Suggestion for new nursing students (Spring 2008)

[MiaKeaRN]

One of the biggest things I had to buckle down on this semester was learning how to manage my study time. If I had only one thing that I could suggest for newbies is to stay on top of your reading assignments. Time management did away with 8-10 people from our program....they just could not get their study time in with everything else that was going on in their lives. I started to find myself in the same boat about a month into the semester and it really hurt me when it came to taking one of my unit exams. There were people going into the final exam this week already failing the class and needing a 90-100% on the final to pull them up out of the basement.

Thankfully I pulled myself together after slacking off for that one test, and managed to end up with an 88% average for the semester. You can bet that I won't get lazy with my time management again next semester! lol

[akspudus]

i was just reading another thread and had to come back to this one to post another suggestion.

most people are not used to facings critical thinking questions on an exam. most people are used to "regurgitating" information on exams like they are playing trivial pursuit. in reality, we think critically everyday. just think of “critical thinking” exams as a multiple choice “essay” exam.

personally i am one of those bookworm kind of guys. i love traditional exams that ask you a question and you simply pick out the correct answer...black and white. at first i found critical thinking exams tough. i took the advice of a professor and took a quit online course available through the school that taught test taking strategies for critical thinking exams. i spent nearly 5 hours on this course in the success center...and learned two things:

1. read the dang question! if the question asks what is priority? or what to do first? it means it. look for the root or real question within the test question. also, don’t add anything to the question….all the information you need to make the correct answer selection is right there in front of you.

2. don't read the answers...in fact cover them up so your not tempted...until you have read the question and come up with a theory or an answer on your own. i think most people that do well on critical thinking exams would admit that they can usually predict the answer before they even see the answer possibilities. if you read the question, then think of an “essay” answer in your head you will most likely find an answer selection that screams “pick me”.

akspudus

[PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN]

I rarely read my books unless I didn't understand what was taught in lecture. I mainly focused on the notes I took in class. I don't learn from reading the texts. I learn from hearing, seeing, and discussing things. It also made people mad that I made the same grades as them without having to read, highlight, & re-read.

LOL! Me too! Funny, people were always like "how is it she NEVER reads but does well on all her test?" Just don't learn things that way. Everyone learns differently, so my advice is to figure out what the best way for you to study is. Good luck everybody!!!

futurnurse :mortarboard:c/o Dec. 15,2007