What are your study techniques?

Nursing Students General Students

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I am a busy mom trying to find time to study, so I need to make the most of my study time. I am struggling with finding *the* best way to make the most of my study time due to the sheer volumes of information the school wants me to know for each test. So, I wanted to ask, "How do you study for tests?"

I've tried typing up all my notes and end up with 22 pages on average of info. to learn/apply for each test. I also do flashcards for terms and end up with about 200 of those for each test. Despite this, I'm still struggling to stay on top of it all. I get that they want us to apply critical thinking, but truly, if we got down the material beforehand, the critical thinking would come more naturally because we already have down the components making up that test question (knowledge, terms, policies, etc.). I'm struggling with getting *all* of it down before a test because of the vast volume of info. they want us to learn/understand before each one. I just wish school moved a little slower!!

I would welcome any and all ideas of how *you* study and what seems to be efficient techniques! Thanks a bunch!

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This doesn't work for everyone, but I've had a lot of success just reading the chapters/class notes over and over and over until I feel like it's sticking. I've tried everything else: typing things up, copying over my notes, taking notes out of the book, and I feel like I'm just wasting my time doing busy work. I try to read each chapter at least three times, which isn't always easy, but so far it's worked when I've been able to get it done. I feel like I pick up new info everytime I read the chapter. It's not easy though, I have 12 large chapters between my two classes that I've read multiple times. It takes a LOT of time. I always try to read ahead, also.

- Katie

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Does your book have review questions? Mine does and I find that going over those helps a bit. Otherwise, reading things over and over till it sticks seems to do the trick for me. However, I also like drawing diagrams, it helps me see the 'bigger' picture.

Study Groups are a big resource too! Get together with some classmates and quiz each other, the material will sink in that much quicker and its a bit more fun.

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Right now I read my books, highlight important stuff, re-type the highlights, read my typed notes, use flashcards for terms/lab values, and practice NCLEX questions from two/three review sources. Hopefully this helps, although I did really well on my first Patho exam using this strategy

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I read my notes from class as many times as needed. I read and high light the chapters, then go back and reread what I highlighted at least once, maybe twice. If there are any review questions with the book I do them and make sure I understand them. Often there is a cd with the book or you may have to go to a website. For my main text I did buy the study guide and it's nice just to test my self. Lastly if I have time I use NCLEX prep books to give myself practice exams, and again I make sure I really understand the questions. I like saunders and mosby's they are broken down my topic and have an outline of the material before the questions. Also they provide a rational for the correct answer and why the others are wrong.

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Personally I think that making up flash cards is a HUGE waste of time. Making up those flash cards can take hours upon hours, and those hours could be used studying.

What I do is read the chapter BEFORE class and I make an outline as I read. The outlines usually come out to be about three pages but never more than four. I used to type out my outlines but found that to be useless since the info was the same. BUT typing out the outlines did reinforce the material, I just would rather carry around a notebook with my written outlines rather than a binder with my typed outlines.

After I finish reading the chapter and writing up my outline I print out the instructors power point w/three slides per page. If you print w/ three slides per page it gives you lines on the side of each slide to take notes on.

I read the power point and I read my outline. I do this all BEFORE the lecture so that when I go to lecture its more like a review. When I get in lecture, I use my printed power point and take notes of the important points on the lines provided.

This really helps everything stick for me (I learn by reading/writing). Oh and another thing is to make sure you do the NCLEX style questions at the end of each chapter. And if you have the study guide to accompany your textbook, it may be helpful to go through and do all the NCLEX questions in there as you cover each chapter and then do them all again the day/night before the exam which is what I do.

I know everyone learns differently, but this is just what works for me. If you havent done it already, it would benefit you GREATLY to take the Vark assessment to find out what your learning style is. Hope I helped some!

http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

P.S. Im a single mom of two so I know exactly how tough things can get at times. Hang in there!

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My study technique is strictly highlighting key words, definitions, and paragraphs in my textbook as well as making flash cards and sticky notes! I also refer to any outlines, handouts, and watch modules!:)

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I read/scan(depending upon topic) the chapters assigned. I then go through each one and concept map the primary topics. So for example if the topic is ARDS. I would write the critieria to be considered ARDS, patho, signs/symptoms, complications, lab values associated, diagnostic tests, and interventions/meds. It sounds long but gives you all your primary info on one page of paper for that disease/issue, etc.

Lastly when you go to clinical ask for a patient that has ARDS or whatever the topic is. This will REALLY help you relate the lecture info to a patient and aid in your ability to recall.

I also do NCLEX style questions over the topic I am studying that week.

As a busy mom too, I take books and concept maps with me EVERYWHERE I go. I have tried to not take them to church but some days I am desperate so they end up in my purse!;)

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sarahjuly what exactly NCLEX books are you using? I am also struggling with these assessment, clinical type questions and was thinking that NCLEX books might help but wasn't sure which ones to choose.

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I love flashcards. I only stated using them this year - but really think they work well for me. I'm a mum to 3 boys - work full time - and attend uni full time. I love flash cards because I can take them anywhere, and study on the run. I don't write notes as such - all my notes go straight onto flash cards.

Good luck, Zoe

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I use to think flashcards worked until Nursing school... Now I feel like it's a HUGE waste of time. I made about 200 flashcards for my first Patho exam.. for my second Patho exam I typed up an outline from the powerpoint slides my instructor uses. Plus, I usually read the chapters (I found this helps AFTER reading the slides). If the chapters have a lot of info that the professor doesn't cover I don't bother reading the book.. I study my notes and slides. However, once I'm in nursing classes (starting next term!!) I think I'll read the book more because regardless of whats tested, I need to actually know the information in the books.

I found that typing the outline reinforced it while I was typing AND it was easy to read over and over again because it was just 8 pages instead of a huge binder of slides.

Everyone learns differently... and I kinda feel like every class requires you to study a little differently. For my Microbiology class flashcards worked well because it was a lot of names and terms.. but I bet the outline would work well for that too.

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I have two that I like. I use Saunders Comprehensive Review and Mosby's Comprehensive review of Nursing for the NCLEX-RN. Also several people I know use the lippincott book and really like it, but I haven't tried it yet.

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