[KEL2BanRN]

Originally Posted by Esther2007

If you are doing saunders nclex study cd, you should know what to focus on when you study. If the information is on the nclex, therefore, it is important.

This is how I study:

*Record the lectures

*Listen to the lecture the next day with the powerpoint, to make sure I did not miss anything

*Read the book along with the powerpoint, I usually add my own notes to the powerpoint

*I do nclex questions in the area that I just read, I keep a score. If I do not do well on the nclex questions, I keep reading and trying to understand rather than memorizing. Once I understand, I will remember it forever. I focus in one area at a time. I use nclex 3500, saunders and lippincott. I am on my third semester and doing well. Good luck to you.

Thanks, Esther. Maybe I'll try to customize my studying more this way. It's been a bit harder in the beginning to use the Saunders NCLEX questions that way because it's been so general, such as history of nursing, etc. But now that we're getting a little deeper I probably can try it.

[Jamie2887]

Heres my advice, you said you throw questions at your friend...Just once try this approach, Our lectures are called "modules" So we may be tested on Module A,B,C, and D this week, dont know if thats how yours is set up. Each of you take 1 or 2 lectures, and when you get together, teach it to the other person, pretend they have NO idea what is going to be covered, and just teach them like your teacher taught you. My first tests i scored a high C and a high B without doing this method, then I wanted to change the way I study, so I sat down with my Grandmother (who was more than willing to listen all about Health Assessment for hours) and taught her all my lectures from my notes, and voila! I made a 96 on the final...so I do think this helps.

[MB37]

This is my study method, and I've got a semester and a half of NS As under my belt:
1. Read the material before class. I highlight as I go. If I fail to read all of if before one class, I make myself finish that afternoon. I really try not to get behind.

2. Print out powerpoints/outline if available, and take good notes either on this or in my notebook as appropriate. I take my in-class notes by hand, because this forces me to type them up later, and I get more review in.

3. I record every lecture, and usually play them back when I type up my notes. Our classes are team taught, and a couple of professors I only usually need to listen to once, but I still record them in case I get to a spot in my notes that isn't clear. I type all my class notes in kind of an outline form, since I actually hate powerpoints and don't like to study from them. Depending on the class, the professor, and the topic, I might supplement with additional info/clarification from the textbook, especially if that part of the lecture wasn't clear to me. I try to do this not the same day as the lecture, but within a few days so the material is still fresh.

4. In some classes, we've been given some type of topical outline, study guide, review questions, or objectives that should be "areas of focus" on our exam. I pull relevant info to answer all of these, and retype it all again. At this point, I really know the material - I learn through all these steps involved in creating my "study guide," not from studying it.

5. Whatever time I have left before the exam, I spend doing NCLEX questions, review questions from the chapter, questions from the study guide that accompanies the textbook, questions from the textbook website, etc. I'm allowed to look up answers that I don't know, since I usually remember whatever I've looked up if it shows again on an exam.

I also listen to the instructor. It's part of why I record lectures. Some of them will actually tell you what or how to study, and I follow their advice. Others seem to emphasize certain topics, maybe just with the tone of their voice, that tend to show up on the exam. You might be able to learn what to listen for.

Try to understand the whys of what you're learning. That's what NCLEX-style questions test, is reasoning and application with the assumption that you know the basic material. You also really need to find out what works for YOU. Some people in my class swear by notecards, and claim to do well, but I quit making them after my first NS test - they weren't useful to me like they were in A&P - except in pharm, where I went back and made drug cards when I realized that those do come in handy.

Hope some of that was helpful! It's what I do, and while time-consuming, it works well for me.

[deeDawntee]

Here is a couple of things I learned about studying that really helped and continues to help me.

If you are learning new material, do it early in the day, because if you do it at night your mind will work at understanding it and you may not be able to sleep as well. The stuff to study right before you go to bed is memorization, because as you sleep your mind will categorize the information, it already understands it, so it won't cause anxiety and keep you awake and you will memorize easier.

Also, as you are studying, don't ever skip something you don't understand, because your mind will get stuck at the information you skipped and it will be very difficult to learn anything else. Either look up what you need to understand the information, or tell yourself very clearly to 'let go' of that information, that you will find the answers out tomorrow in class (or whatever) so that your mind can let go and continue to retain information.

Also, it is very useful to go through the information using as many different sensory or different ways to remember that you can....for example: don't just read the information, write it out, perhaps make flashcards, speak the information outloud so you can hear it, or have someone ask you questions, use different colored pens and highlighters or paper....anything that will help your brain... the brain gets bored very easily and the more variety the easier it is to retain information. The more creative you are, the more fun it will be and the easier it will be to remember.

As you study, do a thorough job as you go, don't lightly skip through, write and rewrite the information if you need to....

Just a few suggestions, but once I heard these tips, my ability to learn and test well dramatically increased. Good luck to you!!

[Daytonite]

How to Study for Nursing School:

• http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/Study_skills.html
• http://www.efn.org/~nurses/ - For study and learning tips specific to nursing students click on "TIPS for learning" at the left side of this home page.

How to Study, in General:

• http://www.studygs.net/ - Study Guides and Strategies. Can be viewed in many different languages.
• http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/SSindex.htm - Strategies for Success
• http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html
• http://www.howtostudy.org/
• http://www.academictips.org/acad/
• http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=helpsheets - How do you learn best?

[KEL2BanRN]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

How to Study for Nursing School:

• http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/Study_skills.html
• http://www.efn.org/~nurses/ - For study and learning tips specific to nursing students click on "TIPS for learning" at the left side of this home page.

How to Study, in General:

• http://www.studygs.net/ - Study Guides and Strategies. Can be viewed in many different languages.
• http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/SSindex.htm - Strategies for Success
• http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html
• http://www.howtostudy.org/
• http://www.academictips.org/acad/
• http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=helpsheets - How do you learn best?

Thanks, Daytonite! I had my second test on Tuesday and I got a 94% on it!! I was so happy!! I think there were only 2-3 A's out of 98 of us, so I did something right this time around.

Oh and yay, I have a sticky now! LOL! There really are some good hints on this thread.

[juli44]

These are some great tips and resources. Thank You. I have my first foundations exam on Monday and we covered 22 chapters this first week. There is so much info! But it's all important. It's not like you can cut down what you study. I'm going to focus on note cards and practice Qs.

[3Triages]

Thank you for the useful websites!!! I am about to embark on 16 credits this month and I want to get started ASAP.