1. Come Prepared

Preparation is the foundation of success for clinicals. Before each shift, review your assigned patients, their medical histories, medications, and any specific conditions they may have. Understand the procedures and interventions you will be involved in and refresh your knowledge of any tools or equipment you’ll be using. And please please please do not forget your stethoscope and pen!

Pro Tip: Spend time reviewing your patient’s lab results and vital signs trends, and anticipate what you might need to do for their care. The more prepared you are, the more confident and capable you will appear.

2. Master Time Management

Effective time management is crucial when juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities. On clinical days, you’ll need to manage patient care, documentation, and coordination with other healthcare providers—all while maintaining high standards of care. This definitely takes experience to master, but the more you practice during clinical, the better prepared you will be after graduation working as a real nurse.

Pro Tip: Prioritize tasks based on urgency, and try to anticipate any complications or additional steps that may arise. Start by organizing your day into manageable chunks, breaking down tasks into smaller steps to stay focused and organized. Bringing a small to-do list notepad with you to clinical can be really helpful for this!

3. Take Initiative

I cannot tell you how many unit nurses expressed frustration to me as the clinical instructor about students not taking initiative. Staff nurses are super busy so they aren’t going to spend an extra 20 minutes trying to track you down to place an IV–they’re just going to do it themselves because it’s faster.

To stand out at clinical, look for opportunities to get involved and offer help, whether it’s preparing equipment, assisting with a procedure, or helping the CNA clean up poop. Being proactive shows that you’re eager to learn and willing to contribute to patient care. Trust me, staff nurses will LOVE you for it!

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure about something, ask for clarification or offer to help in any way. If your assigned nurse is busy, that’s what your clinical instructor is there for!

4. Network with Your Preceptor

Even if you’re early in your nursing school journey, it’s never too early to start thinking about future jobs. Use your time during clinical to build a relationship with your preceptor or assigned nurse for the day. Ask them for feedback and advice, and be willing to listen! If they’re open to it, ask them how they like working on the unit to get some insider information to see if it might be a good fit for you to look for a job after graduation.

Pro Tip: Even though it’s tempting, don’t use your time to gossip or talk poorly about the unit, even if your assigned nurse is the one initiating the conversation. This is really unprofessional and can get you in trouble.

5. Ask Questions (Appropriately)

Ask, ask, and ask more questions. Seriously. That’s the best way to learn. But please also be sure to read the room. Asking complex questions when your assigned nurse is clearly overwhelmed with tasks they need to get done is probably not a good idea. If you have a burning question and your nurse is too busy, go ask your clinical instructor, that’s what they’re there for.

Pro Tip: Your preceptor can tell if you’re asking questions just to get help on your assigned clinical paperwork. Don’t do this; it’s your assignment, not theirs.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Skills

Clinicals provide the perfect opportunity to practice and refine your skills. Whether it’s performing vital sign assessments, administering medications, or assisting with procedures, the more you practice, the more proficient and confident you will become.

Pro Tip: When you’re a student, no one expects you to do anything perfectly. Take advantage of this and practice your skills as often as possible so you can get feedback from your preceptor and maybe even from the patient. I once had a patient who told me I hurt him when giving a heparin shot because of the way I was holding the needle. And guess what – I never did that again and I’ve never had a patient complain again either!

7. Be Open to Feedback

One of the most important ways to excel during clinical is to remain open to feedback. Criticism is a vital part of your growth as a nurse, so embrace it with a positive attitude and use it as an opportunity to improve. Self-reflection is also essential—at the end of each shift, take a moment to evaluate what went well and what you can work on.

Pro Tip: Keep a reflective journal where you document your experiences and track your progress. This will help you identify strengths and areas for improvement, as well as boost your self-awareness.

8. Practice Self-Care and Manage Stress

Clinical can be physically and emotionally demanding. To perform at your best, it’s essential to take care of yourself. Prioritize sleep, eat well, and engage in activities that help you relax and unwind. Remember, taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your patients.

Pro Tip: Schedule regular breaks when possible, and make time for activities that help you recharge. This will help you maintain your focus, energy, and enthusiasm throughout your clinical rotations.

9. Stay Positive

Nursing school clinical will undoubtedly present challenges, but it’s how you handle them that determines your success. Stay positive, remain adaptable, and embrace challenges as learning opportunities. Resilience is key—when faced with a tough situation, stay calm, think critically, and remember that every challenge is a chance to grow.

Pro Tip: Develop a growth mindset by focusing on solutions rather than problems. If you encounter setbacks, reflect on what you can learn from the experience and apply that knowledge moving forward.

Excelling in nursing school clinicals requires preparation, initiative, and a commitment to continuous learning. By managing your time effectively, asking good questions, and building strong relationships with your preceptors, you’ll not only excel in your clinicals but also develop the skills needed to be a successful nurse. So go out there and embrace every opportunity to learn, practice, and grow!

The post How to Excel in Nursing School Clinicals appeared first on Vital Nursing.

1. Use a Planner or Digital Calendar

Staying organized in nursing school is crucial, and using a planner is one of the best ways to do it. Beyond tracking exam dates and assignments, you’ll also need to stay on top of clinical schedules, lab hours, and any other commitments, like sorority activities or a part-time job.

While I’ve gone fully digital now, back in nursing school, I loved using a physical planner. Writing everything down just made me feel more organized. I used colorful highlighters and stickers to make the planning process fun! Over the years, I’ve tried nearly every planner out there, and my top three favorites are Erin Condren, Plum Paper, and the Day Designer.  While these options are a bit pricey, they’re absolutely worth it if you’re committed to using them. 

2. Time Blocking

In addition to using a planner, scheduling your time is essential. If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself mindlessly watching Instagram reels when you should be studying and then you wonder why you have to cram the night before a test. To avoid this, try time blocking. Here’s how I did it: 

1. Start by writing down all of your “must-do” commitments in your planner, like clinicals, classes, and work.
2. Don’t forget to include time for commuting, meal prep, and eating, plus your morning routine.
3. Once you see the open time slots in your schedule, add study blocks. I found that studying in 45-minute chunks with a 10-minute break in between helped me reset and stay focused. 

By intentionally setting aside study times—and even planning for fun breaks—you’ll be more likely to follow through. Remember, taking breaks isn’t just okay; it’s actually beneficial!

3. Create a Study Schedule

When planning your week, be specific about what you’ll study during each time block. Without choosing a particular topic or assignment to focus on, you’ll likely waste precious time just deciding where to start. That’s about as productive as scrolling through reels—and definitely less enjoyable!

In nursing school, I spent about 30 minutes every Sunday evening reviewing what was due in the next two weeks. Then, I’d schedule study sessions for the most urgent assignments and upcoming exams. Deadlines have a sneaky way of approaching quickly, so keeping an eye on what’s coming up is essential!

4. Pre-Pack Clinical Bags

Clinical days are long—often 12 hours or more—leaving little time in the morning to get ready and out the door. To maximize your time (and your sleep!), try prepping your clinical bag the night before. Make sure all your nursing essentials are packed, like your stethoscope, penlight, snacks, water, and keys, so you’re not rushing around in the morning.

Personally, I often felt anxious about clinical days and didn’t sleep well the night before, but knowing my bag was packed helped ease some of that anxiety. It’s a small step that makes a big difference!

5. Leverage Technology 

There are so many fantastic apps for nursing school, so make the most of them! If you enjoy taking digital notes on your iPad, try Goodnotes—it’s great for organizing and customizing notes. When studying for exams, you’ll likely find a Quizlet set covering exactly what you need, so be sure to check it out. Additionally, there are plenty of NCLEX prep apps and digital nursing study guides available, including the ones in my free nursing resource library

If you’re ever confused about a topic, YouTube is another great tool. It’s full of educational videos that sometimes explain concepts even better than your professor or textbook.

6. Prioritize Tasks 

In nursing school, it can feel like everything is a priority—but that’s not the case. At the start of the semester, take note of exams and assignments that carry the most weight toward your final grade. There will likely be a lot of smaller assignments worth fewer points; these don’t need as much of your time or focus.

Prioritize the high-value tasks that make up the bulk of your grade and put your effort into excelling in clinicals. Remember, it’s okay if you can’t do it all; sometimes, you have to choose what’s most worthy of your time to stay balanced.

7. Avoid Cramming 

It’s easier said than done, but try to avoid staying up all night cramming before a test. You’ll perform much better with a clear, well-rested mind than after a night of trying to jam in information. As a former nursing student and now professor, I can tell you that most exam questions rely on common sense. If you’re somewhat familiar with the material or remember class discussions, you can often use elimination strategies to find the correct answer. However, when your brain is exhausted, it’s much easier to mix up concepts or struggle to think clearly. When in doubt, choose sleep over last-minute cramming—you’ll thank yourself later.

8. Organize Class Materials

Please don’t be the student who shoves papers into their backpack, never to see the light of day again. Instead, use binders, notebooks, or another organizational method to keep your course materials separate and tidy. Personally, I set up a binder for each class, including the syllabus, course calendar, and all relevant handouts. While they got a bit heavy by the end of the semester, I could easily find what I needed when the time came. Plus, I always felt prepared knowing that everything I needed for each class was in one place.

9. Remain Flexible 

You can plan your entire day down to the minute, but chances are something will come up that requires you to adjust your plans. Nursing school involves a lot of moving parts, so it’s common for schedules to change or unexpected situations to arise. It’s important to stay flexible and be open to modifying your study plans or other commitments as needed.

Additionally, regularly evaluate your study habits and how they’re working for you in nursing school. You might find that handwritten notes no longer suit your learning style, and it’s essential to be willing to try something new. Perhaps you used to study alone in high school, but now you realize you need a study group to help you work through complex concepts. Be prepared to change your approach as needed, especially as you progress through different specialty nursing courses, as each one may require a different study strategy.

10. Practice Self-Care

So, there you have it—my top 10 tips for getting organized in nursing school. What other organization tips have you found helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post 10 Tips for Getting (and Staying!) Organized in Nursing School appeared first on Vital Nursing.