Studying to become a certified nurse practitioner is a huge project, demanding a lot of time out of your daily schedule. Balancing these responsibilities can be difficult with a full-time work schedule and other obligations to family, friends, and yourself. In this article, we’ll cover some simple tips for achieving balance in your busy schedule.
Create a study schedule with ample time
Going to school to get a nursing degree and studying to pass the nurse practitioner certification exam both require hours of work to memorize new concepts, review key material, and take practice tests. It can be hard to figure out a sustainable study schedule that sets you up for success. Creating a study schedule that budgets enough time before the big test day is one of the best things you can do for yourself during this period.
Study (almost) daily
When creating a study schedule, make sure that you plan to study at least five to six days a week. Reiterating concepts is essential, and studying for an hour five days per week is much more effective than cramming for five hours one day each week.
Budget in extra review time
Budget in swing time, where you can review any concepts from the week that you are still unsure about. You can take a practice test on Thursday, and then use Friday’s swing time to review whatever you got wrong on the practice test. Avoid packing your study schedule too rigorously. You don’t want to feel like you’re being rushed through the material.
Give yourself days off
It’s natural to feel stressed out about an upcoming exam, especially one as important as the board certification exam. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to study every free moment you have between now and the test. Giving yourself time off is essential to maintaining sanity through the study process, and stress management is important to avoid burnout come test day.
Manage your time responsibly
When navigating the obligations of school and work at the same time, you may need to make some sacrifices. Time management is all about prioritizing what is most important. Remember, you won’t need to do this forever, just until you’ve passed the board exam.
Start with a time diary
If you feel like you don’t have enough time in the day to handle all your obligations, you’re not alone. We all feel this way from time to time, especially those of us in careers in medicine when we rarely have downtime on the job.
You can start by tracking your time. How much TV do you watch? What social events are you attending? Your smartphone will even give you a breakdown of your screen time.
Find extra time to study for the NP exam
Once you have an audit of your time, consider making some sacrifices. The next season of your favorite show can wait, and your friends will understand if you can’t hang out with them as often as usual while pursuing this difficult and important dream.
You can also find extra time by multitasking. You can listen to a nurse practitioner podcast during your commute to work or watch online classes as you cook dinner or fold laundry.
That said, it is important to leave space for some self-care time, whatever that means to you. Spending quality time with friends, relaxing away from screens, and maintaining some normalcy in your routine are important ways to maintain a work/life balance and avoid feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.
Use your study time wisely
Finally, with what precious time you can carve out to study, it is important that it doesn’t go to waste. You will want to avoid distractions so you can dive deep and focus on your studies. Have the time blocked off in your calendar so nothing gets in the way. Set your phone to “do not disturb” mode, and get child care if needed so you can work without interruption.
It’s essential that you make a study plan that allows you an hour or two of uninterrupted study at a time. Studying ten minutes here and there throughout the day will not be nearly as effective as a huge block of dedicated study time. Pick a quiet and comfortable study location, and make sure studying is a habit you can stick to.
Related: Practice Ready Package
Seek extra help from fellow nurse practitioners
Accountability is an important tool for staying on track with any goal. It provides a measure of responsibility because you may feel embarrassed if you bail on your goal after telling people about it. But more importantly, it also allows other people to support you through the process. Getting buy-in from your social network is key to success in staying balanced and on track.
Have a study buddy or group
Forming a study group with some friends is a great way to build accountability, establish a great study routine, and have emotional support during the studying process. Even if you don’t have any friends taking their own NP educational journey, you can form a study group with anyone. Maybe a friend is writing a novel, taking an online coding class, or even reading for a book club. You will be more likely to follow through on your obligations if someone else is involved.
Talk to your supervisor
When balancing school and work, it is important to be transparent with everyone around you. Your boss may be more lenient or even helpful if they know you have something important going on. Many jobs also offer professional development benefits, which can include tuition support or continuing education stipends. Don’t be afraid to have a frank conversation with your superiors about your goals and how you are working to achieve them.
Find a mentor
You can also reach out to a mentor or colleague who can help you answer tough questions, understand complex concepts, and prepare for the board certification exam. Mentors can continue to support you after you pass the exam with things like looking for a new job or just getting settled with the new responsibilities that come with certification. Many nursing associations also have mentorship opportunities to help new NPs get established in the field.
Consider an online study program
Another way to get extra help is through a supplementary educational program. Online programs can tell you what subjects to study, help you pace yourself, and provide real-time feedback on how you’re doing and where you need to devote extra study time. Online programs are also a great way to stay organized and avoid the stress of wondering if you’re missing something in your study plan.
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