Do you NEED a study group to get through nursing school?

[Student2017555]

I am currently in MedSurg two. I passed MedSurg one with an 85 and though it was very difficult for me I studied a lot and I'm happy with my grade. MedSurg two in my program has been the only thing anyone can talk about because of the horrible reputation that the teacher and the class has for failing. We have taken three test so far and I have gotten high b's on all of them. I spoke to my instructor before the second test because it was supposed to be very hard and she scolded me for not being in a study group and that maybe that's why I have to study so hard to get good grades. I have studied alone the entire time I have been in school because it has worked for me and I don't get along with a lot of the girls in my class so I tend to be by myself. I I tried to take her advice and join a study group because she and almost every other person I have asked for advice has stress that study groups are needed to do well in nursing school but I tried to study with two different groups and it seems that either they want me to teach them the material or they just want to gossip the whole time and it seems counterproductive I don't know if I missing something and I really want to do well and I don't want to give myself more work than I have to but groups really don't work for me and it makes me feel like the odd man out that I am not in one when every previous student and instructor I've talked to has said that study groups are the best ways to pass through nursing school. Did anyone else have this problem ? Is it okay to study by yourself ?

[vanilla bean]

Of course it's ok to study by yourself. You need to use whatever strategies work best for you.

[tiffany91]

Study group! I would study by myself 60% of the time and meet up with my closest group of friends to review and question each other the other 40%. Other people might have caught things that you didn't. Not to mention, it seems that a million things are due at once and four brains remembering it all is better than one.

[heb06004]

I had the same experiences whenever I tried to join a study group (in nursing school and in my first degree). I just started to study solo and it seemed to work well in both degrees. It really just depends on the person. You don't NEED a study group to do well.

[Leonardsmom,LPN]

It really depends on the individual person and the group I believe. I am in my second semester of my program right now, and 99% of the time study on my own. The few people I have had who wanted to study with me were less prepared than I was and I spent most of the time teaching them the material. While there is benefit of being able to teach someone else the material, I personally did not feel that it did anything to improve July studying or my grade.

If there is another person in your class that you get along well with and has the same study ethics you might want to consider a study partner, but at this point I don't feel that study groups are mandatory to do well and pass the nursing program.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

No, one doesn't need it. Furthermore, while short-term study groups may sound as a good idea, it is highly recommended not to make group studying a habit. You will have to face NCLEX alone, and after you pass it and get your license, you will have to study some more even if you do not continue your education. Nursing implies studying during all your active career, and 90+% of it will be done alone. It is not funny to see people doing bedside longer than you are alive frantically scrambling for "study group" to do CEUs.

[GGirll22]

Review with someone else who is a solo study person. It worked for me.

[I_Am_Blessed]

I studied by myself like 3-4 days before the exam. A day before the exam, I usually joined study groups. Group study helped me in a sense that all the participants in that group shared all the things we learned when we were just studying just by ourselves. I get better grades too when I joined group study a day before the exam. But most of my studying was done alone, 3-4 days before the test.

[CSTtoRN]

I don't have a study group either but I have gotten together with a classmate or two once or twice a semester. I'm not big on study groups so I think it's ok to study alone. I got all As my first and third semester and As and Bs in second.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I studied a few times with classmates; but 95% of the time I studied alone, and did fine.

If you want tips, perhaps using a review book would help; I used the Success Series to help with studying all subjects in nursing school, as well as the LaCharity book; these also work for NCLEX review as well.

[DoeRN]

It's up to the individual. I didn't do well with study groups. I could absorb more information solo. I would read the chapters twice and go over the lecture notes. Well in certain classes like what you're in. My med surg classes I did this and my last one I got a 98% on the final. Prayer and studying helped me with that. But some of my classmates studied together and did fine.

Good luck to you and you received some great advice from everyone. You're almost done hang in there.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I prefer to study alone. I'm way more efficient when I study alone. My cohort has a facebook group where we post helpful hints and reminders and that is really helpful to me. Bur as far as studying, alone.