All you A students

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Specializes in Critical Care, Surgical ICU.

Hi everyone I want to know how you maintain your A's in school. I can get high B's all day but very little A's. It's really starting to frustrate me. Please tell me how you study and what I can do to improve. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. :)

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Hi there... I totally appreciate this post!!!:yeah:

I had all A's (no A-'s even!!!!) up until I started the nursing core classes at my school. I study and study, try to anticipate the instructors questions, read numerous NCLEX resources and STUDY, STUDY STUDY!!! I had to come to the realization this year that I will drive myself crazy trying to live up to perfect standards... I get mostly A's on things, but I struggled with the occasional "unexpected low grade" or 2 in a few classes and I got 2 lowsy B+'s and an A, and at first I was upset. But really, I tried my best and learned tons, PLUS I really made it a point to concentrate on the important things like student teacher relationships, peer-peer relationships and student- patient relationships, and what my role was there. Talk to former students, teachers, patients- everyone!!!! Everyone you meet will strengthen your understanding of people and that's what this job is really about. I would say, unless you're really struggling in a particular subject, chalk a low grade up to a learning experience- even if it means learning how to deal with a B or 2. Easier said than done, trust me I still cringe at the thought and I know a lot of others who do too. Keep your head up and be proud of yourself... one of my teachers told me once that her best students were B students because they were the ones who were fighting for that A and she could tell they weren't looking for the easy way out just to get a letter grade. Keep up the good work and keep shooting for the stars!!!:yeah::up:

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Study, study, study! Luckily my teachers are straight to the point & dont try to trick you, but I also take my books to the gym. I will cycle & read. I also notice that physically writing down info helps me retain it a lot better. This may sound weird, but I also try to eat egg whites for breakfast (esp the day of a test) and I try to work out for at least 30 minutes a day. Oh and I also take an adaptogen called Rhodiola. Its mainly for stress but it also helps with memory. Since I have been taking that, I have been less stressed and actually dropped 10 lbs! I also notice other students reading into the questions too much. Trust yourself. If you studied, dont 2nd guess yourself. I hope this helps

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

  • Study every day, even if some days it's only for 10 minutes. Or grab a few minutes here and there to look over something. Trust me, it really does add up.
  • Find out the best way you learn: visual, audio, tactile, etc. Tailor your study habits to match.
  • Don't just passively read something: challenge yourself to think about what you just read. See how much of it you can recall. Rewrite your notes. Try to teach what you've just learned to a classmate/cat/toddler/lamp.
  • If you can't read the entire chapter, at least learn the vocabulary.
  • Don't just memorize signs and symptoms of each disease: learn the pathophysiology behind them so you know why they occur...and then that'll help you understand why specific nursing interventions will work or not work. Plus, a lot of diseases have a few common features in their patho, so knowing the patho of one disease will make understanding similar diseases (or diseases with similar features) easier.
  • Do the review questions in the textbook, book CD and/or book website.
  • Also do as many NCLEX questions as you can get your hands on. It's worth buying an NCLEX review book now, even if you've just started NS...or do it the cheap way and check a review book out of the library.
  • If the instructor tells you that something will be on the test, pay attention! Also take note if she repeats something more than twice, dwells on a topic for a while, and/or says that something is "really important to know"
  • Having great grades are nice, but remember that you will still be a nurse even if you don't get straight As. You may find yourself doing better if you put a bit less pressure on yourself (at least I have).
  • Also, don't be so focused on grades that while you learn what you need for the test, that you forget to also learn how to apply it to a real patient.
  • And last, get sleep the night before a test. All-nighters are a habit worth giving up: instead of being a fountain of knowledge at test time, you often sit there a zombie who can only think about a cup of coffee. But if they work for you...I guess continue pulling them. I've done much better giving them up myself, though :)

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Wow, Meriwhen pretty much covered most of my suggestions. One other thing I notice some of my classmates doing is overwhelming themselves trying to memorize every detail about every topic we discuss. Our instructor described nursing school as cyclical: each thing you learn will be covered again and again, adding a little bit more information as you gain more experience and knowledge. Then, things will ultimately "click" when you encounter them in your clinicals. So focus on the specifics that have been emphasized, rather than trying to understand every facet of a topic/procedure/disease process/etc. It makes the amount of material you need to study much more manageable. You will have time to become an expert, because you will continuously be learning, even after you graduate.

Another tip one of my instructors gave for test questions regarding "the nurse's priority action": If you are in doubt, first think about the ABCs of life support, then move to Maslow's Needs. She indicated this would be a good strategy for the NCLEX...seems to be working for me on school exams as well.

Above all, have confidence in yourself. You obviously have high standards for yourself, or you wouldn't worry about getting A's. Just don't let a lower grade trick you into thinking you will not make a good nurse. Nursing is about people, as a prior poster said. Keep safety and your patients' best interests in mind, always mentally question what you are doing and why, and continuously and honestly evaluate yourself. This is key in recognizing where you need to improve, and really helps focus your study time.

Good luck!

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Don't stress out too much about getting straight As. While a good goal, it might be an unrealistic one. In my school, the Student Nurse Assoc. had t-shirts printed up saying "I used to be an A-student, now I'm a nursing student!"

I'll bet that line has been used in a thousand other schools, but it is telling.

I think most of us want to be A-students. In fact, I would guess that as competitive as the application process is, most of us ARE A-students. As far as pre-reqs for school, I had close to a 4.0 (I think there might have been one B mixed in there). I got all As last semester (1st). This semester, I got an A in clinicals, an A in skills, and a C in lecture, staying in the program by the grace of god, and a 77.6 that rounded to a 78, which is the minimum passing grade here.

I don't like seeing that C on my transcript, but you know what? I'm still in the program, I've learned a valuable lesson about making sure I am prepared for EVERY test next semester, and I am taking a little time each day on this Xmas break to dive into some topics I don't feel like I know good enough.

Those lecture tests are hard for two reasons. One is the amount of knowledge that is covered. The other is the whole format. Ours are multiple choice, with 1 wrong answer, 1 answer that is appropriate, but doesn't apply to the question, and 2 right answers with one being more right than the other, lol. It can be very frustrating, especially when you miss a question that covers content YOU KNOW, but that's just the way it is.

That's why after I was making straight As last semester, and everyone was asking me my secret, I preached NCLEX practice books! Do question after question after question.

Speaking of which, I have to get back to mine.

GL

Dave

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Specializes in CVICU.
Hi everyone I want to know how you maintain your A's in school. I can get high B's all day but very little A's. It's really starting to frustrate me. Please tell me how you study and what I can do to improve. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. :)

Well, a lot of people in my class would get mad of me for getting good grades. I actually didn't study very often. People would ask me how long I would study to get the best grades in the class. They were usually mad that they had studied for several hours while I would spend maybe an hour going over materials for an exam. For one thing, I had very little time to study as I was going to school full-time and working full-time.

My "secret" was that I had worked as a tech in both the ICU and the ER prior to starting nursing school. The things I would learn and observe there helped me tremendously. If you have a job (in a teaching environment, especially) you should observe, ask questions, and then look up the "whys" and "hows" of all the interesting things you see. Offer to assist the nurses and doctors when they are doing procedures because you will learn by example. Also, if you do work as a tech somewhere, look up the policies and procedures to see how specific things should be done, as these are often right out of nursing texts such as Potter & Perry. You will learn about the "correct" way to do things, which is usually what your instructors are looking for on the test. That's how I got through school, and it continues to help me today. :clown:

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A students usually have a very similar way of doing things. A lot of which boils down to repetition.

You have to ask yourself why you want to achieve that goal and you have to be willing to outline a plan and stick to it - to get there.

I work as a TA in addition to working full time and going to school full time. When I grade other student's work I am blown away by the ineptitude. I get whined at all day by classmates who are constantly upset with me for getting A's while they are struggling to maintain even a B average. Yet, when I grade their work or their assignments - they fail to answer questions, they fail to read questions before answering them, they fail to pay attention to the details and that is really the difference between an A and a B.

If I'm at work and not busy - I'm studying something. If I'm at home, I'm reading, working on a project, or immersed in reading ahead for tomorrow's lab. You have to be willing to sacrifice having any semblance of a life while you are in school in order to pull the top grades. I don't talk to my family, I don't see my wife, my dog barely recognizes me. When I'm not at work or in class, I'm working in the biology lab and immersing myself in science.

Nursing isn't only about people, but about developing a very strong understanding of the science behind the "why." I'm not competing against my classmates. I'm competing against myself. I know that when I hit the floor for my first shift - I'm not going to have a teacher who is familiar with my work who will cut me some slack. I'm going to have patients that are depending on my know how to keep them alive or keep them comfortable. It is an INCREDIBLY huge responsibility that is not rivaled in ANY other industry. A foul up as a designer doesn't put a client in a coma.

I think a lot of students get so wrapped up in the, "BUT I DON'T WANNA DO HOMEWORK," mindset. I actually have experienced a student whine at me for getting a good grade on exam and in the same breath tell me they were at a party till 2:00 am the night before the exam.

For me, this is an opportunity to live my own dreams. It does NOT make sense for me to refuse to devote myself 110% to my quest. I owe it to myself - in order to reach MY goals and I owe it to my future patients.

Do the work, study, read books during your breaks that immerse you and your mind in the industry and the world of science. Read articles on cutting edge research. Stay on top of it. If I can do it while maintaining a marriage, a home, a full time job, and TA responsibilities... YOU CAN DO IT! Just be prepared to have no social life whatsoever. There will be time for that when you are working 3 12's and have 4 days off. You have to devote yourself to it entirely for the time being.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Surgical ICU.

Thank you soooo much everyone for all the replies. I made all B's this semester and when I found out I had 92's in all classes I was upset. To know I'm this close to A's and cannot make them is heart breaking.

Im going to do all of what everyone has said for the spring semester. I want to push myself to know I truly can achieve these grades. Thank you all again. :)

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I think if you are maintaining all B's you are already using a good system. I'd say just bump it up a notch...

More time, more repetition.

Also, break your studying into percentages. The classes you struggle should obviously get the most time. The classes you breeze through should get minimal time.

Make every free moment study time. Driving to work? Listen to tapes? When I have free time at work I regularly quiz our RN, or hound them or stalk them up and down the hallways (when they aren't med passing anyways :) ).

You need to decide if it is worth it though.

Do you want to take the time to bump it up or are you satisfied with Bs? I bumping up performance to just make one grade up requires a disproportionate amount of time it may not be worth it.

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Wow! I just love this site! You guys are great! It's so exciting to hear about everyone's determination and tips and tricks. Thanks!

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Why eggwhites?

Is Rhodiola something I can but at my any pharmacy or is it only at like GNC?

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