This episode is all about surviving nursing school! My absolute favorite thing this week is my puppies coming home. Brett and I had our two dogs in training for 6 weeks, and I’m so happy to have them back full time! I also share the story of how we ended up with two dogs instead of one. I answer some “Dear Blake” school related questions from listeners. Then, I go through the Top 10 Nursing Schools in 2021 according to nurse.org, and Brett tries to guess which schools made the list. So how do you survive nursing school once you find the best program for you? It’s important to focus on retention instead of memorization. Communicate with friends and family that you will be less available once nursing school starts. You’ll see who your real friends are! Make sure you are staying on top of your work, because it’s easy to get behind. Staying organized will be key. Tackle your clinical nerves by being prepared. Get there early, ask questions, and stay engaged. This week’s game is “This or That- Nursing School Edition”. Brett asks me all the This or That questions since I’m the only former nursing student on the podcast. Iced coffee over energy drinks for sure! This past year has resulted in a lot more online education, so be sure to ask lots of questions when you are on the job. Everyone will know your experience was different, and your unit will want to help you. Nursing is a learning journey, and you will continue to learn until you retire. To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners. Tickets for my comedy show are on sale NOW! https:/nurseblake.com/ Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING Thanks for listening!