How do you study?

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How do you study?

I am usually a flashcard fanatic (you should see the stacks I have from.. it's quite the accomplishment) however as we get more and more material at one time (like the endocrine system which caused me to make this post).. flashcards seem to take more time than they are useful.

Maybe I'm waiting too long to try to make them or maybe I am making them the wrong way. I don't know.

I have never been the type to just 'read' and get it. Especially in my ap2 class, my professor is not a good lecturer at all.

What works for you? Is there a book or website that you swear by?

What didn't work for you?

I guess studying is kind of a self-taught habit so I'm interested in what others do.

Thanks!

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Hey all-

Just in case anyone was interested, the book titled "Test Success" (test taking techniques for beginning nursing students) is a great resource. The authors are Patricia Nugent and Barbara Vitale. It has tons of practice questions and explains things like rationales, critical thinking and how to master multiple choice questions in nursing school. It has helped me immensely and thought I would share the info with you!!

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Specializes in LTC.

I LOVE NCLEX questions! My classmates know they can count on me to bring at least 2 NCLEX books to study groups.

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Specializes in Sub acute (ortho/rehab).

I (try) to do as much of the reading before lecture as possible so you can ask your teachers any questions about anything that you are unsure of when you go over it in class. Then, after lecture I recopy my notes and use my book to fill in anything that I may have missed in lecture. I try to incorporate concept maps to my notes because I CAN NOT try and memorize everything (Anatomy almost killed me). But if I can see how everything is related it makes it much easier to conceptualize (which is most likely what you are going to be tested on anyways... not just regurgitation of the facts)... and then I pray and have a nice big glass of wine after the tests

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I type up my notes now and carry them with me EVERYWHERE. I read everything twice in my books/manuals/modules and highlight. I then get in a group of fellow nursing students and we throw questions at each other that might be on the test.

I also use the book CD and websites to clarify and get additional practice questions.

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Split it up! Don't try to learn a concept all in ONE day. Memory just doesn't seem to work well that way...

Rotate subjects and take breaks. Be sure to revisit the subject on another day, retention will come.

If a concept involves a list of components - such as rights of medication- then learn it, don't just keep reading or it'll all be a blob of ambiguous data.

There is no magic formula, studying is work.

So stop reading forums and go read that chapter (and take notes as you go).

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I am relatively new to the forum and wanted to question the average amount of time it takes to prepare for the NCLEX RN Exam. I do understand that everyones schedule is different and some have better study habits than others. With that said, can anyone tell me the average time they feel it will take to be preparred to take the test. Any input would be greatly apppreciated.

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I take the NCLEX next week. I've been studying since May 2007 when I started NS (ABSN). Every exam we had in every course had NCLEX style questions, so those of us who wanted to do well took our instructors' advice and started working questions from day one in pharm. I amped up the studying last Jan, when we took MS 1-2. I did about 1000 questions for each MS exam - I have many, many NCLEX books. We had to take a HESI subject exam in each of our core courses, so again, we had to be quite good at answering that type of question. In July, we took our final exit HESI - required to graduate - and were required to take Kaplan during the summer semester. That was another few thousand, plus I did all the comprehensive exams in all my NCLEX books. I graduated in August, and I've actually been slacking off - I only do about 100 questions a day for review. Now that the exam is close, I'm doing 3-400/day for the last week. What I'm not doing is going back to my textbooks or class notes and actually reviewing and material - the questions show me what I know and don't know, and keep my critical thinking skills working well.

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I LOVE NCLEX questions! My classmates know they can count on me to bring at least 2 NCLEX books to study groups.

When you all are talking about NCLEX books... are there specific ones you recommend?

I am just starting nursing school next month and bought the Comprehensive review for the NCLEX-PN.

Is that the type of thing you guys study from?

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