Best Study Tips Please!

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Specializes in LDRP.

I'm back in school after 7 yrs and am remembering how to study, but would LOVE some tips from my fellow nursing students! I know you have some great ones out there, so lay them on me!:):)

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It takes about 6 months to "retrain your brain".. give your self time....

Study when you are fresh.. clear your head.. do your own study cards... get away from the hustle and bustle... review before and after a chapter.....

Be kind to yourself.. you have chosen a challenging field...

Good luck and let us know how we can help you....

B.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to always read a chapter, go back and outlkine , then form there take notes from the underlines protion. My calsses had objectives but I might as well rewrite the entire chapter and then some with those objectives. If your objectives to the class are not 4 pages long and repeating stuff over and over again, than I highly recommend taking notes from them. It is definately not easy. It took me two semesters to get use to nursing exams. Critical thinking and all. Good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i skim the chapters before lecture. just so i am familiar with where things are located in the chapter. then i highlight during lecture. jot down side notes as i go if i don't see what i'm looking for.

when i get home, i retype my "notes" that i've highlighted during the day. while i'm doing that, if i run across something that i don't fully understand, i actually read that section in the book.

then i do the same thing over again for the next lecture. i never fully read a chapter. lets face it, when you are doing 14 chapters in 4 class periods, it's just impossible to read that much. for me at least.

then i review my notes several times before an exam. i don't ever wait until the night before a test to "study". study as you go would be my best tip.

best of luck to ya.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

Two words....

STUDY CARDS!!!

I learned SO much from making my study cards...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Study cards are good for the concepts you did not get. What I found to be helpful is to us a NYCLEX review book. In the comprhensive one such as Saunders Comprehensive review for NYCLEX-RN, there are study outlines wich do a great job of reviewing the highlight for you. You can also do some practice questions to give you an idea of how you can study. The NYCLEX books are lighter than that 20 lb Med-surg book as well!

I will graduate in May, not that I am counting or anything!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I find if you can relate whatever theory you are learning into some sort of visual image (or doing a tree type diagram), or relate it to a story that has happened in practice then it's most helpful. ie. when we did diabetes as a topic, i thought of somebody i had come across who had that condition and tried to encompass him into what theory i was learning about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Haha! I actually tried (last night) to study after class by putting my tape recorder headphones on and listening as I went to sleep. Did it work? I don't know. I woke up with the headphones still in and the tape was finished! Think I'll stick to my index cards and outlines! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Make sure you study for each class a little each day. Go to your learning center at your campus. They should have some printed material with study tips, how to handle stress, test taking tips, etc..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

read the highlights of your chapters outloud into a recorder, on your way to class, the grocery store, or while making dinner, listen to it. I used to go to sleep starting with "A" and on to "Z" I would try to recall something that started with that letter that I learned. songs songs songs! ie, all of endocrine is stuck forever in my head to the tune of the ants are marching lol. find one that works for you. also there are a ton of medical mnemonics those are great for things like the 12 cranial nerves, (oh oh oh to touch and feel very green veggies, ah heven!) I used everything i could think of, as a mom of a two year old, i learned bones muscles by doing the hokey pokey with my son. I passed with an overall average of 90 and have yet to take my boards, but am fairly confident as these learning techniques really stuck with me... Good luck!!!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Make sure you have organised your life so that you have time set aside for study...tell family and friends when you study so they won't bother you [so] much. Plan re what you hope to achieve during this time and stick to it. And don't forget to allow time for breaks.

It helps to know when you are best at studying...for me it's early morning, not late at night.

I found that I had problems retaining info as I got older so would think up my own personal mnemonics......hehehe

the idea about visual imagery is great so think about patients and relate to disease processes.

also made up flow charts with info for use as study cards

Best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by kiwideb

i find if you can relate whatever theory you are learning into some sort of visual image (or doing a tree type diagram), or relate it to a story that has happened in practice then it's most helpful. ie. when we did diabetes as a topic, i thought of somebody i had come across who had that condition and tried to encompass him into what theory i was learning about it.

and welcome!
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment