Tips for an LPN to RN program- How do I Prep?

Those that choose to take part in an LPN to RN program online or offline know that it is going to be a challenge. It is difficult to manage on top of home life and other responsibilities. It is important that you have time dedicated to studying, as nursing programs require a lot of it! As a nursing student, you will need to read and retain a lot of important information in order to pass the nursing exam and be successful in your career.

It may seem overwhelming. Take a step back. Take a deep breath. Then plan! If you put a plan into effect, the nursing program will seem a bit more manageable. Break up your day into different quadrants, so you have a dedicated space and time for studying.

Follow the Study guide for the NCLEX Exam

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the best course of action for studying for the LPN to RN program is to follow the study guide for the NCLEX exam. If you think of the NCLEX exam, and the different areas you are going to be tested on, it is easier to break down your learning. You will be able to focus on the aspects needed to pass the exam. These are your “need to know.” Of course, not all education that you will need to be successful in your career is on the exam study guide, but it is a good place to start and come up with a plan for studying.

Every day, you should carve out dedicated study time. This will help structure your studies, and also help you retain information. When you study a bit every day, the program seems less overwhelming. It is easier to tackle content in small increments in order to remember all that you are learning.

Focus! There are going to be many areas covered each week, and it is important to become a master in all of them. Take note of key points, and areas that you would like to go back to in order to grasp the concept covered a bit better.

Get to the Reason “Why”

When it comes to nursing, it is vital that the nurse understand why something is happening. But, the nurse needs to understand that the patient is only interested in how to get the symptom to stop. They want to feel better. You have to think about how you can help your patients understand the cause and why it is happening while knowing that they are just eager for it to go away and for them to recover. Putting yourself in the patient’s shoes may help you to understand what it is that they truly want to know.

Student Networking

Find friends! Getting a study buddy or a study group together is a great way to learn. It is easier to understand the content covered when you are able to speak about it with another individual and understand how they interpreted the lesson. When you bounce ideas off each other and explain items that are not easily understood by all, it makes for a better learning environment and the content becomes easier to grasp.

All people don’t learn the same way. Knowing your style of learning will lead to success in the LPN to RN program. Some people learn best from a textbook, and others need to hear it out loud in order to really retain the content covered. Your best way of studying really depends on your learning style. Test a few different strategies and see which one stands out.

You may want to indulge in the content covered in your book, study guide, or the course itself, but it is important to take breaks every once in a while. If you spend every moment studying, you are going to become burnt out, and you won’t be able to retain as much information as possible. You need to keep your interest in order to get to the light at the end of the tunnel.

The LPN to RN program is a huge commitment, and you can tackle it head-on with the right plan and the right attitude.