How to study!?

truckinusa, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 16, 2012

Hey there everyone,I am finished with my pre reqs for nursing school! Finally! I am in fundamentals of nursing right now and it doesn't have clinical yet, its just a 3 hour lecture. Next semester I start clinicals. Anyways, I am trying to study for my exams but I'm confused on how to study for these. In my science pre reqs I studied by using flash cards and it helped a lot. I am a visual learner so sitting in lecture isn't too beneficial for me. A lot of people are telling me fundamentals is more about learning the concept of the material, but how do you study for concepts? I bought the test success book to help me learn to think critically. My class is using the perry and potter book. I really need help with studying. Its not really registering in my head and even if I know definitions and terms, I feel I am wasting my time studying the terms since the exam questions are going to be nclex.I'm just scared I'm wasting all this time preparing for the test and feel like none of the material I study will be on the test the way I study them. I'm having trouble breaking down the info and I need some advice! Helppp!

Sounds like same school I go to! Not very confident I'm going to be successful. It really sucks.

justinpark09, MSN, RN · Sep 16, 2012

Pls read and UNDERSTAND the terms. Then, u apply what u Understand on the test. It works for me. Don't try to memorize too much coz its impossible for u to memorize everything. However, for Pharm. you have to MEMORIZE (side effect, adverse effect, contraindications) of important drugs ( a lot).

edatri · Sep 16, 2012

If your instructor is doing NCLEX style exams, then what worked for me was less in the studying (although you do need to know the material backwards and forwards) but more in the way I took the test. During the test I underlined or circled all the important information in the question and the answers. Missing one key word can totally change the answer. Then, although the test was multiple choice, I scribbled next to each choice WHY it was wrong or right. This helped me visualize the "best" answer. I ended up with a 98% on my first exam, so it must have worked. :)

traumanurse2b? · Sep 19, 2012

If your instructor is doing NCLEX style exams, then what worked for me was less in the studying (although you do need to know the material backwards and forwards) but more in the way I took the test. During the test I underlined or circled all the important information in the question and the answers. Missing one key word can totally change the answer. Then, although the test was multiple choice, I scribbled next to each choice WHY it was wrong or right. This helped me visualize the "best" answer. I ended up with a 98% on my first exam, so it must have worked. :)

^This! I'm in a pre nursing/nursing assistant course for my BSN program right now (regular classes start in January) and our tests are NCLEX style. Several people have struggled adjusting to the new style, but you can do it. Try not to read the question and say "okay this is what I would do." Read it and then read all of your answers. Think of each answer as a possible scenario/problem/solution/etc. And whether or not each answer will work given your question. You still need to study because you obviously need to know the information in order to formulate an answer but try not to over analyze the answers or questions. Several of our tests have had very fuzzy answers given and i didn't necessarily agree with my options for the answers so i just went with the one that was the MOST correct. Good luck :)