445,176 Nurses talking about nursing
Central | Jobs for Nurses | Books for Nurses | Newsletter
Home Nurses Specialty News Students Region Articles Blogs
Degrees Picks Help

Nursing Student Assistance /

Is There A Thing as "Over Studying"



Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Is There A Thing as "Over Studying"

Mar 19, 2008 05:19 PM written by MecoInGa | 11 Comments
Print   Email   Follow  

I'm currently in Med-Surg (second Semester of ADN Program). I study my butt off, however on the exam, I think I somewhat overthink the questions. Fundamental was a breeze. Well, kinda a breeze, I came out with an 86-B overall, but I'm really struggling this semester. Id do all the readings, make study guides based on the outlines. I'm almost about to give up. This would be a second degree for me and of course when things aren't going the way you feel you should, it's easy to think about other things that u could be doing. I don't want to give up, however, I only have 2 more exams and the final to get it together. I don't want to go into the final having to in the 80's.........too much pressure.

Our next exam is April 1st. It'll cover, oncology, ENT, Integumentary, Musculoskeletal, and Dosage Cal. that we get on all exams. Thank God, I'm good at the dosage cal cause that's sure points. I just don't know what to do about the other stuff. I study my butt off and I'm usually the go-to person in class. Lately. everyone that comes to me, score 15-20 points higher than me on exams and come to me saying "Thanks" when it's all over. Though I really like helping others and I'm proud of their success, I really need to figure how to benefit from my hard work. I'm struggling, and about to say *^#@ it all. Any encouraging words and advise would really help at this point.

Oh, Yea, I took an entire semester of test taking skills prior to starting the program. For some reason, I think I read into the questions. From fme reading into the questions, i sometimes change my answers........I only changed on the past exam, but heck, I changed it from right to wrong....what do I to do?
 
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply
11 Comments
No. 1
from shir-bur
Old Mar 19, 2008, 06:09 PM

Yes, I think you can overstudy. I will graduate May 1, ADN, and I feel that I have struggled most of the time, but this semester, I feel somewhat at ease. Just slow down and take your time. And a group of us always go out into the hall before every test and pray. It helps calm the nerves and for me it also clears my mind. So just hang in there, God didn't get you into the program for you to fail out or quit now. Just remember to breath. And going into your final with an 80 something is great. You can do this, I just had to keep telling myself, how bad do I want it? And I'm sure you really want this, besides, you got into the program so you can do this. I'll be praying for you, and keep your head up, your doing great!!!!!!!
shir-bur :wink2:
 
No. 2
from MBARN08
Old Mar 19, 2008, 07:03 PM

No, you can't over study!!! You can however over think a questions or psych yourself out or second guess yourself while you take your exam.

I over study all the time and what I learn extra has helped me the following semester. Whereas students who ONLY study what they think is on the exam are usually struggling every semester (both clinically and academically). I am not interested in joining those ranks.

Every semester has been HARDER then the last. The more I have taken from the previous semester the easier it is for me to digest material presented the following semester. If you have problems with taking these harder exams you need to analyze what you might have done wrong.

Maybe it is your study method? For example, memorization does not work. Maybe you are too anxious when you take your exams? Maybe you do not properly test yourself before taking exams? Maybe your critically thinking habits on exams are bad? Maybe you read too much into the stem of the question? Maybe you do not know the answer before reading the indicators?

There is so much to reflect on... Do not settle for the myth that "studying too much" is the problem. You can never know too much in nursing! Especially if you can critically think.

I suggest that you talk to your nursing instructor and go over the exam. This way you can narrow down your problem and make corrections for your future.
 
No. 3
from Shawn1234
Old Mar 19, 2008, 07:30 PM

I'm doing the same thing. Changing my answers. I graduate June 8th. I find myself all the time second guessing myself. We have to stop.
 
No. 4
from shir-bur
Old Mar 19, 2008, 08:34 PM

I only meant that you can over study for a particular test, and yes I agree that everything builds on something. And I have never just study what I thought would be on a particular test, I always study all the material, so I just assumed that everyone else did as well. And yes, every semester has been harder than the last, only if you allow everything you have taken away from all the other semesters to carry over into the last semester. You need to be able to apply what you have learned and you can't do that by memorization. Instead of just memorizing lab values or right sided or left sided heart failure, you have to be able to see the effects of the condition in your mind and understand why this is happening to be able to know the proper steps you need to take to try to correct the problem. I study everyday and still have days where I feel like I don't know anything. And getting together in small study groups also helped me, this way everyone can give a different perspective on the subject and maybe if you don't understand something, someone may explain it in a way that makes it stick with you.
I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but I'm not interested in joining those ranks either.
shir-bur
 
No. 5
from bsugar888
Old Mar 20, 2008, 08:27 AM

I am the same way................I did so well in fundamentals.......I to am having a very hard time in 2nd semester...............I want this sooooooo bad...and I know GOD didnt bring me this far to fail............I am not go to FAIL.............I think I have a problem with appling the information to the question..............and after the exam I get up feeling great...and get my exam back and I didnt do well....which is sooooooo upsetting to me............76 is passing and we have 4 exams and a final....1st exam I got 78 2nd exam I got 68..............are 3rd exam is april 2nd..........I need a 82 on exam 3 to be at a 76 avervage.............any help from anyone would be helpful........................thanks all.
 
No. 6
Old Mar 20, 2008, 09:31 AM

I definately could tell if I was over-studying. For me I needed some time for the new information to gel in my head. Otherwise I would end up just confusing myself. Normally when I got to that part, I would just switch subjects to study.
 
No. 7
from beth66335
Old Mar 20, 2008, 06:03 PM

Cover the answers before you read the question. Then underline key words in the question to get the meat of what it is asking. Always assume you have a Dr order for whatever you need (the NCLEX hospital always has Dr orders, all supplies, and enough staff to help). Then look at the answers after you think you know what it is, go with your first impression and DON'T change it. Sometimes looking at the answers with the questions will make you read into the questions! My Adult and Child Health I teacher always tells us the eraser is NOT our friend!
 
No. 8
from MiaKeaRN
Old Mar 21, 2008, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by beth66335 View Post
My Adult and Child Health I teacher always tells us the eraser is NOT our friend!
I have to agree with your teacher. I finally, finally, finally gave up erasing an answer that I thought was wrong. I would go back and forth, change it, and then find out that my first answer was correct. I figured out that over a few tests I had basically cost myself 20 points by changing answers.

It worked......not changing answers or second guessing myself has brought my grade up to a high B for this semester (at least at this point).
 
No. 9
from Esther2007
Old Mar 21, 2008, 08:16 PM

I dont have time to over study for nursing exam. The information is already too much to handle at times. The word "overstudy" does not exist for me at this time. If I can add 4 more hours to the day, I would.
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply



 
Thread Tools




Register to participate
Article Contests

Get the hottest nursing topics of the week. Subscribe to the allnurses.com Newsletter.

7

Confessions Of A Labour & Delivery Nurse

5

'Onboard' New Nurses to Prevent Them from Jumping Ship

0

Nurses Get A Lift

26

Television Reality Show Casting Nurses & Student Nurses

10

After a 41-Year Separation, A Nurse Meets Her Father At A...

0

Staten Island Nurses Seek To Launch Advocacy Group

4

NYC Nursing-Home Plan Sets Off Protests

43

The Golden Ticket - Nurses pursue advanced degrees and...


3

A Beautiful Nightmare

8

Things I've Learned This Year

13

How I Fell in Love with Nursing

10

Know Thyself: Prevent Mistakes

8

nursing ruminations

12

Dad's Final Gift

33

Nurse Campy Fancy Pants!

15

Indelible Love







Advertise | Site Map | Boards of Nursing | Terms Of Service | Privacy | Contact Us | Newsletter | Copyright © 1996-2010 allnurses.com INC