I need better study habbits....HELP!

[lovelyhelper23]

I taking NCLEX in March and I am starting to freak out and lose sleep of how stressed I feel. I start my orientation FEB 15 and plan to take my test the 2nd week or March, but I know that once I start work I will have less time to study. I have the Saunders 4th edition and find it helpful for review....the only problem is that I find myself studying one body system (1 CHapter in the Saunders book) for 3 days. I am still doing 100 questions a day no matter what, but I find myself studying all day and feel like I'm spending way too much time studying one system. The Saunders' CD made a schedule for me (to complete in 6 weeks), the only problem is that it's telling me to do like 2-3 chapters a day and I honestly do not know how I can study these 2-3 chapters in ONE DAY when i can barely finish 1 chapter in a day. I took the Martin's review and found the material helpful and I also have a Kaplan's and ATI book that reviews information, so I also find myself studying with 4 different books because each one says something in addition to what the original book said. From reading many of the posts here, a lot of people just pass by doing questions and reading rationales, but I get discouraged when I get 60% on the exams and feel like I do not know anything. I know I shouldn't doubt myself too much because I did well in nursing school with A's and B's, but it's hard for me not to doubt. I also wish I could study only 4-5 hours of the day like most people do, but between studying and doing NCLEX questions I am up until 2 am each day! :uhoh3:I definately feel like I'm buring out and I havn't even taken the test yet. I want nothing else but to be a nurse and pass this test on the first time....please HELP!!!!

[Christina10]

Well I can't offer much help I am still in school. I graduate this May and I am sure I will feel the stress and anxiety you are feeling at this moment. Everyone that I have talked to this far recommends doing thousands of questions. You sound a lot like me and you feel obligated to read and study each chapter in the review books, but you will waste so much time and energy. Doing several questions will help you focus on your weaker points and you can study from there. From what I hear prioritzation questions are key on the NCLEX.

Keep up your hard work, use all the books but answer the questions. Check what your getting wrong and do quick reviews. Do not spend hours reading each chapter you will get burned out

[caliotter3]

Stick with one book. Contradicting information that can confuse you is the reason people give this advice. If it takes you two days to do one chapter, it takes you two days. Stop stressing, keep on keeping on. That means doing as many questions as possible, and studying the rationales. If you don't feel that you have it together, then reschedule. But don't schedule it further than three months out. Good luck.

[lovelyhelper23]

Thank you for the responses...I will definitely take them into consideration.