Time management for nursing students is essential because of the rigor of the curriculum and the fast-paced schedule. With good time management practices, you can stay on top of your obligations. Start by planning your schedule in advance, using the Pomodoro technique to avoid procrastination, and minimizing distractions while working.
Time management and nursing school go hand-in-hand, as nursing students must juggle many different responsibilities. Time management for nursing students can help reduce stress while ensuring they meet degree requirements and stay on track to pass the licensure exam. There are specific strategies you can use to improve your time management skills, which will serve you well in nursing school and throughout your career.
Applying these time management strategies is particularly helpful in an accelerated nursing program, such as Felician University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. By leveraging your prior non-nursing education, you can graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months. The compressed timeline highlights the need for excellent time management in nursing school.
Explore time management in nursing, including why it’s important and the common challenges students face. Then, learn the most effective time management strategies you can use.
Why Time Management Matters in Nursing School
Time management skills are essential for nursing students because of the rigor of the curriculum and the fast-paced schedule. Nursing students must juggle classes, skills labs, simulation labs, and clinical rotations, as well as school and NCLEX-RN study sessions.
Applying time management strategies can help nursing students make the most of every hour, enabling them to better fulfill their obligations. Time management in nursing education is also essential for its personal benefits. With better time management, nursing students may be less stressed about their schedules and better able to maintain a school-life balance.
What is an accelerated nursing program? Discover what you can expect from an ABSN program.
Common Time Management Challenges Nursing Students Face
Although you can strengthen your time-management skills and strategies with practice, you may still encounter challenges. These can include juggling multiple and evolving priorities. Procrastination can also be a problem, as can task paralysis, a feeling of being overwhelmed when facing a lengthy to-do list.
Every student experiences challenges in nursing school a little differently. Reflect on what you’re struggling with, then brainstorm strategies for overcoming those problems.
Tips for Time Management in Nursing School
Developing better time management skills in nursing school will help you succeed in the ABSN program and serve you well throughout your nursing career. Try the following actionable strategies to optimize your time and manage your schedule.
Seek Flexible Learning Options
Because time management skills in nursing are so important, it’s vital to set yourself up for success right from the start of your nursing school experience. Consider a nursing degree program with flexible learning options that suit your schedule. For example, in Felician University’s ABSN, you can choose from online coursework with our Hybrid ABSN and in-person classes with our On-Ground ABSN.
Both options include hands-on learning experiences and allow you to earn a BSN in as few as 16 months, but you can choose the option that best fits your needs, schedule, and learning preferences. The hybrid program’s flexible approach may lead to better opportunities for time management in nursing school.
Follow a Consistent Routine
If your routine changes significantly from one day to the next, you may find it challenging to keep track of everything and sort tasks by priority. These issues can derail your time management habits.
Instead, try to follow a consistent and predictable daily routine. Once you become a practicing nurse, you may not know what any given day will bring. But when you know what to expect each day as a student, you can shift more seamlessly from one task to the next.
Plan Ahead for Both Schoolwork and Personal Needs
Each weekend, list your obligations and schedule for the week ahead. Use a physical day planner or an app to indicate your personal commitments, including personal needs like errands, mealtimes, and appointments. Then, designate time slots for completing assignments and studying for classes, labs, and the NCLEX-RN.
Stay Organized Throughout Nursing School
You’ll find yourself taking reams of notes during your classes, labs, and study sessions, which is why organization is essential. Experiment with different organizational systems to find what works best for you. For example, you might prefer handwritten or digital notes or color-coded filing systems.
Avoid Distractions
One of the most effective tips for better time management for nursing students is to optimize time. You can’t manufacture more time, but you can choose to spend the time you have wisely.
Create a distraction-free environment for coursework and studying. Silence your phone, use noise-canceling headphones, and ask others nearby, if applicable, not to interrupt you. If you have trouble resisting the temptation to check your social media feeds, consider using a browser extension to temporarily block those websites.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
Are you a procrastinator or a perfectionist? Do you experience task paralysis? The Pomodoro technique might help you learn better time management skills in nursing.
“Pomodoro” is Italian for “tomato.” The technique gets its name from kitchen timers that resemble tomatoes. It works by encouraging you to work for a set amount of time rather than focusing on completing a specific amount of work. This approach helps curb procrastination and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Follow these steps:
- Choose your most important and urgent task.
- Set a timer for 25 minutes.
- Work on the task, avoiding all distractions, for 25 minutes.
- Take a five-minute break.
- Set the timer for 25 minutes again and repeat the process.
- After every four work intervals, take a 15-minute to 30-minute break.
Learn more about online nursing education and how it can help you reach your goals.
Avoid Multitasking
Multitasking can seem like a good idea for busy nursing students. Yet, it isn’t very productive.
According to scientific research, the human brain isn’t structured to handle multitasking. Doing so creates cognitive blocks that impair your focus, make you more distractible and impede your ability to complete tasks.
There are a few occasions where multitasking can be effective, such as listening to a nursing-related podcast while washing dishes.
Practice Self-Care and Get Enough Rest
These tips can help you optimize your time and manage your schedule. Keep in mind, however, that if you neglect your wellness and try to do too much, you may experience burnout. Nursing school burnout is characterized by feelings of detachment and desensitization, as well as poor academic performance.
Practicing self-care is just as important as committing to regular study sessions. Take care of your physical health with good nutrition, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep. Additionally, practice stress management. Try techniques like yoga or deep breathing, and go outdoors for fresh air and sunshine.
Benefits of Strong Time Management Skills in Nursing School
Using these effective time management skills in nursing school can help you take control of your schedule and stay on top of obligations. It also offers other compelling benefits, including:
- Better productivity
- Enhanced efficiency
- Improved ability to stay on track and graduate on time
- Lower stress levels
Begin Your Nursing Career at Felician University
Felician actively strives to encourage better time management in nursing with our robust support system and flexible scheduling options that allow students to manage their time well.
Here, you can choose from two accelerated nursing degree programs: the Hybrid ABSN program in Parsippany, New Jersey, and the On-Ground ABSN program at our main campus in Rutherford, New Jersey. No matter which option you choose, you’ll enjoy small class sizes, a values-based nursing education, and a welcoming learning environment.
Request info today and connect with our dedicated admissions counselors to learn more.