Navigating nursing school can be a unique challenge. While getting an education, you’re faced with learning a new language of medical terms and abbreviations, all while balancing intense coursework, clinical rotations, and the pressure of exams. The key to success is not just about studying harder; you also need to study smarter. These nursing school study tips will help you retain information, manage your time, and feel prepared for exams and clinicals. While these tips focus primarily on nursing students, the study strategies can apply to a variety of healthcare programs.
1. Master Active Recall
Simply reading your notes is a passive activity that might not effectively reinforce memory. On the other hand, active recall forces your brain to work, making it a useful tool for long-term retention.
Use Whiteboards to Test Your Knowledge
Grab a whiteboard and write down everything you know about a specific topic from memory. Once done, compare your notes to your textbook or lecture slides and fill in the gaps with a different colored marker. This instantly shows you the specific areas you need to review more before a big exam.
Create Flashcards for Nursing Terms and Medications
Flashcards are a classic study tool and perfect for memorizing key terms, medications, abbreviations, lab values, disease definitions, and other core concepts. For a modern twist, try apps like RemNote to create digital flashcards.
Practice NCLEX-Style Questions with Rationales
It’s not enough to just memorize facts. What is most important is that you learn to apply them. Use practice questions from your textbook. The key is to read the rationale for every single question, including the ones you get right to help you understand the “why” behind the correct answer and why the others are wrong. This is crucial for application-based exam questions you are sure to encounter in nursing school.
Teach Concepts Out Loud to Retain Information
Master information by trying to explain a complex topic out loud to a friend, a family member, or even just to yourself. If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it well enough.
2. Optimize Your Study Sessions
Effective studying is not just about what you do, but how you do it. The way you structure your time, approach your material, and manage your energy can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and staying in control.
Plan Your Nursing School Study Schedule
Use a simple app like Google Calendar or a physical planner to block out dedicated study time. Prioritize tasks by focusing on topics where you feel less confident, break down your study sessions into manageable, digestible chunks, and utilize a system that can help you track deadlines, study session times, and clinical days. This way, you won’t miss a thing.
Space Out Study Sessions to Avoid Cramming
Cramming leads to stress and poor information retention. Do not wait until the week before a big test. Instead, start studying for exams early and review material regularly. A simple way to put this into practice is to review material from the week on Friday or Saturday to best reinforce it while it is fresh.
Try the Pomodoro Technique for Focused Studying
Break down long study sessions into manageable chunks. This specific technique utilizes 25 minutes of focused study followed by a 5-minute break. This is an excellent and proven way to maintain focus and prevent burnout.
3. Leverage Your Resources
Keep in mind that there’s a wealth of resources available to you both in and outside of Arizona College of Nursing.
Watch Nursing YouTube Channels for Visual Learning
Supplement your lectures with engaging and concise videos from channels like Level Up RN, Simple Nursing, and Nurse Sarah. They break down complex topics into easy-to-understand explanations.
Build Study Guides & Concept Maps for Complex Nursing Topics
Use study guides and concept maps, visual tools that can help illustrate the relationships between different concepts and ideas, to condense heavy information into a personalized study guide. Use diagrams, concept maps, and pictures to make the material more engaging and easier to understand.
Take Active Notes During Lectures
Do not just show up to class. Make sure to be present. Actively take notes, ask questions, and pay attention to the examples your professor provides. These are often clues to what will be on the exam.
Read and Highlight Your Nursing Textbooks Strategically
Read your assigned chapters and take active notes. Highlight key points as you go to make future reviews more efficient.
4. Take Advantage of Academic and Learning Support
Visit Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) for Tutoring
These on-campus hubs for academic support offer tutoring as well as group and individual study spaces for students.
Practice in Simulation and Skills Labs
These labs are equipped with hospital-style amenities and high-fidelity patient simulators. They provide a safe environment for students to develop and practice their clinical skills. The College also uses virtual simulation to strengthen students’ clinical decision-making skills in a faculty-led, real-time setting, which can be useful for exam prep.
Get Online Tutoring Through Tutor.com
Arizona College of Nursing students have access to Tutor.com to support success in many of our courses. Take advantage of this great resource for additional support in subjects you would prefer a little more assistance in.
Schedule One-on-One Time with Faculty
Faculty members make themselves available and provide on-site tutoring to students. Taking advantage of their time can help reinforce clinical topics or get specific questions you have answered before an exam.
Meet with Student Success Coaches
Students are encouraged to meet with a Student Success Coach (also referred to as a Student Achievement Coach or support counselor) for academic guidance and support.
5. Prioritize Your Well-Being
Nursing school is a marathon, not a sprint, and your physical and mental health directly impacts your ability to learn.
Keep Your Study Materials Organized
Use binders, folders, or digital tools to store notes and study guides so you can find what you need quickly.
Schedule Regular Breaks During Study Sessions
Your brain needs time to rest and consolidate information. Step away from your desk, stretch, or do something you enjoy.
Maintain Healthy Habits While in Nursing School
Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. Taking care of yourself is a necessity for effective studying and preventing burnout.
Build a Support System with Classmates
Studying in groups, talking to friends regularly, or even reaching out to a mentor can make a huge difference when prepping for an exam. Having a support system is key, not only before a big exam, but for the entirety of nursing school. Find the people you can rely on and let them help.
By implementing these study tips and making sure to prioritize your well-being, you can make your nursing school journey more manageable and successful. Remember, the goal is to build a strong foundation of knowledge that will serve you not only on exams but throughout your entire nursing career.
Start Your Future in Nursing Today
If you’re considering a career as a registered nurse (RN), Arizona College of Nursing is here to help you pursue your dream. Our BSN program enables you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 3 years or less with qualifying transfer credits. We’ve helped hundreds of students to earn a BSN degree and enter the nursing profession – and we’re ready to support you on your path to becoming an RN.
Why Choose Arizona College of Nursing?
- Earn a BSN degree in 3 years or less with eligible transfer credits
- Campus locations throughout the US
- Night classes for general education courses
- Hybrid Online/In-Person format for general education classes
- Nursing education is all we do
- CCNE-Accredited Program*
- NCLEX-RN success coaches and exam preparation class
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
Discover Your Path to a Career in Nursing
Information in this post is accurate as of December 4, 2025.
*The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/). All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (https://www.abhes.org/), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.