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 ?

[FutureMSN]

There are pros and cons to both. So always be open. This doesn't have to be an either/or way of life. I've never used a study group before, but my first semester of nursing school I joined one because people told me I NEEDED one.

I found pros & cons. Pros: someone else will have info that you didn't pick up on in class and vice Versa. Sometimes a study group can help keep you on track. Everyone has a moment that puts them on the shoulder (home life, a poor exam grade, trouble getting a skill or subject etc). Your group will share how they did well on an exam that you didn't (such as how to understand the questions).

A study group can help you better your interpersonal skills with professors or fill in those gaps if you have questions but your professor has zero interpersonal skills. Someone always has info on your next semester courses because their friends/sibling is one cohort ahead. Groups can have good referrals on school tutors or non-school academic aides that you haven't tried before or weren't exposed to. These are your professional peers, look at it as networking if you're not fond of them personally. Someone will having hiring info for you that isn't advertised on the company website. These are all pros.

Some cons: it only takes one unfocused student to derail the path of the group with their study. Suzy always has relationship issues and always wants to talk about it, yep she's a con.

There's the student who never studies and only leans on the group knowledge. This person can only help you review what you think you know, they'll never help you catch a mistake. Plus you can't go over what you're struggling with.

There's the student who only shares info with SOME people in the group. That's a problem.

The student who thinks everyone needs to focus on helping THEM pass. The student who doesn't want anyone to get together if they can't make it.

Group members can have a personal fall out and cause a strain for the rest of the group. Groups can get together too often and end up studying too long so now the members have become co-dependent for times sake before the next exam. Cons baby.

What I've learned is that it's good to take what I call a hybrid approach. My goal for the upcoming semester is to Study 60% solo; 20% with an expert in the subject matter (tutor; professor; an RN WHO is good at teaching; online group resources) and the final 20% is to use a study group simply for a quick review prior to an exam and social network with AFTER the exam.