Nicole (YourNursingTutor)

Going back to nursing school after 35? Here’s your superpower: you already *have* the critical thinking skills you need. You’ve earned them through real life. Now you just need to learn how to apply those skills to nursing content. That’s the good news. The harder truth? Studying like you did in your teens *won’t* work anymore. All-nighters and caffeine crashes are not the vibe. So ditch the teenage study habits and learn how to study like a grown-up nurse-in-training. Make sure to follow to get more nursing school encouragement!

Is writing an active learning strategy in nursing school? The answer: it depends. If you’re just copying your textbook, your professor, or the PowerPoint… that’s passive. And passive = poor retention. But if you’re using writing to organize your thoughts, practice re-teaching, or truly *think* while you write— Now *that’s* active learning. And it actually helps you remember. The key is: are you thinking while you write? If yes, it counts. If not…you’re just transcribing. DM me the keyword “SBSS” if you want an easier way to use active learning strategies, and I'll send you a FREE video showing how!

If you're an LPN bridging to RN, listen up—this is a common struggle. Yes, your healthcare experience *can* trip you up in nursing school. But it can also be your superpower… *if* you use it the right way. You’ve got knowledge and clinical skills your classmates don’t—and that can save you serious time. But the real challenge? Shifting your mindset from LPN to RN. Your brain wants to default to what it already knows. Without a roadmap, it’s easy to veer off track. That’s why you need guardrails—something that trains your brain to think like an RN. Want a FREE video about the best way to study in Nursing School? DM me with the keyword 'SBSS' and I'll send it to you!

Hate math? Or feel like math hates *you*? Here’s what to do about dosage calculations in nursing school. After 15 years of tutoring, I’ve seen students go from “I hate math” to “I’m tutoring my classmates!” The secret? Ditch the formulas. Use dimensional analysis. But here’s the catch—dimensional analysis feels overwhelming if you don’t have a clear, step-by-step plan. Good news: I’ve got one. Six steps, two simple rules. That’s it. And it works—even if math has never been your thing.

Another secret NCLEX prep companies don’t want you to know… If you study the right way from day one of nursing school, you don’t even need an NCLEX prep course. The whole point of nursing school is to get you ready for NCLEX—so why treat it like a separate thing? NCLEX tests clinical judgment. And no cram course at the end is going to build that skill for you. But if you’ve been using the Silver Bullet Study System, you’re already practicing exactly what NCLEX is testing. Consistently. Over time. With confidence. Drop “SBSS” in the comments if you want me to send you a FREE video explaining the Silver Bullet Study System!

Studying for your HESI final? Here’s the truth: you don’t need to change a thing if you’ve been learning how to think like a nurse. These exams aren’t just about content—they’re testing how you think. That means the work you’ve already been doing (especially if you’re using SBSS) is the exact kind of prep you need. So trust your brain. Stick with what works. And if you’re still feeling stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Tired of hearing “just think like a nurse” with zero instructions? 😩 You’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong. The truth is, typical study advice doesn’t *teach* you how to think like a nurse. But I do…with actual step-by-step strategy. Watch the FULL VIDEO on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f6IV6bwA4XI?si=yt9tOshYbybhazag

Passive learning got you through A&P—but it won’t cut it in nursing school. Back then, tests only asked you to *remember* and *understand.* Memorize, regurgitate, get your A. Done. But now? Nursing school tests are written at the *apply* and *analyze* levels. That means you can’t just memorize—you have to *think like a nurse.* So if you’re constantly stuck between two answer choices and picking the wrong one… That’s not a you problem. That’s a strategy problem. Watch FULL Video: https://youtu.be/E6jnhtq1DAA

Pre-nursing student? Before classes start, you *need* to get a handle on your test anxiety. It’s not just about tests—it’s about mindset. Nursing school is a mental game, and test anxiety will sabotage your brain *and* your grades. When anxiety spikes, your brain shuts down. Suddenly your test scores don’t reflect what you know. Clinicals feel harder. You stop advocating for yourself. You start questioning everything. But you *can* do this. And there’s a strategy that can help—fast. The Conquer Test Anxiety giveaway is over, but you can still learn the method inside my "Study Like a Nurse" Tutoring Community: www.YourNursingTutor.com/membership

Please don’t try to read every word of that 100-page nursing textbook assignment. Your textbook isn’t a novel—it’s a dictionary. And when was the last time you read a dictionary cover to cover? Exactly. You’re supposed to *use* it to find answers to specific questions. The challenge is knowing what questions to ask. That’s where the Silver Bullet Study System comes in. It helps you figure out what’s *actually* important—so you stop wasting time and start thinking like a nurse. DM me with the keyword “SBSS” if you're ready to stop reading word-for-word, and I'll send you the link for my Silver Bullet Study System!

Should you ask for extra credit in nursing school? Even if you’re *barely* below passing, the answer is… nope. Here’s why: In almost every nursing program, asking for extra credit is seen as unprofessional. Grading policies are strict, rounding is rare, and the pass rate is higher for a reason. Plus, extra credit isn’t fair to everyone—especially those juggling work or family. And fairness is *kinda* important in nursing, right? The real solution? Study smarter from the start so you never need extra credit. Drop “NO EXTRA” in the comments if you're ready to pass without begging!

You do *not* need to be good at math to crush dosage calculations in nursing school. And honestly? That’s exactly why I *don’t* recommend using the formula method. With formulas, you’re guessing half the time—and hoping you plugged in the right numbers. If you’re wrong, you won’t know until the grade hits. My method? Uses dimensional analysis—but not the chemistry class nightmare version. I break it down with two simple rules and a step-by-step process that feels like training wheels. It’s not about math. It’s about setup. And once you’ve got the setup? The rest is just multiply, multiply, divide. Easy.

There are 2 types of nursing students who reach out to me every year around this time: 1. The pre-nursing students. You haven’t started yet, but you’re already looking for tips, strategies, and a head start. You want to start strong—and I *love* that energy. 2. The students mid-semester, realizing it might be too late to save their grade. And yeah, that can be a hard pill to swallow. But listen—failing a semester doesn’t mean you’re failing as a future nurse. It just means no one gave you the *right* skills yet. The key is not to repeat the same study habits next time. Learn the skills now that will actually help you think like a nurse and pass with confidence. DM me with keyword “SBSS” if you want a more reliable method to study, and I'll send you a FREE video!

I’m the nursing tutor who tells you to *do less*—because busy work doesn’t help you think like a nurse. Your goal isn’t to memorize everything in your textbook (seriously, it took a *team* to write that thing). Your goal is to learn how to *think*. Flashcards? They’re fine—but only in the *right* situations. Here’s my rule: one-to-one info = flashcard material. Med? Nope. Definition? Yes. Lab range? Yes. Simple, clear, and useful. Watch FULL Video: https://youtu.be/fBwCUGjz5KE