How to Achieve Goals As a Nursing Student

Last Updated: January 9, 2023

Achieving goals as a nursing student is possible with planning, dedication, and lots of hard work. Aligning your goals with those of your program, prioritizing your education, and taking advantage of professional development opportunities can help you achieve your goals as a nursing student.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Setting Goals as a Nursing Student

1
Identify your individual and professional goals as a nursing student. One important personal goal you should aim for is staying healthy and well since nursing programs can be stressful. Professional goals could include achieving certain competencies, taking particular courses you’re interested in, completing an internship in a specific field, making plans for graduate school, or aiming for a particular grade point average. Try making a list of all of your goals.
2
Identify the learning outcomes of your nursing program. Each nursing program sets learning outcomes that students must achieve. These goals differ from school to school, but all of them include passing your national nursing boards. They usually include passing exams, developing qualitative and quantitative skills, completing internships, and participating in professional development activities.

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3
Set your goals. Make a list of both your individual goals as a nursing student as well as the learning outcomes your institution requires its students to achieve. Use this list as a framework for developing a pathway for achieving each goal. Common goals for nursing students include:
- Staying healthy and well
- Taking care of your emotional health
- Learning nursing curriculum
- Meeting and connecting with faculty members
- Achieving particular test scores and competencies
- Practicing patient-centered and person-focused care
- Finding your professional interest
- Learning and practicing safe therapeutic interventions
- Building your nursing resume with experience, internships, clinicals, volunteering, and research projects
- Staying organized and efficient
- Practicing self-care

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Succeeding in Nursing School

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Prioritize your education. It is important that nursing school is a top priority in your life. Nursing programs are intensive and you will need to prioritize class and study time over non-essential activities.
- Try making a list of priorities like school, family, friends, exercise, etc. If nursing school isn’t within the top few priorities on your list, you may need to do some rearranging in order to achieve your goals as a nursing student.
2
Complete your general education courses. For many nursing programs, you will be required to complete general education courses like English before entering the program. At other schools, you will complete these courses while you are a student in the program. Prioritize these courses as they will help you learn how to communicate effectively, understand diverse human behaviors and experiences, and think critically. You must earn good grades in your general education classes to be competitive for nursing programs.
3
Master foundational science and nursing courses. As a nursing student, you will take courses that are foundational to the field of nursing. Courses in anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, health assessment and promotion, and informatics are part of most nursing programs. Mastering this curriculum is crucial to your success as a nurse.^{[1]
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- Try studying in one-hour blocks. Study for the first 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break before beginning the next study block.
- Find a study buddy or study group. Your fellow students likely come from a wide variety of backgrounds and can be a great source of support.
- Focus really hard on learning the concepts and earning the best grades possible.
4
Learn about patient-centered and person-focused care. Patient-centered revolves around the patient and centers on the assessment and treatment of the patient’s problems and disease processes. Person-focused care is based on the accumulated knowledge of the patient, helping nurses and doctors assess the patient’s medical needs over time and within the context of other needs the patient might have.^{[2]
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- Many nursing schools have simulation laboratories to mimic a hospital or clinic environment. They’re a great opportunity to practice your hands-on skills before going into rotations.
5
Take advantage of professional development opportunities. You should begin building your nursing resume with clinicals, internships, and professional experience as soon as possible. These experiences will help you land a job once you finish school, and help you further develop your understanding of nursing and healthcare.
- For example, if you want to work as an emergency room RN and the local hospital announces an internship, apply for it!
- If you set a goal of learning how to effectively communicate with diverse patient populations, attend a local conference on the subject.
- Learn about how patient care differs between working in a hospital, clinic, school, or community center so you can find which area you fit in best.
6
Pass nurse licensure and certification examinations. Once you have passed all the clinical and curriculum requirements for your program and graduated with your nursing degree, you will need to begin studying for upcoming board exams. Nurses are required to pass licensure exams, which vary depending on your nursing education level. These exams include the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN.^{[3]
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- Talk to your nursing professors about how you can utilize the nursing curriculum from your program to study for licensure and certification exams.
- Your nursing curriculum will prepare you for questions on the NCLEX. As long as you do well in your regular curriculum, you should easily pass the NCLEX.
- Consider taking an NCLEX preparation course to help you achieve the passing standard for the exam.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Balance while Achieving Your Goals

1
Make your health a priority. It’s important to make sure that you are getting enough exercise, eating properly, and tending to any preexisting medical conditions while you are in nursing school. Maintaining your health will help you boost your performance in school and avoid burnout, making it easier to get ahead.
- Set aside time on the weekend to prepare healthy snacks and/or meals for the upcoming week.
- Set aside time for a walk several times a week.
- Set up an appointment with a mental health professional if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They can help you manage the stress and anxiety that often comes with being a nursing student.
- Take supplements to keep your immune system strong.
- Make sure you get all of your immunizations to help prevent community-spread illnesses.
2
Take time for self-care. Nursing school is tough and it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself while you’re overloaded with homework and life’s responsibilities. Set aside time each week for an activity that recharges you, a practice that helps you relax, or habits that help you maintain your health and energy levels.
- Soak in a long, hot bath after a long day at school.
- Make your Saturday morning yoga class a priority.
- Invest in supportive, comfortable shoes. As a nursing student, you will be on your feet for many hours at a time.
3
Stay connected. It’s important that you maintain connections with family and friends while studying to become a nurse. They will be an important source of support. Spending time with the important people in your life will help you stay focused and ultimately achieve your goals as a nursing student.

Expert Q&A

Question

Is it still possible to become an RN at my age? I am 63 years old and achieved my Bachelor of Science & Nursing 9 years ago.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

It is never too late to become an RN and practice nursing. In my graduating class back in 2007, we had two 65-year olds who became family nurse practitioners. While some fields, such as hospital and ICU floors, are physically and emotionally demanding, there are other more gentle options such as community centers, family medicine, and specialty clinics, health departments, as well as contract work to do health screenings and vaccinations.