By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Lisa Kreeger, PhD, RN, Executive Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Reading Time: 12 minutes
Nursing is one of the most impactful careers you can choose, but it’s also a challenging one.
From your first day in class to your first shift on the floor, you’re expected to think critically, apply what you know in real time and care for patients under pressure.
For students and new nurses, this learning curve can feel steep. Even experienced nurses can struggle to maintain the right balance.
Explore these nursing tips focused on the skills, habits and mindset that nursing actually requires. We go beyond general advice to cover strategies backed by Capella University’s Lisa Kreeger, PhD, RN, a nursing leader with 20+ years of experience. These tips can help you get through nursing school, prepare for your first job and support your long-term career growth.
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Generic study or workplace habits often fall short in nursing. Success in nursing often calls for a specialized approach that blends academic knowledge, clinical skills and emotional resilience. Several distinct characteristics set nursing apart from many other career paths.
Nurses must understand what actions are required and the reasoning behind them, and they must have the skills to carry them out effectively. So, unlike many other degrees, a nursing program typically requires that nursing students juggle coursework with hands-on labs and clinical practice. This continues as you become a new nurse who must apply knowledge in fast-paced and changing healthcare settings.
In nursing, decisions and actions have immediate, real-world consequences. Errors don’t just affect grades or performance reviews – they can impact patient safety and outcomes. So, students and nurses must always pay attention to detail, follow protocols carefully and understand the rationale behind every intervention they perform.
Both students and nurses must learn to prioritize and plan effectively to manage heavy workloads in high-stakes settings. Students juggle coursework, clinicals and skills assessments.
Nurses manage multiple patients, documentation and care coordination. Learning to work well under pressure is essential for maintaining quality care and avoiding burnout.
Nursing can be physically exhausting and emotionally intense. Students and nurses work long hours, care for vulnerable patients and encounter stressful or emotionally challenging situations. Building resilience by learning stress-management skills and healthy coping strategies is critical to your well-being.
Success in nursing is not about being perfect. It's about developing habits that strengthen your judgment, communication and adaptability over time. The most effective nurses build routines that help them think clearly under pressure, work well with others and continue learning throughout their careers.
Whether you’re still in nursing school or already caring for patients, these practical strategies can help you build confidence and grow with intention.
Healthcare is a team effort, and your ability to collaborate directly affects patient care. Effective collaboration as a nurse involves clear communication, active listening, asking questions and offering mutual support.
Sometimes, nurses need to handle a situation on their own, but interdisciplinary teamwork can lead to better decisions and stronger outcomes. For example, if a patient’s oxygen levels fluctuate, consulting a respiratory therapist instead of handling it alone could lead to more comprehensive care.
For nursing students, collaboration can take the form of forming study groups to review case scenarios. Studying together can improve your critical thinking and give you new insights as you gain different perspectives and challenge each other’s assumptions.
At Capella, you can begin building strong collaboration skills early in your nursing journey by connecting with peers in online groups and participating in interactive class discussions.
According to Dr. Kreeger, “Connecting with peers who bring different experiences helps prepare you for the realities of nursing practice. As you care for different patients and work with varied colleagues, comfort with collaboration will make you a more effective, adaptable and confident nurse.”
You also gain experience through real-world practicums. These opportunities help you strengthen teamwork and shared problem-solving.
In nursing, change happens daily. You may float to another unit, care for unfamiliar patients or respond to unexpected emergencies. It’s important to be agile in the face of challenges and keep a positive attitude.
To do this, you need to build your mental resilience from the moment you start as a nursing student.
Techniques like mindfulness, deep breathing and taking short mental breaks can improve your emotional control and help you provide high-quality care even under stress. It’s also equally important to view mistakes as learning opportunities for growth.
Nurse leaders often look for nurses who are flexible and receptive to feedback, since it shows that you can be trusted to take on new opportunities and additional responsibilities. “As a new nurse, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times. Be kind to yourself and trust the process – you are beginning a journey of lifelong learning and growth,” says Dr. Kreeger.
For many nurses, it’s easier to stay in their lane. But learning about different aspects of this multifaceted career can help expand your knowledge and may open doors to new opportunities that align with your interests. “One of the greatest strengths of the nursing profession is the wide range of opportunities it offers,” says Dr. Kreeger. “Nursing isn’t just one role – it’s a career that opens many doors and paths for growth.”
For example, you could explore nonclinical roles in fields like nursing informatics or leadership and administration to see how your expertise supports technology, operations and strategy.
You can use blogs, conferences, webinars and professional organizations to stay current on nursing trends.
Understanding how external factors connect to the professional challenges nurses face is especially important if you’re interested in pursuing other areas, like health administration and public health.
Every nurse needs to have a mentor, especially early-career nurses and students. It’s important to have someone you can open up to. Dr. Kreeger agrees: “Mentors provide a safe space to reflect, ask questions and test ideas. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career today without the guidance and support of mentors along the way.”
You can find mentors through observation, someone who you look at and think, “I want to be just like them someday.” The right mentor isn’t necessarily the most experienced nurse, but someone approachable who models professionalism, clinical confidence and integrity.
For students, a mentor can help understand clinical expectations, prepare for skills assessments or offer advice on specialty choices. For new nurses, mentors provide support during difficult shifts, help build clinical judgment and share strategies for navigating workplace dynamics.
Nursing students at Capella can find a mentor and get support through experienced faculty and academic coaches. After you graduate, you can network and get professional advice through the Alumni Association.
Nursing as a field never stands still, and you shouldn’t either, no matter your age or professional experience. Always make sure you have opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
For working nurses, growth starts with engagement. Joining a professional nursing association, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), and attending conferences provides opportunities to network. Meeting other professionals and leaders in your field may open your mind to alternatives you’d never considered. It could also potentially connect you with new roles, specialized practice areas and expanded responsibilities. “I’ve found that participation in professional organizations expanded my view of what nursing can be, connects me with new people and exposed me to fresh ideas and opportunities,” adds Dr. Kreeger.
If you’re still a student, you can begin pursuing new opportunities early by building meaningful professional connections. At Capella, the Career Development Center creates structured spaces for student and alumni networking through career events and flash mentoring conversations with industry professionals. These experiences help you expand your network and position yourself for future roles.
Since nursing can be a lifelong career, so you need to be prepared to evolve with the field. To avoid stagnation and continue growing over time, you may choose to pursue additional academic qualifications or certifications that align with your professional goals.
Online nursing programs can offer flexibility for working nurses who want to continue their education while maintaining professional responsibilities. For example, Capella’s Master of Science Nursing (MSN) program is designed to support nurses who are exploring leadership roles or specialized areas of practice while continuing to work.
Academic success for nurses requires targeted strategies that build critical thinking and clinical skills for real-world nursing practice.
Nursing exams emphasize reasoning and prioritization rather than memorization because safe patient care depends on sound judgment in complex situations. You’re often asked to decide what matters most, what can wait and which action best protects the patient.
Strengthening critical thinking helps you move beyond recalling facts and toward making safe clinical decisions.
When you study nursing theories and concepts, passive reading rarely prepares you for that level of decision-making. Active learning helps you apply knowledge in context. Working through case scenarios, explaining rationales out loud and reflecting on clinical choices trains your brain to think like a nurse under pressure.
Focusing on the why and when behind each intervention builds clinical judgment.
Instead of asking, “What is the correct answer?” ask, “Why is this the safest choice right now?” That shift prepares you not only for the NCLEX exam, but for real patient care where priorities can change quickly.
Success in nursing programs depends on developing clinical proficiency. In real care settings, you must perform actions accurately while communicating clearly and thinking through next steps.
To prepare for that level of responsibility:
Capella nursing programs include practicums and capstone experiences designed to connect theory to practice. For example, students in the MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner program complete a supervised practicum in which they apply diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning in real healthcare settings.
Time management can be especially challenging for nursing students balancing academic work with clinical expectations and professional responsibilities. A thoughtful study schedule helps you stay focused when demands compete for your attention and energy.
Instead of trying to cover everything at once, structure your time around clear priorities. Set aside focused study blocks for complex topics. Build in regular skill review so knowledge stays fresh. Protect time for rest and self-care so you can sustain your performance throughout the term.
If you’re a working nurse, flexibility may also matter.
Select Capella programs are offered in the FlexPath learning format, which allows you to move at your own pace while continuing to meet professional obligations. All programs are offered in the GuidedPath learning format, which provides structured weekly deadlines and 24/7 access to the courseroom.
Strong study habits prepare you for graduation, but licensure is required for most nursing roles. Requirements vary by state, so it's important to confirm that your chosen program aligns with your state’s regulations. Completing a Capella program does not guarantee licensure or employment.
After you’ve passed your nursing licensure exam, you need to prepare for real-world expectations. These three focused tips help you navigate nursing interviews, manage pressure and grow professionally.
Preparing for your first nursing interview requires more than reviewing your resume. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your clinical experiences and clearly explain how you think, communicate and make decisions in patient care settings.
To prepare with confidence:
Capella students and graduates can work with the Career Development Center to refine their resumes and practice interview strategies.
Nursing demands sustained focus, steady judgment and physical stamina. Long shifts and emotionally complex situations can quickly drain your energy. Without consistent self-care, fatigue can affect concentration and decision-making at the bedside.
Building healthy routines before your first job creates a foundation you can rely on when schedules become unpredictable. Prioritizing rest supports cognitive performance. Nourishing your body helps maintain stamina. Regular movement can reduce stress and prevent injury.
Stress-management practices also protect your emotional resilience. Simple strategies such as mindful breathing or short mental resets can help you stay present during demanding shifts. Clinical rotations offer an opportunity to begin testing and refining these habits in environments that reflect the pace of professional nursing.
Feedback plays a critical role in early nursing practice because clinical judgment develops over time. Even strong students encounter unfamiliar situations once they enter professional settings. Thoughtful guidance helps you recognize gaps, refine technique and strengthen decision-making in real patient care.
Approach feedback as part of your learning process rather than as criticism. Ask for input after challenging situations. Listen carefully before responding. Reflect on what you can adjust in your next shift. Small, consistent corrections can lead to significant growth over time.
Nurses who remain open to feedback build adaptability and professional confidence. This mindset supports safe patient care and steady career development.
Nursing is a demanding yet rewarding career. The nursing tips we’ve covered can help students and early-career nurses navigate school, clinicals and the transition into professional practice with confidence.
Capella’s online nursing programs are designed to support working nurses and new students with career-focused learning that fits real life. Programs are structured to accommodate professional responsibilities, and select programs offer the FlexPath learning format for students who prefer a more independent path to completion.
Talk to our enrollment specialists to find the right nursing program for you.
Ready to start your nursing education? Explore our online nursing degrees.
There are many skills essential to nursing, but five of the most common nursing skills are clinical competence, critical thinking, communication, empathy and time management. Together, these skills support safe patient care, effective teamwork and strong decision-making in healthcare environments.
You can get better as a nurse through continuous learning, feedback and developing your clinical skills. You should also stay up to date with the latest guidelines and, where appropriate, seek new opportunities for professional growth.
Nurses and aspiring nurses should focus on pairing technical skill with compassion, adaptability and accountability. You need to commit to lifelong learning and ethical, patient-centered care.
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