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Career Development Denise Alexander, BS, MA
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Students who go to school to become a nurse are on a mission. Many have selected this career path so they could take care of people and make a difference in their communities. Nursing can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. If you are a nursing student, you might be excited to start working in a hospital, clinic or any other healthcare setting. However, before you can fully start your career, you must tackle nursing school.
You learn a lot while in school but it can be easy to be caught up in your busy schedule, classes, clinical rotations and exams.
Here are some tips on how to stay focused and navigate some common nursing school challenges:
As a nursing student, you’ll have a lot on your daily schedule. You may be busy with lectures, labs, assignments and projects. Nursing students can expect many hours of reading, independent case studies and presentations during their time at school.
While the homework can be taxing, some tactics to tackle the load are:
Herzing-Atlanta BSN grad, Aminata Kuyateh, offers some advice for students: “My advice for others is to just stay focused and be positive. Always do your work on time and study hard. More importantly, learn to prioritize your time.”
Clinicals are where nursing students take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to real situations. They can sometimes be challenging since they test and evaluate not only your nursing knowledge but also your professionalism and attitude towards patients. Many nursing students find clinical a helpful way to get real hands-on nursing experience.
Some advice to confidently complete clinicals include:
You can take some inspiration from Donnalee Fulton, who earned her Associate in Nursing from Herzing-Birmingham. She advises students, “Be dedicated and determined, regardless of what challenge comes your way. Don’t give up, even when you feel overwhelmed. The reward, in the end, is amazing.”
The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is one of the most important and difficult milestones for a nursing student. Passing this exam requires a lot of preparation and it is different from other tests you take as a nursing student.
Some tips to assist in your preparation for the exam include:
Nursing school has its challenges, but in the end, all of your hard work and long hours will be worth it!
“Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams. Herzing University's Master's of Science in Nursing program challenged and sharpened me, but most of all, it made me stronger. If you don't pursue your dreams, you lose the opportunity to be your best possible self,” says Herzing-Online graduate Michele Scarborough.
If you’re interested in learning more about Herzing University’s nursing programs, visit the nursing programs page!
BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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