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I keep failing classes which are frustrating. I study hard, reading all the chapters, study the powerpoints and do nclex questions, but it does not help. What I am having a problem at is I do not know and understand how to apply concepts, and when I take the test I am down to 2 answers that look right, and not sure which one to pick. Please help. I have 4 kids and my teacher was thinking that was the issue but it is not. I am depressed and feel stupid at this point.

You are getting a lot of suggestions for studying. You said you were studying 6 hrs already. If that's each day, you are already studying too much. Start with your textbook and your lecture notes. Evaluate your understanding of the material and add extra judiciously. You never said whether or not you had a spouse or partner to help with your 4 kids. Do you?

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I was guilty of doing that too. I would study so much and have the information DOWN, and wake up the next morning clueless. I don't know which thread I read it on, but studying into the wee night hours is not beneficial because your brain will have less success in retaining the information. I appreciate your advice because this upcoming semester, I will follow a set schedule for studying.

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Here is what helped me graduate with honors. I depended on NCLEX quizlet. I really did not open any text book to read. I recorded every lecture (attended all classes), some instructors will set exams based on what they teach only, some will set exam directly from power-point but in nclex-style. So, knowing your instructor's way of setting exam is key. About quizlet, as a new NS I didn't understand nclex type of question so I needed exposure and learn on my own how to choose the correct answer. Quizlet was my life-saver and it had been my life-saver. I used quizlet to study for my RN-NCLEX that I took 2days ago and passed. I was the only student in my class who could pull out 100% in an exam. Why? Because of quizlet. Just additional note, sometimes the answers on quizlets are wrong, so you need to think deep and smart for your answers. You can google my quizlet folder "DEE7772015 quizlet"

Thanks for sharing this. I have been using quizlet since the start, glad to know it will help you on the NCLEX.

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.
I was guilty of doing that too. I would study so much and have the information DOWN, and wake up the next morning clueless. I don't know which thread I read it on, but studying into the wee night hours is not beneficial because your brain will have less success in retaining the information. I appreciate your advice because this upcoming semester, I will follow a set schedule for studying.

Thanx. Everyone is different but you can overdose on anything including studying. And I've had cohort mates who went crazy and bought the extra stuff to study for NCLEX. And they did well in school. NCLEX is not that hard. It's not the monster that Program Directors say it is.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

I'm an RN tutor at my school, and I have found this set of study tips to help a lot of students:

1. Study in 20 minute increments. It is scientifically proven that the brain tends to remember the first thing you study, the last, and a small portion of the middle. When you study for 3 straight hours, you may only retain what you studied for the first 5 minutes, the last 5 minutes, and a 5-minute portion from some random point in the middle. By studying for 20-minute bursts, you are more likely to remember everything you studied. Study, take a 30 minute break to do a chore, eat a snack, play a game with your kids, go for a walk, etc. If you only have 2 hours in a day to study, then at least switch up what you are studying: Copy lecture notes from med-surg for 20 minutes, watch a youtube video on a specific disease process for 20 minutes, listen to the lecture for 20 minutes, do a pharm quizlet for 20 minutes, etc.

2. Focus on your learning style. If you are auditory, then re-reading the material will not help you unless you read it out loud. Record the lectures and re-listen to them throughout the week. Watch a you-tube video, etc.

3. Get plenty of sleep. Short-term memory is converted to long-term memory when you sleep. If you don't get enough sleep, you will not retain the information that you need to remember! Believe it or not, it often helps to study less and sleep more!

4. That leads to #4. Do not "cram" for a test. You shouldn't even have to look at the material the night before a test, you should already be studying for the next test by that point. As soon as you are taught something, you should be studying and reviewing it. Because you need sleep to retain that info, cramming before a test will not do much good. Slow and steady wins the race.

5. Be active physically. This increases brain function! When you take one of your 20 minute breaks, do something active, even if it's just a walk around the block.

6. Color code your notes or create color-coded charts. This is another of those evidence-based concepts. The brain has a tendency to remember things that are color coded. If you are trying to learn different types of shock, for example, create a chart and color code each type of shock. Maybe pink for cardiogenic shock, orange for septic shock, yellow for anaphylactic shock, etc. And use colors that make sense for you. For example, when I did one for fluid-volume deficit, I used yellow because I connected dry-and-shriveled with yellow and then blue for fluid-volume overload because blue = water. I had one student say she used pink for deficit because it made her think overheated. Whatever makes sense for you.

7. In clinic, ask your instructor to connect you with patients struggling with the disease process that you are currently learning. You can read and listen to material about diabetes all day long, but when you actually take care of a patient with diabetes, assessing them, administering their meds, providing patient education, etc. it REALLY helps to solidify the in-class material. Every instructor that I've had has been willing to assign me patients with particular disease processes when I asked!

8. Teach someone else the material. You are 90% more likely to remember something from teaching it to someone else than just studying it yourself. Put together info on the topic and teach it to your kids or find a study-buddy that you can teach. You'll both benefit!

9. Believe in yourself and take care of yourself. Your brain functions more effectively when it is well rested, well fed, and made to think positive thoughts! You can do this!

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Thanx. Everyone is different but you can overdose on anything including studying. And I've had cohort mates who went crazy and bought the extra stuff to study for NCLEX. And they did well in school. NCLEX is not that hard. It's not the monster that Program Directors say it is.

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Interesting.. did you find that any questions from your studying resources were on the exam? Or was it totally new?

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.
Interesting.. did you find that any questions from your studying resources were on the exam? Or was it totally new?

I would equate NCLEX with ATI. Very similar.

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