Published: 14 January 2022
Are you thinking about applying for our BSc (Hons) Nursing (Top-Up) or MSc Nursing degrees?
That’s great! But with just one year for either course, it’s a good idea to consider how you can get the absolute most out of it during your time here.
It’s important to remember both the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are management-focused.
That means, while you won’t be doing any practical Nursing, you will be learning how to take on higher-up roles in the NHS and private healthcare providers.
1) Study daily
There are two approaches every nursing student takes. Either you try and cram everything you need into a few hours at the end of the week or you pace yourself and learn something each day.
Obviously, we recommend the second of these two options. Nursing is a particularly rich subject, with lots to learn and think about.
Breaking your readings up into smaller, more manageable chunks is a good way to make sure you are still enjoying what you’re learning instead of it becoming a source of stress.
2) Pay attention to what’s covered in class
Throughout your academic year, your lecturers are going to give you a lot of reading to do.
It’s not possible to read and write detailed notes on every single word, so make sure you’re focusing on the points covered in class instead.
Of course, you should aim to read everything you’re assigned, but the bits your lecturers focus on are likely to be the most important and therefore where you should pay attention.
3) Think action, not memory
There is a habit in the academic world of thinking of learning as something with its own merit.
While it’s true that knowledge for knowledge's sake is a good thing, Nursing is one of those areas with a very practical outcome.
So yes, enjoy what you’re learning for the simple pleasure of it. But always try to keep in mind that the information will be put to practical use once you enter the healthcare sector.
4) Get a study group
We’ve written before about how to form a study group. While they can certainly be useful for every subject area, it’s in Nursing that they can most come alive.
Everyone in your class has a background in healthcare of some kind, but it’s unlikely you’ll all have the same experience.
That diversity is what makes for a great, active and productive study group.
Some research suggests you retain 90% of what you learn from classmates as opposed to 60% in class and a shocking 10% in readings.
Plus, they’re a great way to bond with a group of people, forging friendships that will last well into your career.
5) Read around the subject
While it’s true that you’ll be given a lot of reading to do in either of the Nursing courses, it’s worth thinking about expanding beyond that list.
Reading around the subject is the practice of finding information from a wide range of sources to benefit what you’re learning in class.
Whether you do that through the bibliographies of your set texts or a simple Google search, Nursing is a long-established academic field with lots of parts to it meaning you’ll find more than enough readings.
Doing so will give you an edge over your classmates, helping to boost your understanding of the subject and eventually make you a more informed Nurse.
Interested in applying for one of our degrees? Take a look at the Nursing and Health section of our website.
You can find more information by booking a personal consultation, downloading your prospectus, registering your interest and visiting us on an Open Day.
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