Studying less and less as the program goes on

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

When I started the pre-reqs 3 years ago, I had to have all A's, so I studied all day everyday, even when I knew the information. I went at it just to make sure it wouldn't seep out of my brain.

Fast forward to Fall 2011. Nursing school started for me, and I did the same: Even if I already knew the info, I read and re-read all day long and stressed myself out. Sometimes I would still end up only barely passing with a B- while others around me studying half the time or less than that, would get the same or higher.

Well now it's 3rd semester and I'm tired. I have OB which contains a ridiculous amount of reading (so I skim that sucker). I studied my ass off for the first exam and still only passed by the skin of my teeth. I'm done. For the past two weeks I've been doing about half of what I used to. I read a little, then review, get my assignments done, and then toss my work aside to have fun (if it's not also a clinical day). Now I make much more time for myself and my family and things I like to do, because I am legit about to go stir crazy. If I'm gonna bust my butt and make sub-par grades, might as well make the same grades in half the time.

Over it.

Anyone else become like this? Did you grades suffer? Improve? Stay the same?

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Yes, although I stopped my second semester hahahah. You want to know what though my grades have improved. I ahd OB/mental health/2ndmed surg last semester and I barely studied and still did almost straight A's and why? I think once you get the hand of good assessment and fundamental concepts the rest is just like adding a bit here and there and thats it. We'll see if this continues to work for my last two semesters but I hope so. I also really pay attention in class.

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I am in a two year program, i find myself doing a ton of NCLEX questions and online research. This isn't your pre reqs where you can just memorize the definition. you need the apply your knowledge, apply the nursing process. I would ignore your GPA. You will never find be asked, "what was your gpa" in an interview. Patient's will never ask. Just pass and move on. Graduate, become an RN.

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I am in a 2.5 year BSN program and just finished this semester, I have one year left. I think by this point we all start to feel burnt out and the excitement we had upon admission is gone. The program seems to take everything you have and if you want to stay sane you have to just let go. I hope the summer break is like a refreshment. I'm ready for this whole ride to be over:yawn:

Now I love to excel in everything that I do, but in the end C'S=RN.

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Specializes in Peds; Cardiac, NICU, PACU.

The main thing to do is study smarter not harder. Read the material then do questions over the material. Read the rationales of the stuff you missed it will still stick

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I don't want this to come off as mean...but the material we learn in nursing school is beyond important. When we become RN's people's lives are in our hands and everything we learn in nursing school is preparing us for that. I'm not sure how I feel about people in nursing school just wanting to skate by with C's. Plus, the questions on your tests will help you prepare for taking the NCLEX. If you just do the minimum, the NCLEX will probably be very hard...Also, if you're apply for a new grad program at a hospital, they will have hundreds of applicants and I've had people tell me they will ask for transcripts to help make the decision as to who they'll hire. Since most new grads have no experience, they have nothing to judge you by. Not all employers will check your grades obviously...but if you're looking at new grad programs I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

maddiem, my post was not about doing less to get by...rather, I'm tired of over-studying and stressing out, when what I really need to do is study less, but more efficiently, and make room for a life outside of school to keep me sane. I never close the books for the day until I walk away understanding what I've read.

I'm just frustrated studying 5+ hours a day and getting B's, so perhaps if I relax a bit, study harder (quality v quantity) but less, my brain may work better in the long run. This did prove effective at least one time in Med-Surg.

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I agree that studying smarter is better than studying more. However, if you are spending lots of time studying and barely passing, I would suggest asking for help from your faculty rather than simply changing your study habits. Presumably if you knew how to learn the information better, you would already be doing so.

I definitely started studying smarter in the last 2 quarters of my program. But, I was already an A student and focused my studying on the forest, rather than the trees. My grades did not suffer as a result and I found myself better able to think through questions having a better understanding of the overall picture. I would get bogged down in the specifics and would worry about very specific details. They can still be important, but understanding the overall picture and being able to reason through those specifics is more important. The specifics are very interesting and I have a wonderful time researching the effects of disease on my patients and how their specifics correlate to what I am doing.

Anyway, I would not recommend simply decreasing your study time without a plan on how to study smarter. Lots of people change their study habits out of necessity or burn out, but that doesn't always work out for them. Study smarter, not harder. But, make sure you know how to make that transition.

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Specializes in L&D.

I don't over study. I've maintained a B average. I did study a bit more for cardio and my final for my 2nd med surg class though. In general though, for me, I practice a bunch of ATI type questions, and review my study guide a few times prior to each test and that is all I need.

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By the time you are half way through your nursing program, you probably should not have to put forth as much effort as you did during Fundamentals. Everything becomes reinforcement during the last half of your program. So if there was something you missed or just didn't get during the first half, the second half is an opportunity to learn what you did not.

In the beginning of nursing school I over-studied because I was afraid of missing something and my grades from a B- to B+. By the time I entered my final semester, I rarely had to study and my grades ranged from B+ to A. The only time I had to study was when we did not have lecture for a particular chapter or when new material was introduced. I learned during my second half of nursing school what my learning style was and utilized it to my advantage. I wish I would have known what my learning style was early into the program; a lot of heartache could have been avoided.

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I think this is totally normal! A person can only give 110% for so long before they're burnt out. I hit this point right around OB as well, and I just read what I thought she was going to test on, pray, and hope for the best. My grades didn't change much, though occasionally would drop by a percent or two. To me, it was worth it for peace of mind. Plus we had the attitude of 'just hang in there until last semester, because they told us it was all a review for nclex prep. Well I'm here now, and they flat out lied!! I was so shocked! But precepting is SUCH a good experience, so unlike the crappy 6 hour-do nothing-Clinicals that it makes this final semester much more enjoyable. I know you're tired but hang in there! It really will be over before you know it!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
By the time you are half way through your nursing program, you probably should not have to put forth as much effort as you did during Fundamentals. Everything becomes reinforcement during the last half of your program. So if there was something you missed or just didn't get during the first half, the second half is an opportunity to learn what you did not.

In the beginning of nursing school I over-studied because I was afraid of missing something and my grades from a B- to B+. By the time I entered my final semester, I rarely had to study and my grades ranged from B+ to A. The only time I had to study was when we did not have lecture for a particular chapter or when new material was introduced. I learned during my second half of nursing school what my learning style was and utilized it to my advantage. I wish I would have known what my learning style was early into the program; a lot of heartache could have been avoided.

I completely agree! My 1st semester I studied like crazy and then my second a little less but learned a ton in clinical-I'm a tactile learner. My third semester I barely studied but learned a ton in clinical and really paid attention in class and just more less practiced nclex style questions and reviewed stuff that I struggled with or was new and did very well with much less time studying then previously. I agree that everythign builds off each other so if you did well and really learned then it gets a little easier I think. Maybe this comes with learning "to think like a nurse" as we hear so much, or at least I do :) Quarterlife: You just need a break, when do you guys have one?

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