Tips for a travel nurse to improve their study habits

Nursing is a field that offers many opportunities for advancement, and a travel nurse may find that the time they devote to attaining new degrees and expanding their practical knowledge results in significant gains down the road. However, finding the time to pursue educational opportunities can be hard to fit into a travel nurse’s busy schedule. This means that those who do want to seek advanced degrees need to have a strong strategy in place.

Good study habits are integral to this endeavor. Reliable and efficient test preparation and research techniques can help you get the most out of your education at the same time as maximizing your productivity and reducing your stress levels. Here are some tips to help travel nurses develop and implement successful study habits.

Make a plan (and stick to it)
The most important part of improving your study habits is creating a schedule that will help you keep tabs on your progress and develop a firm plan for completing your assignments. According to NurseZone, simply tracking your assignments and deadlines and setting aside a certain amount of time each week to tackle them can have a profound effect on your productivity and, ultimately, your academic and professional success.

Form a community
Because travel nurses spend so much of their time on the road, they can often find it difficult to join study groups or obtain support. However, spending time away from home doesn’t mean you have to take on the educational process alone. It is easy to form online study groups that can give you the support and motivation you need.

Moreover, one of the major benefits of a healthcare career as a travel nurse is that it gives you access to a wide (and ever-widening) cast of people with extensive knowledge of the field. Utilize this resource by starting conversations with your co-workers about their educational and professional experiences.

Take it slow
Because you are likely already quite busy, it may feel natural for you to look ahead and assess the work you will have to complete over the course of the semester. However, this can actually be counterproductive. Take it one day or week at a time by completing your assignments without stressing yourself out over the volume of work you will need to finish by semester’s end.

Eye on the prize
While you don’t want to look too far ahead in terms of your work load, it may be helpful to keep in mind what you will be gaining from your hard work: another degree and a chance for professional advancement.