I am a new nursing student, and about to give up... Please help

CP2013 · Nov 3, 2012

I disagree with mkatt19.

While you may not be able to answer many NCLEX style questions, getting a book that covers RATIONALES will be beneficial. In my second semester, I began having difficulty with the "why?" and these books saved my butt. I wish I would have started sooner.

I think getting a review book with rationales will be beneficial. Not all study groups will divert from the study material. I have had to change groups from time to time. Also, I have been in groups and discovered that sometimes I am the chatterbox. It made me reevaluate.

I find that re-listening to lectures after I have reviewed my notes can often help. I skim the chapter before class, listen in class and take notes. Wait about a day (or two if I have clinical) and then write down all I remember about that lecture. Then I read - actually read - and take notes. I grab my class notes, review, re-listen to lecture. This has helped me A LOT with my study habits. Much different than how I studied in my classes before. But nursing school is its own beast isn't it?

Ps. This book is wonderful for rationales!

Stephalump · Nov 3, 2012

Most NCLEX practice books are divided into sections and you should most definitely be able to answer some of the questions very early in or I'm not sure what you're learning in school.

My study group and I started doing the Fundamentals-related questions in preparation for our first test and they helped tremendously - now we're hooked :)

mkatts19 · Nov 3, 2012

I found that if people turn to the nclex books before actually learning the content, they're not learning what they need to be. Nclex is fine after you know the content, but not to start off with.

CP2013 · Nov 3, 2012

I don't use review books until I have studied and learned the material. Just to see if I am able to critically think through the question and a rationale. If I get it wrong, no sweat.

Obviously now, less than a year to graduation, it's a bigger deal if in not getting the rationale. But the review books helped me to get how to critically think. I had a problem with over thinking questions, and those books helped me take it for face value, and be able to answer them appropriately. I am a solid B student, and while I agree that review books may be too much for some, that they can e beneficial and it is worth trying when the OP is clearly struggling. I would exhaust every resource regardless of how fresh I am in the program if I am struggling.

Good luck OP, I hope you are finding tips, tricks and ideas that will help to improve your study techniques and your grades!

PS. If your text book has a companion study guide - use that as a way to test if you are retaining what you are learning. They didn't help me much, but some people love them.