the and click “Start A New FAFSA.”

4. Enter the required information. Once you reach the school selection tab, enter 016027 as the Federal School Code for Joyce. Click “Search”. Check the box next to “Joyce” from the search results. Click “Add”. Joyce will be listed under selected schools. Click “Next” to continue. Then select “Off Campus” as your housing plan. Click “Next” to continue filling out your FAFSA.

5. Use your FSA ID to sign your FAFSA electronically. The school(s) that you specified in your FAFSA application will send you a financial aid award letter or email. The award letter will specify what loans, grants, or scholarships you qualify for. You must respond to the award letter in order to accept the financial aid.

6. Visit the Joyce website to review the College’s Consumer Information Guide.

7. Complete entrance counseling and sign a promissory note. You’ll get the financial aid when both of these are completed.

At Joyce, your FAFSA results will be sent to the Financial Aid office approximately two days after you complete the application. If you have any questions as you complete the Financial Aid process, please don’t hesitate to contact your Financial Aid representative.

Related resource: Advice for Applying to Nursing School a Second Time

What Kind of Scholarships Can You Get?

Apply for scholarships. Financial aid is great because it enables students to afford school — but scholarships are free!

, because students simply don’t apply for them or think they wouldn’t qualify.

Scholarships may be awarded on the basis of your GPA, the sport you play, your interests, hobbies, heritage, area of study, and much more.  for an array of student needs and skills:

• Merit-based scholarships are awarded for academic excellence or talent.
• Need-based scholarships are awarded based on your or your parents’ financial situation.
• Athletic scholarships are granted by schools to attract top athletic talent.
• Individual scholarships are often related to your field of study. They may be issued from a private donor such as a school alumni or private organization.
• Scholarships for minorities are intended to help people of color, women, or students of certain nationalities pursue higher education.

is a great resource for students looking for financial aid. Its list of  is just a handful of thousands of available scholarships.

The more scholarships you apply for, the better your chances are of getting one or more.

You Belong Here

Money is one thing, but first-generation students often wrestle with the question of whether they belong in school in the first place. If you want to pursue higher education, you should!

Cultural issues are often at play, but so are family issues — especially feelings of guilt. While many parents work just to put food on the table for their families, it can be hard for students to spend their time in class instead of working to contribute to the household.

In a piece about fitting in, the author, then a first-generation college student, relates a phone call home. “Maybe you think you’re better than us because you went to college,” her mother says to her. The student was crushed, but her mom’s words struck a chord. After spending months in an academic environment, surrounded by people with a critical ear for language and careful word choice, it was hard for the student to react to off-color jokes in the same way as before.

It can be helpful to remember that although you’re a first-generation student, you’re not the first person to experience social or financial anxiety.

Related resource: When Is the Right Time to Go Back to School

Find Office Hours

First-generation students are often less likely than their peers to ask for help. This is a disadvantage that can be easily fixed: figure out the of your instructor and counselor, and go talk to them. They are here to help.

One study showed that  services were 10–15 percent more likely to advance to another year of college.

Find a Mentor

What do First Lady Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren all have in common? They’re all first-gen college students.

Look for other students or instructors on campus who come from a similar background. Ask how they deal with the pressure to fit in socially or financially.

If you’re not sure how to connect with a mentor, it’s not hard to find examples of successful first-gen college graduates for inspiration. Our country abounds with success stories!

Related resource: Nursing School Survival Kit

Finish What You Start

It is deeply unfortunate that first-generation college students complete higher education at a lower rate than those students whose parents have a college education. This is due to factors such as cultural and language barriers, financial and family obligations, and more.

There are many reasons why it’s important to finish the education you start.

If you accept financial aid to go to school, you have to pay loans back even if you don’t finish your degree. The only thing worse than graduating with thousands of dollars in debt is having thousands of dollars in debt and nothing to show for it.

The opposite is also true: If you finish your degree, you’ll be in a much better financial position to pay off debt and improve your and your family’s standard of living.

At Joyce, our instructors go to great lengths to ensure the success of each of our students.

Our financial aid representatives work closely with students and help them with the complicated process of securing financial aid. Joyce also offers scholarships.

Learn more about our admissions process,��financial aid, and our accreditations.

Start Your Healthcare Journey at 51cg

Whether you’re beginning your healthcare journey with our ASN program, pursuing a 3 year BSN degree or accelerated BSN program, advancing through our RN to BSN program, or reaching higher with an MSN degree, we’ll support you every step of the way as a first-generation student. Discover your path at our nursing school today.

If its been a while since you’ve been in school, the thought of bibliographies and citations might send chills down your spine. Never fear – Bibme has you covered! This free tool enables students to easily create citations and build a bibliography in MLA, APA, and Chicago.

This outstanding note-taking tool syncs your notes between all your devices. It has some really cool features we could write an entire blog about. Check out their blog for some top tips for college students who want to use the tool.

IFTTT (If This Then That) is an app that lets you build “recipes” that puts the internet to work for you. A “recipe” is a command that executes when a particular catalyst is selected. Example: “If I get an email attachment, then save the attachment in dropbox” or “If it’s going to snow tomorrow, send me a reminder to leave early for class.” The possibilities are almost endless. Check out this blog for tips on how you can use IFTTT to automate your life!

Feeling scattered is an inevitable part of college life. For task planning and subtle reminders, there are few tools better than Any.Do. Write tasks, share them with a contact, add sub-notes, or set reminders. Any.Do syncs to your computer and across your other devices.

Dropbox is a free service that allows you to store your homework, notes, pictures, presentations, or any other documents in the cloud so they can be accessed anywhere and shared easily. BTW…there’s an IFTTT recipe that lets you easily connect your Dropbox to Evernote.

This productivity tool helps you understand your daily habits. It runs securely in the background on your computer, phone, or tablet, tracks what time you spend on apps and websites, and gives you detailed reports summarizing your activity. Have you ever wondered where all your time went? Rescuetime probably has the answer!

Picture this nightmare scenario: You’ve completed all your assignments. Feeling accomplished, you head to the kitchen to grab a victory snack. Upon your return, you notice your computer is laying dead and unresponsive. All is lost!!! Mozy Backup is a great way to cover your bases in the event of computer catastrophe by automatically backing up your precious files. There are a number of similar services worth checking out as well. Don’t let your nightmare become a reality!

Does the right music put you in the zone? Spotify is a digital music service that gives you access to millions of songs. Turn up the volume and get cranking on that homework!

Keep Learning on the Job

Even if you were a straight-A student who passed the NCLEX in 75 questions, don’t expect to know everything on your first day (or week, or month) of work. There’s a , and you’ll have to listen and keep learning. Don’t expect to be able to do everything flawlessly in the beginning. Instead, remind yourself that you’re still new at this.

Also, remember that school and tests can only do so much. Being book smart is important, but there are some things you can only learn on the job. There’s a good reason why graduating from school is called “commencement.” That experience marks the beginning of something, not the end. Give yourself permission to become a beginner again, and learn accordingly.

Related Resource: Life as a Joyce Graduate

Reach Out to Others

During nursing school, you probably got to know your classmates. You hung out, were able to talk through problems together, and bonded while sharing a difficult experience. In your first year of work, though, you’ll often be on your own, because you’ll have to work by yourself and because you won’t know anybody yet. There’s also the well-worn saying that “” Bullying and hazing does, unfortunately, happen among nurses and it’s the newest ones who bear the brunt of it.

Working on your own and being alone isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One of the only ways to achieve independence is to get out there and work independently. During your first year on the job, you’ll do well to reach out to your co-workers and make connections. Talk to people. Ask questions. Learn the specifics and quirks of the organization where you work and find a place to fit within your job’s social structure.

Are people going out for pizza after a shift? Go with them. Is it someone’s birthday and there’s cake in the break room? Talk to people and have some cake. Just don’t try to make too big of a splash. When you come into a new organization, your goal should be to find out how it works and learn what roles you can fill in it.

Related Resource: How to Get Your BSN Degree

Keep Setting Goals

Things get easier after your first year on the job. Or, more accurately, you get more accustomed to them. You make connections with your co-workers, settle into a routine, and what was once overwhelming becomes a regular task you can do with ease. When that does happen, you’ll likely want to go further and get your BSN so you can continue your cycle of learning and not get too entrenched in a comfortable routine.

Whether you’re beginning your nursing career or taking the next steps, Joyce is there for you. Learn more about our nursing and �鱷–B���� programs.

Whether you’re considering nursing school or any other program, going back to school is a big, often daunting decision. Many factors come into play, and the answer can be different for almost everyone. Before you decide when to go, you need decide why — why you want to go back to school, and why a healthcare program would benefit your life, career, and family.

Firmly answering why is the first step in your journey. It’s the reason you’ll return to often, as the demands of school, studying, and life increase. Are you going back for a better life? Do you want more career opportunities? Have you always wanted to be a helper, a life saver, a nurse? Once you know why it’s important to go back to school, you can think about what school will require and whether or not you can make the commitment. Answering these questions will reveal when, for you, it’s the right time to go back to school.

Can you can manage the stress and expectations?

While exciting, going back to school is stressful, and it can dredge up a level of anxiety you haven’t experienced since taking your SATs in high school. People manage different levels of stress better at different points in life. An 18-year-old will have different priorities than a 28-year-old, for instance.

Knowing you can manage the pressures of school will indicate when you’re ready to go back. Reaching this place of mental preparedness will vary person to person. On the one hand, recent high school graduates often have fewer responsibilities and family commitments, but older students will have more life experience balancing the demands of school and life.

Wherever you are in life, be honest with yourself on how much time you actually have to give. Write down everything you do every day for a few weeks. This will help you organize your schedule and give you a feeling for how much time you have for class and studying. It can also reveal the support you’ll need, and which parts of your life you may need to give up.

Do you have the motivation to finish?

Research conducted found that only 33.7 percent of non-first-time college students who enrolled in higher education finished their degree (versus 54.1 percent for first-time students). The number is even more staggering when you look at the total: 2,535,946 adults who re-matriculated from 2005 to 2008 did not finish their education.

While these figures are startling, it’s important to know what you’re in for when you go back to school. College isn’t easy; yet, if you have the drive and motivation to finish, the reward of completing your goal is huge. By going back to school and graduating, you’ll have accomplished something rare and valuable — for yourself, and for your career.

Learn 51cg Our Programs: ASN,��BSN,��aBSN,��RN to BSN��&������;��MSN

Will you have the support you need?

This one is simple, and sometimes doesn’t require more than the words, “We believe in you.” Knowing that your spouse, family, employer, and friends support your decision can be just the push you need to take the plunge and be successful the second time around. This is especially true when you may need to rely on others during finals and clinical rotations. Having a supervisor who allows you to trade shifts, or a spouse who’s willing to cook every night for a week can clarify when you’re ready to go back to school.

Have you done your research and set goals?

School requires a lot of resources, financially and otherwise, to complete. If you don’t know what to expect and what you want out of your experience, there’s a good chance you won’t finish. Even before you apply to nursing school or a medical assisting program in Utah, you should volunteer, talk to people in the field, visit the campus, and read every piece of information you can find.

Know your goals ahead of time, and prepare for all of the costs. Giving serious thought to what you want and will help guide your decision. If you want to be a nurse, you have several options to get you there, such as an accelerated nursing program. There are many ways to become a licensed RN in Utah, but some require more time and money than you may be able to give.

At Joyce, we’re here to help and will make sure you have all the information you need to start your career in nursing off right.

That’s why we’ve put together this helpful nursing school survival kit to get you ready. As one of the largest nursing colleges in Utah, 51cg has extensive experience preparing students across all our programs—from our ASN program and traditional BSN degree to our accelerated BSN program and MSN degree—for successful nursing school experiences that lead to thriving healthcare careers.

Our nursing school survival kit will help you determine how to spend your money wisely—recommending only the most vital items you’ll need to succeed in your program and your future career as a nurse. Check out our list of 21 essential items below.

1. Quality Scrubs

First, the basics. Every nursing student needs a good pair of scrubs. Your nursing school might have specific rules about the color or type of scrubs you can wear, so make sure you check your school’s guidelines. When you’re ready to buy, look for high quality brands—you’ll need something durable to last through long shifts. If you’re an 51cg student, you can get a helpful 10% discount on your scrubs purchase at a local Dubs Scrubs store. Finally, we recommend that you buy scrubs with pockets. Once you check out the rest of this list, you’ll quickly see why pockets can come in handy!

2. Comfortable Shoes

When your clinicals start, you may find yourself spending long shifts on your feet, often on concrete floors. That’s why most nurses will tell you that investing in a good pair of shoes can make a huge difference—and help you avoid the pitfalls of back and leg pain. You can buy shoes specifically branded as “nursing shoes,” but many nurses simply choose well-made athletic shoes or clogs. The most important thing is that the shoes you choose are comfortable for your feet and provide the support you need. As with scrubs, your nursing school may have specifications about what types of shoes you can wear, so be sure to check their guidelines before you pick up a new pair.

3. Compression Socks

Trust us on this one—compression socks can make a huge difference when it comes to your comfort and quality of life. Remember what we said about being on your feet for up to 12 hours a day? Compression socks or stockings help prevent varicose veins, improve circulation, and keep you from being in pain at the end of an already long day. You can choose from different styles and lengths, including knee high and thigh high socks.

4. Reliable Analog Watch

Our nursing school survival kit also includes a good analog watch. The administration of many medications requires that you measure time precisely, so look for a watch with a second hand. Find one that fits securely on your wrist—since you’ll be taking gloves on and off all day, you don’t want your watch to slip off. Also, since you’re going to be washing your hands throughout the day, we recommend getting a watch that doesn’t have a fabric band. Instead, look for a more water-resistant option like a watch with a plastic, silicone, or rubber band.

5. Stethoscope

A good stethoscope is essential for every nursing student. In fact, it’s one of the most vital tools on this list as it’s invaluable for helping you assess a patient’s health. While you’re likely operating under a tight budget as a nursing student, this is one item that’s well worth spending a little extra money on to get a quality model. If you skimp and buy a cheaper stethoscope, you likely won’t be able to hear well enough to accurately assess lung sounds, and you’ll eventually have to buy a more expensive one before starting your nursing career. Many nurses choose Littmann or Prestige brand stethoscopes, so we’d recommend starting there. You may be able to save money on these brands by considering an alternate color, or looking for sales or discount codes online.

6. Pen Light

A pen light is a critical item to keep in the pocket of your scrubs. Pen lights play a vital role in conducting neuro exams and in assessing your patient’s mucus membranes. They are inexpensive and we think you’ll find them incredibly convenient to have within reach.

7. Scissors or Shears

Having a pair of scissors or shears will come in handy in all kinds of ways you couldn’t anticipate. Scissors are great for cutting medical gauze, removing dressings, opening medication or IV bag packaging, cutting off clothing in emergency situations, and in many other applications. Just make sure you label your scissors with your initials or a piece of colored tape, so that someone else doesn’t accidentally pocket them.

8. Hemostat

A hemostat is another great tool to have in your nursing school survival kit. It can be used to clamp IV lines, hold a needle for suturing, clamp a bleeding artery, and for many other applications. Its many uses make it a valuable item to keep in your nursing bag.

9. Calendar or Organizer

If you’re preparing to start nursing school, it’s important to come equipped with solid organizational tools in place. An organizer or calendar is essential for keeping track of your classes and clinicals. You may prefer to get a daily or weekly planner that you can carry with you—or you can opt to go digital. If you go with the latter, Google Calendar can be a valuable resource, as can Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Luckily, if you already have a Gmail account, you can use these other tools for free.

Once you’ve decided on the type of organizer you’ll use, develop an organizational system that works for you. You could try color coding your different classes and activities, planning out your week every Sunday—anything that helps you stay on top of your studies and schedule. Once you’ve found a method that works for you, stick with it. That way, you won’t spend your valuable time trying to learn different organizational methods.

10. Nursing Clipboard

A heavy-duty clipboard can be super helpful for organizing and storing all of the paperwork that you have to carry with you as a nursing student. You can buy a clipboard that’s specifically designed for nurses, which often includes a medical reference sheet, but you don’t have to. As long as the one you choose is durable and includes storage compartments for papers, reference sheets, and other essentials, you should be good to go.

11. Retractable Pens

You may be wondering, “does it really matter what kind of pen I buy?” In our experience, when it comes to retractable pens, it absolutely does. You’ll be amazed by how quickly you can lose standard pen lids in nursing school, which can lead to pens drying out or ink leaking onto your bag and important papers. That’s why we suggest you buy inexpensive, retractable pens with black ink that don’t require a lid.

12. Permanent Markers

In nursing school, you will find infinite uses for permanent markers—labeling meds, marking your initials and dates on dressings, writing on stickers, etc. You may find it most helpful to purchase one regular point marker and one fine point marker for different applications.

13. Highlighters

Be sure to include some highlighters in your nursing school survival kit—and consider developing a highlighting system. Highlighters are especially useful for visual learners, and can help you focus on critical concepts. If you develop a color coding system, it will enable you to organize the type of information you highlight. For example, one color may be used to highlight important values, one to highlight definitions, and another to highlight examples or explanations. You can also use a color coding system for your class notes: try using one color to highlight something you don’t understand and need to return to later, and another to highlight something your teacher has said will be on an upcoming exam. Again, just find the system that works best for you and stick with it!

14. Notecards and Memo Pads

You’re going to be taking a lot of notes in nursing school, and you’ll need a system for organizing and using those notes. Memo pads can be useful tools to have available, and notecards are handy if you like to create flashcards. There are also apps available that you can use to create and share flashcards if you prefer a digital option.

15. Pocket Nursing Guides

Many nursing students find it helpful to carry pocket nursing guides with them. These tiny booklets contain tons of vital information, including lab values and medication guides. A popular alternative to a guidebook is ScrubCheats—a collection of 4×6 nursing reference cards on a ring, designed to fit into your scrub pockets. They include vital information on Cardiac, Respiratory, Neuro, Labs, Pharmacology, OB/Peds, and Fundamentals. ScrubCheats also offers an app if you prefer a digital format to something you keep in your pocket.

16. Lanyard or Badge Clip

A small, but important item for your nursing school survival kit is a lanyard or badge clip that will keep your name badge secure. A plastic badge holder can help protect your name badge, and many holders even offer a retractable cord, which can be handy when you’re scanning your badge to access secured areas.

17. Personal First Aid and Health Items

Remember when we talked about those long shifts? Many nurses find it helpful to keep a personal supply of items on-hand to help them stay healthy and comfortable in school and on-the-job. These can include: Band-Aids, hand sanitizer, pain relievers, eye drops, facial tissues, dental floss, a toothbrush, hand cream, lip balm—whatever you need to make those long shifts more manageable! Just remember to only pack the items that you’ll actually use, so you’re not too overloaded with stuff.

18. Water Bottle

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but many nursing students find it’s essential to carry a water bottle to help them stay hydrated through the day. Choose one with a leak-proof, easy-to-open lid.

19. Snacks

You may find it helpful to have a snack bar or some small chocolates in your survival kit. They may be just the thing to help you and your fellow students get through the long stretches where you can’t take a break.

20. Durable Bag

Once you have all of your nursing school survival essentials, you’ll need somewhere to put everything, including your textbooks. Every nurse has their favorite type of bag, so choose the one that’s right for you. There are totes made especially for nurses, which come equipped with many different storage options. You could also choose a standard backpack, or a rolling backpack to reduce shoulder and back pain. Whatever you choose, find something durable and easy to transport, and dedicate that bag solely to your nursing school needs.

21. Support Network

Finally, you’ll need one indispensable thing that won’t fit into your backpack—a support network. Many nursing students find that the support of their friends and family is vital to their success during nursing school. Keep the phone numbers of your loved ones handy and don’t forget to reach out if you need a pep talk, support, or just to decompress. 51cg’s small class sizes make it easy to build relationships with your teachers and fellow nursing students, so you can also turn to them if you need a helping hand or supportive boost.

No matter what nursing school you choose, it’s essential to arrive with the right tools and supplies. Just remember—with every item you choose, it’s important to select what will work best for your unique preferences, learning style, and organizational habits, while following any specific guidelines required by your nursing program. By using our suggestions, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed in your program and your future career.

A lot of jobs require 12-hour overnight shifts, but nursing is rather infamous for them. Urgent care always has to be available, which is why so many nurses, at some point in their careers, have to work them. If that scares you, don’t worry: It’s usually a choice, and overnight shifts usually pay more, so most nurses pick working either days or nights and stick to that schedule.

This means you may not have to work overnights in your first nursing job, or ever, but you still need to be prepared for these shifts, because they can be tough. Every part of the nursing school curriculum is designed to prepare you to be a nurse, and your clinical is when you gain the real-world experience like working all night on your feet. If your overnight nursing clinical shift is coming up, don’t panic; just follow this advice.

Practice Staying Up—and Sleeping In

If you’re a night owl, your overnight nursing clinical shift might seem like no big deal. Still, staying up till 2am to study isn’t the same as working on your feet for 12 hours through the night. Whatever your normal sleep schedule is, try to push it back a little more in the days leading up to your clinical shift. Don’t totally shift your cycle, since after your overnight shift ends, you’ll return to a (more) normal work schedule. If you can stay up and sleep in even an hour later, it can help.

Other adjustments like going to the gym at night, and doing housework like dishes at 10pm or midnight, rather than when you finish dinner, can also prepare your body for standing and working when it’s usually sleeping.

Sleep, and Nap, Beforehand

On a similar note, get as much rest the day before your shift as possible. Sleep in late that morning, and if you can manage to carve out even half an hour to nap, do. The more you’ve rested, the more energy you’ll have during your shift, even if your body wants to sleep.

Eat Well and Pack Good Food

If you didn’t remember this from elementary school, you’ve already re-learned during nursing school that the food we eat matters—and affects our energy levels. Before your shift begins, eat some high-energy food like vegetables and complex carbs. You should also pack a similarly nutritious meal, because the cafeteria may not be open, and junk food from vending machine can make you sleepier. Eating high-energy snacks throughout your shift will keep your body’s metabolism going and your energy up.

Keep Your Mind Alert

Some nurses suggest wearing a bright digital watch during overnight shifts to stay focused, even when you’re feeling groggy. Some people sing songs to themselves; others engage in conversation every fifteen minutes; and a few nurses take 30-second breaks and use breathing exercises to remain mindful. Whatever works for you, try it. When you feel sleepiness creep in, engage your mind in some way to remain awake.

Don’t Rely on Caffeine

If you’ve pulled an all-nighter before, you know the power of coffee—but you may also remember that as soon as its effects wear off, you crash. That’s a risky method when you’re caring for patients and supporting staff during your overnight clinical shift. If you need a boost, try dark chocolate or a little green tea to supplement more natural efforts at staying awake.

Remember That Tired is Normal

Your clinical supervisor isn’t going to expect you to be as perfectly alert at 5am as other RNs will seem to be. She knows this is practice and experience, so make sure your effort is on your work and assigned tasks rather than fighting off any hint of drowsiness. Most nurses who work overnight shifts have a schedule and rhythm, so they’re used to it. No matter how much you prepare, your overnight nursing clinical shift will be difficult—and that’s normal. As long as you still do your work well, you’ve succeeded.