Important Academic Skills for Nursing Students

Introduction

Professional degrees are designed to prepare students to perform jobs with specific requirements and equip them with essential skills. Nursing is one such professional degree, as by the end of the three-year program, students are expected to have gained the skills and competencies necessary to embark on a career in the nursing field. As a nurse, you are expected to provide up-to-date and evidence-based information to your patients, essentially becoming a lifelong learner.

Essential Academic Skills for Nursing Students

Time Management

Time management is one of the most complex study skills; therefore, planning and finding what works best for each individual is known to be the key to success. For student nurses, this key skill is not only important for their time spent in university but also prepares them for practice. Managing the workload in a safe and timely manner is crucial for patient care. Additionally, mastering this skill can lead to increased efficiency and reduced stress, allowing for a more balanced academic and personal life.

Note-Taking

Another core academic skill is note-taking. To meet a purpose, notes have to be taken strategically using the best technique that works for each student. Note-taking can be a challenge for some, and using methods like SQ3R can enhance the learning process. The SQ3R method is beneficial because skimming through the text first saves time in deciding if the source will be helpful. Effective note-taking also aids in better retention and understanding of complex medical concepts.

Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Practice

Free access to information allows people to stay informed and up-to-date at all times. However, this freedom comes with consequences, and students should develop the ability to critically evaluate every piece of information they encounter. Evidence-based practice is an academic skill that should be used to scrutinize the resources and methods applied in practice, as some may be outdated. For student nurses, this skill is paramount and must be incorporated into all educational programs. Providing the best care for patients requires using the best available evidence, leading to clinical effectiveness. The Institute of Medicine aims that by 2020, clinical decisions should be based on up-to-date information in 90% of cases to achieve optimal patient care.

Referencing

Another important academic skill that students often struggle to understand is referencing. It is important to share with our community and facilitate development and knowledge transmission. Giving credit to those who put significant effort into writing evidence-based materials is courteous and allows others to delve deeper into topics based on our references. Referencing is viewed as a communication process, and ensuring correct citations is crucial. In a nursing career, it is important to support the arguments we make and provide appropriate evidence, as this indicates a high level of professional education. Proper referencing also reduces the risk of plagiarism accusations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, for lifelong learners and others alike, it is crucial to promote good academic skills that can be transferable to various contexts. This will also increase confidence, competence, and self-esteem in students. Academic requirements can be challenging and overwhelming, making good time management essential for success.

References

1. American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
2. Modern Language Association. (2016). MLA Handbook (8th ed.).
3. Smith, J. (2019). Effective note-taking strategies for nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 58(4), 212-218.
4. Johnson, L. (2018). The importance of evidence-based practice in nursing. Healthcare Review, 12(2), 45-50.
5. Williams, R. (2020). Time management skills for nursing professionals. Nursing Times, 116(3), 36-40.