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 ?

[Duttygal86, BSN, RN]

I'm in MS 2 and MH Nursing currently and due to living far away from campus have used study groups only minimally. However, my entire class is on a whatsapp chat to keep abreast of clinical changes, etc.

[CeSoirLeCiel, BSN, RN]

I prefer to study alone. Whenever I study with other people, I feel like they're using me as an easy source of information when they just don't want to look at their own notes (you know, put in the work that I did in order to tell them that info).

If I do study with other people, I've found that it's best to do it when I know we've both already put in study time, really know most of the material, and either need reassurance or clarification on a few stick-out points.

Bottom line, if you don't feel like you need a study group, don't feel like you need to. I can't tell you how many classes I made it through on my own, even after an instructor told me I needed a study group. If you are concerned about your scores though, find someone who is doing about as well or better than you, and use each other for mutual support (I HATE when study groups are one-sided).

[JohnIsB]

I've been studying by myself since the beginning of nursing school, and I'm currently in my last semester.

[scoope23]

You have to do what works best for you. I was never a study group person. I felt like every time I tried the study group thing we would get off task and waste time. If I had a pretty good grasp of the material already then I wouldn't mind joining a study group for a little bit to reinforce what I know. Otherwise I go over the info on my own at my own pace which worked out fine for me

[versican]

I just graduated in December. I didn't use a study group until the very last week of finals...a few of us met before each final for a couple hours. It was amazing how well that went...we regretted not doing it earlier! We just reviewed the info and would share what we though were the main points and take-aways. So, if you're introverted like me and prefer to go it alone, you may do well. But finding a few to do a final review prior to tests can't hurt. When it's getting down to just a couple hours before a test, our group stayed very focused.

[twss2323]

I found it helpful to meet with a study buddy once or twice coming up to an exam and study the rest on my own. Groups tended to be less productive--more chances to go off topic and mess around, just one other to study with was best. But the time or two studying together was really helpful, we'd talk through questions explaining our logic and then decide on an answer. Sometimes she had a (correct) train of thought I would have never come up with on my own and vice versa. It really is beneficial, you should give it a try!

[Chocolate_RN85]

NOPE! You can do better all by yourself , most of the time it distracts you and some

Don't want you to succeed , stay focus on your own , the only person that will taking that NCLEX is you , not you & your study group

[buffalo2122, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I survived alone. I felt that others weren't on the same page as I was and always found them studying material from stuff I already knew. I just do so much better alone and can go at my own pace.

[NursingA2016]

I've been in nursing school half a semester and we keep talking about forming a study group but never have.(Most of my friends/classmates work). One thing that we do instead though is use quizlet and text each other sample application questions that may be on the test. But I can say I am doing great in my classes without the study group I guess it just depends on the individual.

[Kabuto_]

Nobody wants to form a study group when I asked. So I study by myself.

One thing though, they use my quizlet notes that I make for myself and study with that. I really don't know half the people using my notes. People claim to be lone wolfing but my quizlet profile keeps getting hit up.

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Nobody wants to form a study group when I asked. So I study by myself.

Smart man... missing out on study groups is no loss in my experience.

[ksw1978]

I'm only a month into my first year so my views might change over the course of the program. But so far I study alone. I find it too distracting trying to study in a group. Plus already I've found 2-3 people latch on to me in lecture and lab and want me to tell them my answers to things. Umm no. I am not going to spoon feed them my answers that I've studied hard to achieve. There's definitely a few hard working students who are getting good grades and I'm happy to talk stuff through with but I'm not going to get into the habit of doing the work for others so they don't have to. If you haven't done the reading or taken notes, don't expect me to copy mine for you to study from! I'm kind of shocked at the gall of some students already.