How can i succeed?

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I am a 25 yr. old nursing student in a diploma program, i finally finished by first year! I have been average in my studies, 85% but i want to do better and i have the desire to do better but i do not know where to really to begin. The next semester starting in July is suppose to be very difficult (MEDSURG) A I want to be better than an 85% student. I have bought a study guide to go along with my med-surg book and i plan on working thru it this summer before classes start (is it to soon?) I want to be the best i can possibly be throughout the rest of this program. Can anyone give me any pointers to finish out this program!!!!!

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Honestly, I think working at it through summer is too soon. I would imagine that you would forget a lot of it over the summer.

What worked for me is reading the material prior to class, during class ask questions and after class re read the material or review the notes. Also, review your notes from time to time. This really seemed to cement the material in my head. And of course for exams, start studying 5 days or so prior to the exam. Also, don't study longer than 50 minutes or so without taking a short break. Some people also benefit from doing some studying as a group to tease out the things they don't fully understand. And, if you don't understand something, go to office hours.

If you are already doing all of this, I would look into the quality of your study time. Are you focused on the material? Do you zone out? Do you have anxiety during test taking or studying which is interfering with retaining the material?

You should not have to spend your summer studying for material for next semester. Focus on school when the semester starts. Focus on your job and having fun during the summer.

Good luck

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Specializes in Float.

If your school allows you to record purchase a really good digital recorder (I had the Olympus that pulls apart, stick it in your USB and copy to your computer) I started doing this my last semester and had the best grades I'd had of all the semesters. I would sit and listen on my computer while following along with my notes. I would pause and read through applicable sections of the book to get a more thorough understanding. This allowed me to REALLy pick up on things the teacher would stress that I missed the first time.

I'm NOT an auditory learner and have a hard time really paying attention in class, especially when they go really fast. This way I could take the lecture more at my own speed and break it into more managable parts. When I would come to certain points on the test I could recall in my mind certain things the teacher said. Worked really well...wish I had done it my whole program! lol

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.

Not recommended!

Since you have no idea who will be your professor...unless you have the course outline...studying during the summer time will only "destroying" your fun time in the summer.

Just enjoy it...Life is short.

Good luck.

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Thank you all for your replies, i will take everything you've said into consideration.( I will rest this summer ;) ) Where can i purchase the olympus digital recorder from? How much do they cost and can i save the lectures to my computer?

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Specializes in Float.

Hey girl..

I got mine at BestBuy. It was $99 in the store, but $89 online so they pricematched it in the store. Yes, it pulls apart and plugs into the USB port. I just created a folder on my computer called "lectures" and I just copied them from the Olympus folder off the recorder to that folder and renamed the file from the long number the recorder gave it to something like "Ms Johnson's Shock Lecture" etc. Very quick and easy. They open right up in Media Player. I liked listening to them this way because for me it was easier to forward through the breaks and stuff than it was on the recorder.

I also kept a pack of extra batteries with me at school. I used maybe 3 or 4 during the entire semester. Not too bad..I think it was just one Triple A battery. Usually I ended up replacing it because I'd go off and leave my recorder on the podium and run the battery down by the time I got back into the class to retrieve it lol.

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thank you.

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Get a really good NCLEX review book that has rationales and breaks it down by area of learning as well as subject matter. This will help you study and learn and see the whys and whats as well as help you with test taking. I use them all semester along with the assigned readings. I also purchase the study guides that go with the textbooks if they have them- these have helped immensely. I think you will get a lot out of that as well as the taping lectures if they let you.

Drexel University puts out a study set that you can get CD audios (21 total) and also they have it on DVD. It is their five day nclex review seminar. I paid $200 for it and it came with a study book that was awesome and not just questions but reviews and outlines as well. The book came with a test CD and then there was another CD with even more test questions so I literally have thousands of questions for review if I want to! I have not used the book yet but I play the audio CD's in the car, while doing housework and while going to sleep I put it on repeat and it plays all night long. You really do absorb things this way!

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You can pre-read a bit too, get a nclex book, just amke sure you take a few days to re-charge

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

1st - Quit stressing about grades. Remember that C + NCLEX = nurse.

2nd - Don't study harder; study smarter. I used to outline the appropriate chapter of the book and insert the lecture material in the appropriate places. That way, I had all the material for the topic all in the same set of notes!

3rd - Learn to take GOOD lecture notes. Every instructor I have ever had gave numerous "hints" about what they considered important in the topic. What they consider important WILL be what is tested.

The digital recorder suggestion is a great one, IF your instructor(s) allow them and IF your classroom environment is conducive to using one. They were "outlawed" at my NS d/t a student using one to "prove" that an instructor gave a different answer (an incorrect one) in lecture to the one in the textbook. This lecture material caused several students to flunk an important test because the instructor constructed the test and answers from the textbook. The hue and cry that erupted from this sent shockwaves thru the school, resulting in calls to the State Legislature and several threatened lawsuits. (So what did they do? Credited back the points for the test answers and ban recorders - bureaucratic butt covering; the student can take a flying freak at a rolling donut!)

Don't waste what little down-time you get over the summer in pursuit of a few extra points on the GPA. I have NEVER been asked in a job interview what my grades were like.

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I know that my school allows and encourages recorders, so I just ordered an Olympus 2100-PC from amazon for abour $50. I like to look there b/c you can read reviews from other buyers. I haven't used it yet, but it seemed like the best deal on there in my price range. If you get one, make sure it has the -PC after the model number if you want to transfer files to your computer. You can still play it back from the machine of course, so just get one that fits your needs/price range.

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.

Actually, some employers do ask for the GPA's...but they are minority...

But who cares...there are so many jobs out there...if you don't take me, I will go to another place.

The most important thing is your license.

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