How do you study?

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This is a pretty broad question. I know "just do it..." But do you read and take notes? Flash cards? I start NS in August and want to get some opinions and find what works best for me being in NS. For memorizing I usually use flash cards and that works pretty well for me. But for learning theories and processes and whatnot, what do you feel works the best for you?

Do you study the same as you did in pre-reqs? How have you changed your study habits?

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

I'm not in NS yet but thought I'd share my techniques.

If possible, I try to pre-read the texts, or as much of them as I can. I've foudn this REALLY helps me. Even if I end up reading them along with the class, I still highlight those areas which I find to be important (which is usually a lot). Then, I got back over the chapter and type out notes based on what I higlighted.

By the time a test comes along, I've gotten the information at least 3 times: in class/taking notes (which I also type out), reading the chapter, typing out notes from the chapter.

I'll then read over the class notes and book notes I've typed out, along wth any charts/diagrams that need to be learned as well.

Some may say this is overkill, but when I getting my BA in psychology, once I started this my grades went went mostly B's to A's and B+'s with a few B's.

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I'm not in NS yet but thought I'd share my techniques.

If possible, I try to pre-read the texts, or as much of them as I can. I've foudn this REALLY helps me. Even if I end up reading them along with the class, I still highlight those areas which I find to be important (which is usually a lot). Then, I got back over the chapter and type out notes based on what I higlighted.

By the time a test comes along, I've gotten the information at least 3 times: in class/taking notes (which I also type out), reading the chapter, typing out notes from the chapter.

I'll then read over the class notes and book notes I've typed out, along wth any charts/diagrams that need to be learned as well.

Some may say this is overkill, but when I getting my BA in psychology, once I started this my grades went went mostly B's to A's and B+'s with a few B's.

I just finished my first semester. Not sure if the tests are the same in all schools. I found that no matter how much I studied the results were the same. You are tested on "what you will do as a nurse" so understand the body systems and disease processes that will effect your patient...BUT at this point don't try and study too much pathology. Our tests threw people for a loop because they studied the book to much and didn't connect it to real life. I believe we need to know these things but in the beginning it's learning the nursing proccess and prioritizing. You sound like you are dedicated so you will do well! Good luck!

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Depending on how your program works, you may not have time to do any reading (except to clarify something that you didn't understand). Are you doing a traditional or accelerated program?

I prefer to make study guides based on my lecture notes and then once I have that info down, I do practice NCLEX questions that have rationales for the answers (why is the "best" right answer better than the other right answers that were choices).

With time shortages, I generally write out questions where sections of my notes will be the answers. (When I had time during pre-reqs, I would write out the questions and the answers in a two-column "flash-table" format where each line of the table has a question in the left column and then the answer to that question(s) in the right column, similar to a bunch of flashcards, but I never have to worry about losing a card and I can search the files for a particular topic.)

Sometimes, it helps to organize the information into tables or mnemonics for easier recall of related info. Even if I can't remember the specific fact that the application question is asking about, I might be able to use some related stuff that I can remember to jog my memory about the fact(s) that are in the application question. I often use my dry erase board for this kind of "grouping" trial.

I write related info on a big dry erase board (either huge wall size one at the library or in a classroom or a 2' x 3' one at home) and I can easily move the parts around until I see a "big picture." I copy down that "big picture" on paper so that in the future (either later that study session or even days/weeks into the future) I can try to recreate it. The prompt for "big picture" might be something as basic as "tell me about vision" (but the "big picture" is a really detailed retelling of everything that's in my notes about vision) or it be more detailed like "Diabetes - include types & their characteristics, Assessment for each type, diagnosis of each type, sign/symptoms of each type, treatment, potential complications of diabetes, nursing interventions, patient teaching."

To learn the material, I like to write out the answers to the questions on a dry erase board, using one color of marker to write out my answers and another to fill in missing info or to correct info. For "big" questions -- like that diabetes one, I might start with just one part,writing it out a couple times (say the types & their characteristics) then I would write out the next part (say assessment), then erase it all. Rewrite both of those sections then add a 3rd section. Erase it all, rewrite the first 3 sections and add a 4th and so on. I try to write the info in the same relative positions, sometimes I add a quick cartoon drawing or barely related "picture words" -- like "Easter Egg" that technically has nothing to do with anything but does have some meaning (in my warped mind) which gives me an image to help associate some of the facts with for later recall. By writing the info in the same general position, if I can't remember one particular part, but I can remember another, I can mentally start going through my big picture where I remember different sections/position of the drawing until eventually that jogs my memory about the specific part the question is about.

There's always more info than I can learn in the time allotted, particularly since I need to make sure I get in some practice NCLEX question time, so sometimes the hardest part is to decide which parts to learn before moving on to the practice questions.

I'm going to try to attach a couple of my study guides from when I was in my pre-reqs and had time for flash-tables instead of just lists of questions/cues.

Chapter 9 Study Questions - Muscular System.docx

Chapter 20 Study Guide - Blood.docx

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Specializes in Public Health.

such dedication. ^^^ I got B's in fundies and pharm but if i hadn't insisted on having a life, i could've gotten A's. I have found that is the biggest difference in grades. Life vs no life-study-all-day. If you have kids, a job, a spouse then prepare for no life. Otherwise read and review with the tenacity this one ^^ has shown and it will be a breeze!

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I wish I still had time for fancy study guides, but now-a-days, the questions/prompts are more like the two examples I gave above, where the prompt is pretty broad and the "answer" is about 4-6 pages of my notes. Ah, for the days when I had time for full-blown study guides...little did I know those were the golden years, LOL.

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