Read through the chapter that you will focus on in class before attending the class. Do several practice homework problems on the material you will be covering that day before you attend class. This will help you identify what problems give you the most problems. Write down any questions that you come across while practicing and ask them during lecture.
Attend all of your algebra lectures, even if your attendance is not required. Some nursing students whose course schedules are filled with extremely difficult courses are tempted to skip certain lectures to spend more time studying for exams. By attending all algebra lectures, you will help ensure that you receive all important information about the course.
Find ways to relate the algebra you are doing with the nursing skills you will need during your career. For example, formulas that are commonly discussed in algebra classes are often similar to those formulas used to formulate prescription dosages. Mathematical conversions are often used in the nursing profession as well, such as when you calculate someone's weight in pounds and convert it to kilograms.
Join or start a study group with your fellow nurses. Since many nursing programs require students to take the same courses, you will likely have very similar schedules, which will make meetings easy to plan. Study with others as often as possible so that you have people to ask questions to if your professor is not available.