No matter how competitive nursing school seems, students who work as a team are the most successful. Go into nursing school from day one determined to show your teamwork skills and stay positive even when the expectations seem impossibly high. If you make a mistake during clinicals, learn from it. Nursing school is the place to make mistakes; an emergency room is not. Be confident, but show respect to the senior nurses and don't overstep professional boundaries.
You'll be studying and working a lot, but don't forget to take care of yourself. Exercise, get plenty of sleep, drink water and apply what you're learning in nutrition class to your life. You must take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else.
Study in groups as much as possible; this helps you bond with other nursing students and benefit from their knowledge. When you must study alone, take frequent breaks. Be organized and methodical; don't skip around when studying. Nursing school instructors often assign more reading material than can realistically be read, so learn to skim effectively. Never cram. At the beginning of the semester, put all important dates (clinicals and exams) on a calendar and devise a study schedule. Allot more than enough time to study for clinicals, which are your chance to really shine.
Although it might not be required by your nursing school, buy an NCLEX review book as soon as possible. You'll be taking the NCLEX to begin your career as a nurse, so start preparing early. Talk to your instructors outside of class as much as possible; they can give you feedback on your performance in class, provide suggestions for improvement and serve as references and career connections. Similarly, don't be afraid to speak with senior nurses. Listen to their stories, ask questions and let them know you're eager to learn. Look through your school's alumni directory and find recently graduated nurses working nearby. Ask them for tips and pointers on studying and the instructors and how they like nursing so far.
Take classes during the summer if at all possible. If not, find an externship at a local hospital or doctor's office. Hands-on experience is more valuable than a textbook and will look impressive on your CV, in addition to giving you a head start on the new semester. Check your school's website for information on nursing seminars and job fairs. Even if you're not about to graduate, you can make connections and get a better idea of what's required of a nurse.