Preparing for nursing starts well before your first day of classes. It involves completing the right prerequisite courses, passing an entrance exam, building clinical comfort, and developing study habits that can carry you through a demanding program. The career payoff is strong: registered nurses earn a median salary of $93,600 per year, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 189,100 job openings annually through 2034. But getting there requires deliberate preparation across several fronts.
Complete the Right Prerequisite Courses
Whether you’re applying to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, you’ll need a core set of science and math courses before you can apply. Most programs require one semester of general chemistry with a lab, two semesters of biology with labs, one semester each of microbiology, human anatomy, and physiology (all with labs), plus a course in nutrition and one in statistics.
These aren’t just boxes to check. Anatomy and physiology form the backbone of everything you’ll learn in nursing school, and microbiology is essential for understanding infection control. If your science background is rusty or nonexistent, consider taking one or two prerequisites at a time rather than loading up. Strong grades in these courses matter for competitive admissions, and many programs calculate a separate “science GPA” that carries extra weight.
Community colleges offer all of these prerequisites, often at a fraction of university tuition. Just confirm that your target nursing program accepts transfer credits from the school where you plan to take them.
Prepare for the Entrance Exam
Most nursing programs require either the ATI TEAS or the HESI A2 as part of the application. Both test your knowledge of reading comprehension, math, science, and English language skills, but they differ in format and scoring. A competitive TEAS score is typically around 78% or higher on all sections, while many programs set a minimum HESI score of 80% overall.
Start by finding out which exam your target programs require, then give yourself at least six to eight weeks of focused study. Official practice tests from ATI and Elsevier are the most reliable prep tools because they mirror the actual question format. Focus extra time on the science sections, since they draw heavily on the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry you’ll cover in prerequisites. If you haven’t taken those courses yet, studying for the entrance exam and completing prerequisites simultaneously can reinforce both.
Get Hands-On Experience as a CNA
One of the most practical things you can do before nursing school is earn a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential. CNA training programs typically take four to twelve weeks and teach foundational patient care skills like taking blood pressure, transferring patients, and basic hygiene care.
The benefits compound. Nurse educator Dr. Jenna Liphart Rhoads has noted that her CNA background made it easier to pass beginning clinical competencies in nursing school because she’d already developed those skills on the job. She also found that the experience gave her confidence interacting with patients during clinicals, which freed her to focus on learning more advanced nursing skills. CNA experience strengthens your nursing school application too, and it’s worth mentioning on your resume when you later apply for RN positions.
Working as a CNA also pressure-tests your commitment. The physical demands of back-to-back 12-hour shifts give you a realistic preview of what nursing involves. If you can handle that pace, the intensity of nursing school will feel more manageable.
Build Study Habits That Actually Work
Nursing school demands a different kind of studying than most students are used to. You won’t just memorize facts; you’ll need to apply knowledge to patient scenarios, think critically under pressure, and connect concepts across body systems. Passive reading and highlighting won’t cut it.
Concept mapping (sometimes called mind mapping) is one of the most effective techniques for nursing content. Instead of writing linear notes, you create a visual diagram that connects related ideas. For example, a concept map for heart failure might branch into causes, symptoms, medications, and nursing interventions, with lines showing how they relate. Research on nursing education has found that this method helps students synthesize information, develop critical thinking skills, and make better patient care decisions in clinical settings. It also works well for group study, since combining maps generates more ideas and deeper discussion.
Spaced repetition is another high-yield strategy. Rather than cramming the night before an exam, you review material at increasing intervals over days and weeks. Flashcard apps like Anki automate this process. Pair these techniques with practice questions that mimic the style of your exams, and you’ll build the kind of clinical reasoning nursing programs test for.
Protect Your Mental and Physical Health Early
Burnout among nursing students is common enough that schools are building wellness programming directly into their curricula. One nursing school developed a comprehensive intervention that included mindfulness-based stress reduction, fitness training, nutritional support, and peer mentoring for students and faculty alike. Some instructors now lead short meditations before exams and build guided stretching into class transitions, particularly after emotionally heavy content.
You don’t need a formal program to adopt these practices. Start building a sustainable routine before school begins. That means regular exercise, consistent sleep, and a basic stress management toolkit, whether that’s meditation, journaling, or something else that works for you. Nursing school will compress your free time significantly, so the habits you build now become your safety net later.
Time management is equally critical. Get comfortable with a weekly planning system that blocks out study time, clinical hours, work shifts, and personal time. Treat your schedule like a budget: if you overcommit in one area, something else will run a deficit.
Gear Up for Clinicals
Clinical rotations start early in most nursing programs, and showing up prepared makes a noticeable difference. A few essentials are worth investing in before your first day:
- Stethoscope: You’ll need one for labs and clinicals. A mid-range option (like a Littmann Classic III) is durable enough for school without overspending. Avoid the cheapest models, which can make it harder to hear heart and lung sounds clearly.
- Supportive shoes: You’ll be on your feet for hours during clinical shifts. Invest in shoes with good arch support and slip-resistant soles. Many students prefer clogs or athletic-style nursing shoes.
- Compression socks: These improve blood flow and reduce leg swelling after long hours of standing or sitting in lectures. They’re inexpensive and make a real difference in comfort over a 10- or 12-hour day.
Your program will provide a full list of required supplies, including scrub colors and any specific equipment. But having your stethoscope and shoes broken in before clinicals start lets you focus on learning rather than adjusting to new gear.
Practice Communicating Like a Nurse
Clinical skills get most of the attention in nursing prep, but communication is just as central to the profession. Therapeutic communication is a set of techniques nurses use to build trust and gather information from patients. Three foundational skills are worth practicing now.
Acceptance means acknowledging a person’s emotions without judgment, letting them know they’ve been heard. Clarification involves asking someone to explain further when their message isn’t clear, rather than assuming you understand. Open-ended questions (like “How have you been feeling?” instead of “Are you feeling okay?”) invite patients to share more and give you better information to work with.
These aren’t just clinical tools. Practice them in everyday conversations with friends, family, or coworkers. The more natural these patterns feel before you’re standing at a patient’s bedside, the more confident you’ll be when it counts.
Plan Your Finances
Nursing school costs vary widely depending on whether you pursue an ADN at a community college or a BSN at a four-year university, and whether you attend a public or private institution. ADN programs are generally the most affordable path, often costing a fraction of a BSN, though a growing number of employers prefer or require a bachelor’s degree.
Some schools offer free or reduced tuition for qualifying BSN students. UTHealth Houston, for example, provides free tuition through its Future Nurses Fund for eligible students. Federal financial aid, state grants, and nursing-specific scholarships can also offset costs significantly. Start the FAFSA early, and search for scholarships through professional organizations like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National Student Nurses’ Association. Many have application deadlines months before the school year begins, so building a timeline now prevents missed opportunities.
Beyond tuition, budget for textbooks, clinical supplies, exam fees, and the eventual cost of the NCLEX licensure exam. Having a clear financial picture before you start reduces one major source of stress during the program.