Feel like I'm barely passing

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 21, 2015

What is your weak areas?

Do you need help with note taking, test taking, or studying?

Run student · Apr 21, 2015

I honestly don't know. I've started highlighting and taking notes in my book. I want to use flash cards but I'm not sure how to make them. It's mainly the studying that I need help with.

ShaeMarie · Apr 21, 2015

I honestly don't know. I've started highlighting and taking notes in my book. I want to use flash cards but I'm not sure how to make them. It's mainly the studying that I need help with.

For me, reading and reviewing notes helped minimally. It was practicing questions that really made things sink in because it forced me to apply the information. If you have resources available, see if incorporating practice questions will help you.

Run student · Apr 21, 2015

I'm actually getting an NCLEX review book soon. And my 2nd year mentor told me to divide evenly the number of days to study before the exam but subtract three. And those three days before just do practice questions. That helped. It helps me feel more in control but then things keep coming up to get done. Like more ATI stuff to do by the end of the month.

guest769224 · Apr 21, 2015

Hey, what's worked for me is- I study in a group of 3. Me, and 2 lovely ladies. We pour through the material for several hours a day. We go to the hospital and study in the cafeteria until 2 AM. We memorize the material verbatim, and quiz each other back and forth, endlessly. We also study the pathophysiology to make sure it's understood.

Our results? We have each got mid 90's on all of our exams throughout the semester. This is compared to low to mid 80's before we studied this way. One point- we don't BS while we study. We take short breaks and get right back on track. Maybe this would work for you. We use forced recall and won't move on unless each of us understand the concept. It has totally saved my grades when the rest of the class is averaging high 70's and in the fail zone.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2015

What do you mean you "feel" like you are barely passing. Either you are or you are not. Keep track of your scores so you know. You need to be have an accurate count of your current grade. No one will listen when you fail and you say "I felt like I had a A". Stay on top of things like that so you know exactly what you need to do. Good luck!

Elle16 · Apr 21, 2015

At the top of the AN page, there is a place to do a search. I put in the search, "I don't know how to study" and many good comments came up. For example, there is this one:

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/i-dont-know-773153.html

Look for a comment from "AnAppleGirl," who gives good tips. I am just finishing my first semester of NS and I still haven't found a tried and true method. Honestly? I think I need to somehow concentrate and focus my time even more and do something similar to what "AnAppleGirl" writes.

Also, try a search for yourself--you may find something that speaks more to you & your style of learning. Good luck!

Elle

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2015

If your text books come with an online quizbank, I'd use that. It definitely helped me immensely. I also hand write all power points onto note cards, the big note cards. That helps reinforce it in my mind. Takes 40 hours to study for one test, but it hasn't let me down yet and graduation is in 17 days!

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Apr 21, 2015

Hey, what's worked for me is- I study in a group of 3. Me, and 2 lovely ladies. We pour through the material for several hours a day. We go to the hospital and study in the cafeteria until 2 AM. We memorize the material verbatim, and quiz each other back and forth, endlessly. We also study the pathophysiology to make sure it's understood.
Our results? We have each got mid 90's on all of our exams throughout the semester. This is compared to low to mid 80's before we studied this way. One point- we don't BS while we study. We take short breaks and get right back on track. Maybe this would work for you. We use forced recall and won't move on unless each of us understand the concept. It has totally saved my grades when the rest of the class is averaging high 70's and in the fail zone.

Wow ICUman, that's lovely to have others work with you as a team. I live super far from my other classmates and study groups haven't been so grand due to the distance, but that's nice it worked for you :)

caliotter3 · Apr 21, 2015

My daughter swore by the use of flashcards when she made good grades. She kept them in her purse and would whip them out any time she had a few minutes to spare.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Apr 21, 2015

ï»¿Ladyfree28, please share your speed reading tips :)