Using Music Playlists to Optimize Your Nursing Studies

This content was produced in partnership with Archer Education.

A good playlist will turn a distracting study session into a focused and effective study session. For the student nurse, music may become the solution that improves memory, energy and emotional balance.

Nursing school is demanding. With evening study sessions and early-morning clinics, students must absorb enormous amounts of facts. And more and more, they're using music, not only for destressing, but also as an intelligent studying tool.

Music is no panacea, but surely a powerful psychological friend. When you are preparing for tests or reviewing lectures in online nursing programs in Maine, the correct playlist might make all the difference in how you listen and retain key information.

The Science of Music and Memory

Studies prove that music could have a direct effect on the brain. Certain tones, tempos and rhythms are able to increase concentration, improve recall and reduce anxiety. There are special advantages in high-stress environments such as nurse school where mental fatigue and informational overwhelm are typical.

The music is able to activate the regions of the brain dealing with working memory and attention. For example, classical music activates the left and right hemispheres of the brain, so the power of understanding is improved and instrumental or background music also improves concentration since interference from the outside is reduced.

For nurse students with pharmacology flashcards, clinical notes and lectures, music is a calm way of coping with mental stress. It acts as a buffer, lowering mental cacophony but perpetuating energy for long study sessions.

Choosing the Right Genre for the Right Task

Not all music is good for all tasks. The playlist you put on should be the same type of study you are doing.

When you are reading a heavy book, for instance, in pathophysiology or anatomy, instrumental soothing music will be of good use in assisting you in staying focused. The best are lo-fi songs, piano music or ambient textures. These give rhythm but demand minimal concentration.

For more mundane tasks like rewriting notes or reading flashcards, the more upbeat forms of music like electronic or pop instrumental will provide the inspiration. The rhythm makes your timing even but allows your mind to remain concentrated.

If you're doing clinical scenarios or simulations, music that contains strong, orderly beats might help you reproduce pressures in real time without anxiety. It's simply a matter of matching the music to your mindset.

The key is customization. Your playlist for one student will not be the same for another student's, so you'll need to try different genres and playlists in determining what's most effective for your workflow.

Silence Over Sound?

Despite all the positives, there are also times when silence is superior to all playlists. Processes that necessitate intense concentration or mental imagery, e.g., memorization of the cardiovascular system or dose calculations, might require focused effort.

In such cases, even background noise breaks the internal processing of the mind. In the case that you re-read the same sentence or forget what you read, then you most certainly need to turn the music off and get to work in silence. Don't be afraid to switch between the two as and when suits you best.

Create Your Own Focus Playlist

Even though pre-curated playlists are convenient, a personalized mix might be more effective for you. Personalized playlists could be fine-tuned for your study habits, focus and energy levels throughout the day.

Start with songs of the same speed, low or no lyrics and good flow. Don't use tracks that are introduced strongly or that are noticeably different in speed. Keep the playlist 30-45 minutes in length. That's long enough for a good study block but short enough to avoid mental burnout.

In fact, you can even make theme playlists for different study goals such as one for practicing flashcards, another for test preparation and the other for unwinding after a marathon study session and you can include songs that are inspirational or motivating, but not those that you'll end up humming along.

Others also have success with binaural beats and frequency-oriented soundscapes. These utilize specific frequencies of the soundwaves in stimulating relaxation or concentration, but research is continuing in this area.

There is no absolute road map to the perfect study playlist. There are varying students and varying strategies for staying focused. The point is that the music keeps you focused, calm and alert. With digital learning expanding, students are free to study more when, how and where they want. With music, you have another tool for making that experience that much more personal. You could utilize the music in going back through notes at home, in the café or in preparing for clinicals on the go, the playlist being part of the daily flow that puts you on your toes. The right music won't get you through the exams. But it might very well make the process easier, more enjoyable and less stressful.