Balancing Work and Study: Tips for Nurses Returning to School

The U.S. is facing a nursing shortage, and one of the biggest shortages lies in advanced practice nursing positions, such as nurse practitioners. The number of positions for nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 46 percent between 2023 and 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — far outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S.

Now is the perfect time for BSN-prepared registered nurses to help put an end to the shortage by going back to school to advance their practice, such as by receiving a Master of Science in Nursing to become a family nurse practitioner. However, while these nurses are focusing on taking care of their patients and learning essential skills, they also need to take care of themselves. With 62 percent of nurses experiencing burnout, according to the American Nurses Association, aspiring advanced practice nurses must learn self-care skills and balance work and study during their training.

6 Tips for Nursing Students to Balance Work and Study

A nurse returning to school is likely already familiar with the physical and emotional demands of their profession. However, preparing for an advanced practice nursing career can come with additional challenges. Here are some tips for nursing students that can help them mitigate these new demands and prepare them for the requirements of their new role.

1. Form Connections

Studies have found that nurses are reported to experience professional isolation more than any other group of health professionals. School offers nurses time to start building more connections and prevent isolation from happening. While studying for a new career in nursing, consider forming study groups or getting connected with a mentor.

2. Study a Little at a Time

Nursing students have to digest a great deal of information to prepare them for their advanced nursing roles. Being so busy, it is easy for these students to fall behind in their studies. Many students, nursing or otherwise, know what it is like to pull an all-nighter to study for a big test, but that all-nighter is doing more harm than good. Not sleeping leads to adverse effects on memory, attention, alertness, and decision-making.

Especially during clinical hours, nursing students need to be able to provide the best care they can to patients. When a nurse’s cognitive abilities are impaired, their ability to care for their patients is impaired, too. Nursing students can avoid staying up late working on coursework by scheduling study time and breaking up their studying into smaller chunks. This can help students intentionally create productive time for studying and maintain their sleep schedules.

3. Schedule Break Time

It is important to schedule time to study, so students do not become overwhelmed by having to do too much at once. However, it is just as essential to plan break time. Nursing students are often highly motivated and hard working, but these traits, while admirable, can lead them to focus more on their health care studies than their own health. Taking breaks is vital for self-care, and school is the right time for nursing students to learn these self-care habits and carry them into their profession.

4. Work on Interpersonal Skills

Nurse practitioners need to work on many important skills, but some of the most crucial skills are patient empathy and communication. Nursing students may work on these during clinical experiences required for nurse practitioner programs, but beyond those hours, these skills can be hard to learn in a classroom setting. Consider working with classmates on a variety of role-play scenarios outside the classroom, such as one student being a nurse practitioner and the other a patient, or both playing colleagues.

5. Learn From a Patient’s Point of View

Nursing students learn many complex medical topics during work and study. While working with another health care professional, a nursing student may be able to speak this complicated language, but most patients do not have the same training. As students learn new topics, they might consider challenging themselves to summarize these topics in a way that most patients will understand. For an additional challenge, they can then make up questions that a patient might ask and write out how they would respond if a patient asked them.

6. Focus on Your Own Health

As a nurse, it can be easy to fall into the habit of putting others first. While caring for others so greatly is commendable, nurses can end up walking a fine line. When someone puts others first all the time, they end up sacrificing their own health. A nursing student’s studies are important, but so too is their overall health. Especially with the stress that nurses can be under, students need to focus on mental and physical resilience. Consider adding exercises to each day to achieve cognitive and physical health. Simply walking can be great for both mental and physical health.

Returning to School for a New Career in Nursing

Going back to school as a nurse brings new opportunities and challenges. These individuals are paving the way for a brighter future, a future with fewer nursing shortages and greater health care access for patients. However, the nursing profession, especially in advanced nursing roles, can be highly demanding; therefore, nursing students need to learn skills now to prevent issues such as burnout in the future.

These tips for nursing students can help you get started with your advanced degree. With Felician University’s nursing programs, the online Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program and the online Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, students prepare for leadership roles in the health care system by learning from today’s leaders. This program is designed for the modern world, taking an innovative approach to nursing education and focusing on connecting students with one another, the right tools and material, and their community.

Take your education further with an advanced nursing degree or certificate MSN FNP program at Felician University and provide the best possible care to your patients.