Advice for Studying

phoenixfire · Mar 31, 2009

The biggest thing you can do is figure out where the disconnect is between what you are studying and what you are being tested on. Nursing tests are very different from other college tests, so you have to account for that. What is the question asking you? Look for key words and phrases, and dissect each word to make sure you know exactly what is being asked. Then, BEFORE you look at any answers, think about what you know about the topic. Look to see if any of the answers match what you know. Then look through to see how the answers are worded. If you can narrow it down to two, pick the one that is MORE correct than the other one by rationalizing in your mind (based on what YOU KNOW) whether it is right or wrong.

Most of the students in my class who are having problems passing the test are very knowledgeable about the content, its just a matter of knowing how to take a nursing test.

Good luck, and don't give up! :nurse:

cmegla · Mar 31, 2009

Pheonix is right. The tests that we take in nursing school are very different from other tests and it is important to become a good "test taker". If you can remember back on your SAT test taking classes, the tools you learned in there might be of use to you now. There are some tricks that I have been taught. For example, if you are unsure of the answer to a question, it is most likely the longest or shortest answer. Also, the answer should not includes absolute works like "never" or "always". As far as studying goes, it seems to me that a majority of the test questions on tests stem from the charts and boxes in the book. I always take the time to study and even memorize those boxes and charts. When you are reading the book, it helps to take notes or make flash cards. When you do that, you are forced to slow down while you write out the key points. Plus the actual act of writing them out helps to put them into your long term memory due to repetition. I also focus on specific things while I read. For example, anytime it says to "contact a physical immediately" or "chart as normal". Also, when it talks about "who is most at risk" for developing any specific disease i take note. I focus on these topics because I know that there are always multiple questions with these topics on my tests. If you can remember reoccurring themes from your past tests, then you can focus on those things in your studying. Study groups can be a help or hinderance depending on how they are run. You need to be careful on who you study with because those people might not be doing well on their tests either. If that is the case you should find someone else to study with, preferably one of the top students in your class. Anyhow, you are at the end of your nursing school and if you have gotten this far, I am confident that you will be able to pull through. Next you will need to focus on taking the NCLEX, I recommend searching out a prep-class so you can learn some test taking secrets and tips.

student4nur · Mar 31, 2009

I am in the same boat, I'm left with two semesters to graduate but it seems no matter how much I study I still fail the test. I joined a group study, I study own my own and I do questions but still I'm not getting a passing grade. I'm left with one test and a final of which I need to make high 80s. I don't want to give up but sometimes it so frustrating. :cry:

babudust · Mar 31, 2009

Thank you phoenixfire and cmegla for the helpful tips. The exams are my downfall and any tips to help with those are helpful. I'm going to apply both your concepts to my studying and test taking. Thanks once again. :up:

shrimpchips, LPN · Apr 1, 2009

Memorizing the "facts" in your material is not going to really help you, unless you're memorizing lab values or normal ranges for vital signs or something. You need to know the facts, but also know how to apply them. Unfortunately that is how nursing tests are which really blows because we're so used to just memorizing facts and then spitting them back out on test material.

As for actual studying, notecards really help. it also helps to review your notes sometime after class in the same day. This will help you get a better grasp on the material being taught. Practice the end of the chapter questions in your textbooks and the questions on the CDs that come with your textbooks (if your books came with them) or do practice questions from an NCLEX book related to the material that you are studying. Good luck! :heartbeat :nurse:

Williamsl88 · Apr 2, 2009

Im not doing so well, nursing is like a different way of testing, I know I have not gotten use to it yet. But I think I fail the second exam. I think I am depressed right now, I dont even want to study anymore. I dont think this happened to me before.

I think I lose my drive to study =/. I need to find out the secret behind nursing.

Akeeka · Apr 2, 2009

Hang in there, Never give up!!! The true secret to success is having the ability to withstand all storms that may come your way!

Hang tight and tough, and never give up! Find a stragegy that works for you; build your support group and then implement your plan for success!!! Most of all think positive!

AugustRain · Apr 2, 2009

It helps me to make some notes on the test page before I even start reading the questions - signs & symptoms, lab values, conversions, etc - so that I have something solid to refer to and don't allow myself to second guess myself when reading in depth questions. Also, make sure you're really understanding what the question is asking. Find the key phrases and double check to see if your answer addresses those issues. The more you practice the NCLEX questions and understand what you're doing wrong, the better you'll become at test-taking. You'll get there!

shann106 · Apr 2, 2009

One thing I do that I think really helps me is that when lecture is over I stay in my seat and make my notes cards right then, that way I review the material right then and I stay up to date on my flashcards so I am not franticlally making them a few days before the test.

Read the chapter before you go to lecture, that way you go with questions in your head and things will be clearer when they are discussed in lecture.

Make your own test questions from the material.

If you are having trouble with the way the test questions are done there is a couple tips that might help. 1st read the question, don't look at the answers yet, reread the question and circle the main point of the question, then look at the possible answers, as you read if the answer is wrong mark it out, then say you are left with 2 possible answers and you can't choose, think which would be the higher standard of care, or if it is intervention type question write to the side of the question the possible outcome if you did this intervention and then look at which would be the best outcome.

Here is a simplistic example of what I am trying to say. If you were trying to teach your 5 yr old howto cross the street, you are standing at the corner of Main street what would you tell him?

A) Listen for cars

B) Cross the street when the walking man sign signals to

C) Look both ways before crossing

D) Run or walk fast as you cross

While all these things might be something you would tell your child what would be the possible outcome for each A) quiet car may be coming and hit the child, B) Someone might run the light C) Good choice -good outcome D) while walking fast is important it takes nothing else into account so your answer has to be C

If you are having trouble with the all that apply questions then turn each answer into a True/False question, is this answer true, then it is included in the select all that apply

For lab values, look at the values,which one is the most abnormal , more than likely that is your answer. For example you have a fresh post op patient,which would you be more concerned about? and the lab values listed are slightly high WBC, the HGB is slightly low, the HCT is moderately high, the Potassium is normal. Well obvioulsy you cross out the Potassium because it is normal, but all the others are abnormal, which one is the most abnnormal? That is more than likely the right answer

Always be on the look out for the words Always or Never, those words really change the answer

If you get distracted by noise when taking your test, wear ear plugs,our school provides them to us at every test, some people really think they help.

Does your school provide content objectives? If they do really look at them, that is what they want you to take away and retain from the material. This can keep you from spending hours studying something they don't really care about

Good luck, you can do it!

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

OP

i feel you... i definately do... try chilling for a bit, and restart fresh, may need to consider another techniques...

outline your book - also rewrite all your nursing implications/interventions from your book

approach the book from the end of the chapter, pretest yourself with the chapter questions... then you know what to more or less look for when you read the book

look at your studyguide questions, answer them open book, it will help, it will click!!!

go to your nclex book, answer them all open book... learn it!!!

make sure that when you are answering questions on book/studyguide, that you write your answers on a sheet key, so that after you are done with it, you can answer them all again with the book closed!!!

you will see how much you absob from that!!! it worked for me... just swiching a bit my study methods, triggering my brain, then i swich back after a few weeks, so it does not become routine, and keys are not reinforced...

it might be crazy but it works

babudust · Apr 4, 2009

Thanks everybody for the helpful advice. Hopefully it will help me on my next exam which is next Monday.