How to Actually Study in Nursing School

Nursing school isn't like your other classes. The amount of information is a firehose, and the study habits that got you through undergrad probably aren't working anymore. Rereading chapters and highlighting everything is a fast track to burnout.

You have to be more strategic. It's about being efficient with your time.

Use Spaced Repetition and Active Recall

Your brain is built to forget. Spaced repetition works against this by re-introducing you to information at specific intervals, right before you would forget it. This is the difference between cramming for a test and actually remembering the material for the NCLEX.

But just seeing the information isn't enough. You have to force your brain to pull it out from memory. That's active recall.

Instead of just rereading the chapter on cardiac meds, try this:

1. Read it once.
2. Close the book.
3. Write down everything you remember.
4. Then, check your notes to see what you missed.

It feels harder than just rereading. It is. That's the point. It means your brain is doing the work to build stronger connections. Use flashcards, do practice questions, and try summarizing concepts on a blank sheet of paper.

Teach it to Learn it (The Feynman Technique)

If you can't explain a concept simply, you don't understand it well enough.

Pick something complex, like the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Grab a whiteboard and pretend you're explaining it to someone who isn't in nursing school. Use analogies. Draw pictures. Don't use jargon.

The moment you get stuck or say "you know what I mean?"—that's your knowledge gap. Go back to your textbook, figure out that one piece, and then try the explanation again from the beginning.

Stop Multitasking

You think you can study while scrolling Instagram. You can't. Switching between tasks destroys your focus and you won't remember any of it.

Try using focused study sessions. Set a timer for 45 minutes and put your phone in another room. For those 45 minutes, you do one thing: study pharmacology. No email, no texts, no quick glances at social media. When the timer goes off, take a real 10-minute break. Walk around, get some water, then start another session.

I remember trying to cram for a pathophysiology exam in my beat-up 2011 Honda Civic. I was parked outside the library, it was exactly 4:17 PM, and the sun was hitting the dashboard just right, making the dust sparkle. And I realized I couldn't, for the life of me, remember the core difference between Cushing's and Addison's disease. I had reread the chapter four times. That's when I knew rereading wasn't working. It was a complete waste of time.

Build a System, Not a Goal

Focusing on a vague goal like "pass the exam" just creates anxiety. Focus on your system instead.

A system is something you can control, like "I will study med-surg for 90 minutes every day, Monday to Friday." One is a distant outcome you worry about; the other is a process you can do right now.

Build the habit of just showing up. Some days you'll feel motivated, but many days you won't. It doesn't matter. The system runs regardless of your mood. This is how you build the knowledge and confidence to walk into an exam ready. A habit tracker app like Trider can help by using streaks and reminders to keep you going until the behavior is second nature.