Focusing on developing these skills will also help students get the most out of their program. Here is a look at how students can refine the nursing skills they need to succeed.
Make full use of nursing simulation labs
Nursing simulation labs enable aspiring nurses to practice caring for patients in a realistic training environment. These simulation labs are typically set up to mimic real-life nursing environments and include high-tech patient mannequins in real beds, along with all the technology nurses use in their daily roles.
By making full use of nurse simulation labs while studying, student nurses are able to build confidence in taking what they have learned into a practical setting while honing essential professional skills. This can include working with other students in a simulation lab to provide excellent care and using ethical principles to determine the best way to handle a situation.
Students should choose an educational institution that offers nursing simulation labs. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has one of the newest labs of this type in the country. This state-of-the-art facility is ideal for helping students refine core skills while studying for the university’s CCNE-accredited online ABSN program.
Engage with clinical rotations
Any good nursing program will include a set of clinical rotations that allow students to gain practical experience caring for real patients. These represent a step up from simulation labs but are important in their own right.
Clinical placements are an effective way for trainee nurses to develop their professional skills. Although students may not always be placed in the type of unit or facility they prefer, it will still provide them with valuable skills they can use in their future nursing career.
By focusing on getting as much as possible out of these rotations, student nurses will see their core skills develop as clinical placements allow students to practice these skills on a daily basis throughout the program.
They also give students insight into what caring for real-life patients is like and help them enhance the specific skills needed for effective care. Whether it boosts their critical thinking skills in stressful situations or gives them the chance to get better at communicating, focusing on placements is a great tip for success.
Take constructive feedback into account
Finding the latest information to take into account can help professionals advance in the healthcare field, whether it means staying on top of stroke tips and news or learning about how IT can help the industry modernize. Information is also vital for student nurses, and this is especially true when it comes to obtaining constructive feedback as part of their program.
This might entail feedback related to how to improve an assignment they have written, how to complete research better, or feedback from placement preceptors on other improvements that can be made.
It is vital to note feedback and use it as motivation to develop essential nursing skills. This not only helps students improve their grades but enables them to be come a better nurse at the end of their program. Although it can be difficult to hear constructive feedback about how to improve in areas such as teamwork or organization, it is very valuable information that can lead to improvements.
Get involved in skills workshops
Skills workshops are run by most universities to help students achieve more. As the name suggests, these sessions allow students to obtain expert help in developing a certain skill. If you have received constructive feedback highlighting a skill you could refine further, getting involved in a workshop related to that skill can be very helpful.
This is also true if you think you need to work on a certain skill yourself or want to get even better at a particular skill. The great thing about these organized sessions is that they will not only show you effective ways to develop the skills in question but also allow you to speak with other student nurses at the session and share ideas.
Join nursing networks
In addition to skills workshops, nursing networks are another useful way for nurses in training to develop their core skills. These networks bring together nursing professionals from around the world and make it easy to connect with people who can share valuable insight.
Joining a nursing network can also help aspiring nurses get advice that helps them build the skills they need and gain access to helpful resources. Those who join a network targeted at student nurses in particular, such as the NSNA, can connect with other student nurses and get their advice on how best to develop certain skills moving forward.
Keep up to date with the latest nursing developments
Another great tip for student nurses who want to hone their core skills is staying on top of the latest industry news. This enables them to pick up on the latest trends in nursing and expand their knowledge of the industry.
When it comes to developing essential skills, staying informed about nursing can help students develop their reading and research skills. This is because it involves spending time not only finding out about the latest developments but also understanding what they mean for the industry. This is also helpful for developing the ability to comprehend complex information and improve IT skills by searching for news online.
Developing essential skills is essential for all student nurses
There are many ways in which aspiring nurses can develop the skills they need for success. It is important to focus on this aspect of nursing studies because it can help students achieve more in their program and better prepare them to thrive after graduation.
