I have told my NCLEX success story many times to nursing students and I have chosen to share my story on this blog with anyone who may choose to read it and utilize the activities that worked for me. I know that other nurses may have their own stories that are different from mine, and... Continue Reading →
Manage Your Money So Money Doesn't Manage You Nursing school costs a lot, and working full-time isn't always doable. Here's how to manage your finances: Create a Realistic Budget: Track every expense for one month Categorize: fixed (rent, utilities), variable (groceries, gas), discretionary (entertainment) Identify where you can cut back Reduce Expenses: Textbooks: Buy used,... Continue Reading →
NEW: The Nursing Educator’s Guide to Studying Smarter Nursing school is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. The textbooks are massive. The exams require critical thinking you’ve never been tested on before. And no matter how many hours you study, it never feels like enough. What if the problem isn’t how much you... Continue Reading →
You cannot pour from a cup that your schedule, your guilt, and your people-pleasing have drained dry. Nursing school will demand more from you than nearly anything you've ever experienced. It will require your mornings, evenings, weekends, and sometimes your sanity. If you're not careful, it can also take away the things that keep you... Continue Reading →
An 80% understanding that teaches you how to think is worth more than a 98% score you memorized and forgot. At some point, we were taught that grades determine our intelligence, potential, and worth. Nursing school will challenge that idea in the most uncomfortable way. You might have been a straight-A student your whole life... Continue Reading →
You chose nursing because you want to help people heal. But right now, between the pharmacology exams, the care plans, the clinical rotations, and the sheer volume of material you’re expected to absorb—it can feel like nursing school is trying to break you before you even get to the bedside. You’re not struggling because you’re... Continue Reading →
What You Say Matters as Much as What You Do Therapeutic communication builds trust, reduces anxiety, and improves patient outcomes. Here's how to connect effectively with patients: Open-Ended Questions: Instead of "Are you in pain?" ask "Can you describe how you're feeling?" Instead of "Did you sleep well?" ask "Tell me about your night." Active... Continue Reading →
Because Your Seat in that Class was not a Mistake There will be a moment — maybe during your first clinical rotation, maybe the night before a pharmacology exam, maybe when your classmate rattles off a perfect answer and you can’t remember the difference between systolic and diastolic — when a voice in your head... Continue Reading →
In a world that constantly demands more of us—more productivity, more presence, more perfection—it’s no wonder so many women feel stretched thin. Between careers, caregiving, relationships, and personal expectations, the noise can become overwhelming. Yet beneath that noise, there is a quiet place for each of us: a steady, grounding sense of peace within. Finding... Continue Reading →
You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup: Nursing school will test you mentally, emotionally, and physically. Self-care isn't selfish—it's essential to becoming the kind of nurse your patients need. Recognize the Warning Signs: Constant exhaustion, irritability, difficulty concentrating, loss of motivation, changes in appetite or sleep, or feeling emotionally numb. If you notice any of... Continue Reading →
InformationDesigns - Grand Opening I have exciting news to share! My Etsy Shop launched today, Friday, February 6, 2026. Get Your Nursing School Success Bundle for a $15% reduction- $17.81. When items are sold separately, the cost is $20.96. That's a $3.15 savings. Items were created with nursing students' needs in mind. More items will... Continue Reading →
My NCLEX Story 