[dolcebellaluna]

Because writing things down helps cement concepts in my head, I've decided to write flashcards for an exam I've got coming up next Tuesday. Just wondering how everyone else decides what goes on a notecard and what doesn't. What I'm doing right now is going through the text, highlighting what looks important and then sticking most of the highlighted material onto flashcards. Once you make flashcards, do you just study them or use them as a supplement? I'm a visual learner, so I'm hoping that by going through and writing everything out and highlighting I can have better recall and application when it comes to exam time.

Thanks!

[kad13579]

I use flashcards with all of my studying. I just put on the front the definition or a note from the notes or book and put the answer on the back. I used them for med/surg and I would put, for example, "S&S of IICP" on the front and then list the S&S on the back. After I feel like I can name every single one a couple of times, I take that card out and focus on another one. Before the test, I hopefully don't have that many left to go over. Good Luck!!!

[dolcebellaluna]

Originally Posted by kad13579

I use flashcards with all of my studying. I just put on the front the definition or a note from the notes or book and put the answer on the back. I used them for med/surg and I would put, for example, "S&S of IICP" on the front and then list the S&S on the back. After I feel like I can name every single one a couple of times, I take that card out and focus on another one. Before the test, I hopefully don't have that many left to go over. Good Luck!!!

Oh I like that idea, so that way you're not studying things you already know. Thanks!

[krenee]

I have a system where I mark the flash cards when I go through them, so I know when I really know them and when to pull them out. It's kind of a scoring system, a check means I got it right (+1) and an X means I got it wrong (-1), so when my total score is +3 it's time to pull that one out. I put *everything* on flash cards but I still use it as a supplement, I also listen to the lecture on my recorder, do lots of CD test questions (from the textbook or from an NCLEX study guide), and just read. Anyway, it's working for me so far.

As far as what to put on the flash cards, you'll kind of get a feel for that the more tests you take. Definitions, sure for, but also signs and symptoms for different conditions, treatments, and of course lots of nursing interventions for different conditions. It's hard to know, I admit. We only have 50 questions per exam but I make hundreds of flash cards, it's just all part of the learning process. Oh, I also read the flash cards out loud sometimes just to be learning a different way. My theory is the more ways I can "put the information into my brain" the better the chance I'll remember it when I need to.

Kelly