Classroom readiness and engagement: Nursing student success

Classroom readiness involves being prepared before class to maximize learning. Student engagement is the use of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional strategies to promote active participation during class.

As a nursing student, being prepared for and engaging in class leads to better understanding of course concepts and a more positive learning experience, ultimately promoting your success.

Now as a student, you might be used to traditional passive teaching approaches where instructors deliver information to students typically through lectures.

After class, students then independently complete homework assignments ideally designed to build upon the lecture or lesson.

However, in nursing school you'll often encounter more active learning methods. Active learning involves engaging students with course material through activities or exercises with the instructor acting as a facilitator rather than a lecturer.

This method promotes critical thinking, development of clinical judgment, and allows nursing students to link theoretical knowledge with practical clinical applications.

One example of active learning is the use of a flipped classroom. Instead of first having class lectures and then reviewing at home, a flipped classroom is an approach where students independently review course material prior to class, such as readings and videos.

Once in class, students work on their own or in groups to engage with course material and complete assignments with instructor assistance for active learning strategies like this, being prepared for class is essential so you can be successful in nursing school.

OK, so before a course begins, be sure you understand the course expectations. Start by reading the syllabus or course description to familiarize yourself with the expectations, learning outcomes, class schedule, and required readings and activities.

If you're taking multiple classes each term or semester, consider using a hard copy or electronic calendar or planner to organize the due dates for your readings, activities, and assignments.

For example, if you have a class that meets once a week, make note of the weekly readings and activities in your calendar, repeating this for all your classes.

This way, you'll have an organized list of all your class requirements, making it easier to plan your week in advance. Next, be sure to complete the required readings and activities before each class, taking breaks as needed to maintain focus.

While reading, underline or highlight key points to guide your focus and attention. You can also use the discussion section in journal articles and chapter overview in books to identify important takeaways.

Depending on the class topic, focus your preparation on information that relates to scheduled class activities and assignments.

For example, if you know you'll be working on a concept map detailing stages of fetal development during class, prepare by reviewing key points for each gestational trimester, including organ development, prenatal care, and associated nursing interventions.

Finally, make a list of any concepts you didn't quite grasp during the preparation and collect questions you have for the instructor so you can clarify them during class.

For example, if after review you're still unsure about the differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, create a reminder to ask about the topic during class.

All right, now that you've prepared for class, you're ready to participate as an active learner, using behavioral strategies, cognitive strategies, and emotional strategies to stay engaged.

Starting with behaviors, these refer to how you conduct yourself during class, including actions that maintain your attention and actively participate in the content.

Examples of behavioral engagement include maintaining eye contact with classmates and the instructor, verbally contributing to discussions, asking questions, and participating in physical activities such as learning new skills like demonstrating sterile technique or working with a small group to create an informational poster.

You can also stay engaged cognitively, which means mental processing of information. A key strategy to maintain cognitive engagement is to create handwritten or electronic notes during class.

Not only does note taking help you focus on the information presented during class, but you can also use it for later review.

As information is reviewed in class, you can deepen your understanding by striving to understand the why behind the problems and conditions that are being discussed.

You can also aim to connect new content to previously learned material. For example, let's say you recently learned about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and now you're learning about care for patients with autoimmune disorders.

You can apply this prior knowledge about the hierarchy of needs to consider which patient needs should be addressed first.

This practice can help you make connections and retain information. You might even use your notes to create your own exam questions, so you can test yourself to reinforce your learning.

Lastly, you can engage emotionally, which refers to feelings and attitudes you have toward learning. Maintaining a positive attitude and building relationships with fellow students can boost your motivation and excitement for learning.

When you feel stressed or anxious, reminding yourself why you chose nursing can help you stay motivated and persevere. You can also practice mindfulness exercises to stay present and engaged during class, such as using mindful breathing techniques like focusing on each breath as air moves in and out of your body.

Or gratitude journaling, which involves writing down things that bring you joy and are grateful for. If you're struggling with course material or feel overwhelmed, you can also seek support from your instructor or other resources, such as an academic counselor.

All right, as a quick recap, classroom readiness and engagement can help you be successful in nursing school. You can practice classroom readiness by preparing before class, so you're ready to actively participate once class begins.

During class, you can engage by incorporating behavioral, cognitive and emotional strategies. By practicing classroom readiness and engagement, you can make the most of your learning experience and set yourself up for success.