I study a lot and I end up with B's...help -_-..how do you study?!!!!

itsmejuli · Oct 13, 2010

I'm generally an A student. I study the same way you do, but probably not as much. But I don't stress about making As nor about excelling in school. Maybe that's your problem, you're putting too much stress on yourself and getting yourself anxious.

How do you do on the exams? Do you know the answers but select the wrong one? Do you change your answers? Do you read the question slowly and fully comprehend it?

mmgirlsmom · Oct 13, 2010

I just posted something similar to this. I have passed all of my test so far. Took a test last night and passed with B but though for sure I did much better than that. I studied, felt very well prepared but I guess on some of the questions I answered I didn't pick the "best answer". I feel your pain. We have already lost about 4 or 5 people so I guess I just have to consider myself lucky that I am actually passing and still in the program. It sucks!!!

gtrebyari · Oct 14, 2010

I usually get B's or High B's, never A's. I do know the answers I get wrong, and generally they are really answers I do know but like I didn't apply the information in a way I could remember, I just studied word for word not really absorbing the information. I Never go back to change my answers as I've heard that usually the first answer is the right one. Maybe I didn't read the question slowly .

But i really do appreciate your guys feedback. Thanks so much.

Ash24 · Oct 14, 2010

I experienced this same problem! My study method had always been strictly memorization but in nursing you have to know what it is, what causes it, s/s, interventions etc.. Some of the things that worked for me included notecards, I recorded each lecture and listened 2 them in the car, while exercising basically anytime I was able to, I also found it helpful to join a study group. In the front of your saunders book there should be some test taking strategies that should really help, for example always eliminate the 2 answers that are similar and usually if 2 answers are the exact opposite one will usually be the correct answer..hope I could be of some help! Most importantly before your tests don't put so much pressure on yourself, u will sike yourself out of that A! GOOD LUCK! (pay attention to how your teacher tests..do most Q's come from study guide, notes, lecture) that helped me ALOT!!

gtrebyari · Oct 14, 2010

Ya i know how the hell am I suppose to remember all those s/s if they are all similar. I don't know isn't note cards pretty time consuming? I record the lecture as well...i have a Pulse pen ( i know i'm desperate lol). Yah i'm pretty discouraged looking at that saunders book as I barely got a B on the last exam . I like that hint there...I always narrow down to 2 i hate that...usually i don't ever pick "Only, never" answers. You know what ****** me off...I talked to other students and some said that 50 percent of the questions was from the cd in the back of the book...I WAS ******! We just got our exams back and I review the things I got wrong...and jeesh I think I was just off that day or something..maybe because I wasn't chewing gum or didn't eat LOL idk?

Thank you so much and yes it does help a lot...its just that idk I have some people in my class who don't do as much as me and they ALWAYS score higher than me...idk I guess because I always thought high grades meant being more successful in life.

Anymore suggestions from you smart people who get A's all the time? Do you study everyday? How do I improve critical thinking....is there a book for that HAHA?

thx sorry just stressed -_-

itsmejuli · Oct 14, 2010

I do homework of some kind just about every day for a few hours. I don't do any homework on weekends because I work 12 hour shifts both Sat and Sun.

In class I listen to the lecture, follow the powerpoint and text book and jot down highlights and page numbers to refer to. Then I read the book and write my notes. After that I'll review the Saunders NCLEX cd.

I don't let school assignments get me overwhelmed. When papers are assigned I don't procrastinate, I get those done and out of the way so I have time to study for exams.

check out this post I made on step by step directions for answering NCLEX style test questions:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/please-help-i-509939.html#post4582145

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 14, 2010

I am a nursing faculty member -- and was always a good student. I recommend reading the textbook and reviewing the objectives BEFORE lecture to get an overview of the topic, identify areas that might be particularly challenging, etc. Then, you are in a position to get the most benefit from the lecture, using it to clarify the more challenging content, ask questions, etc. You should leave the lecture with all of your questions about the content answered (because you have already read the book).

That way, your studying for the test does not have to involve the learning of any more material or figuring anything out. It becomes the review of material you already know and practice in applying it to situations, case studies, scenarios, etc.

Students who wait until after lecture to read the textbook receive less benefit from the lecture because they are hearing the information for the first time. They haven't thought about the topic yet ... don't have their thoughts organized in any way ... don't know what they should focus on ... don't know what questions need clarified ... etc. They start off that module "behind" and spend their time trying to catch up. Get ahead on your reading and it will give you the opporunity to use your test study time for true review and application practice.

Any student who comes to my lectures not having already the material is going to be at a disadvantage because I assume they have done a little preparation BEFORE class. Maybe that would help some of you who are struggling with your classes.

Ash24 · Oct 15, 2010

lol IKR, it's ALOT of info! Well at least now u know your teacher pulls Q's from the saunders book, now u can start reviewing those also before each test..notecards don't work for every1 they helped me with memorization b/c they allowed me to read it write it then read it again and they allow you to focus on that one specific topic and the main points(I sometimes got discouraged from reading out of the book, put me in sensory overload after a while lol) I also agree with the person above me, reading before class is very helpful..make sure to review each test and figure out what u did wrong, schedule an appt with your teacher for some advice..sounds 2 me like u are already doing everything an A student does I just think your putting to much stress on yourself, make sure your not looking to much into subjects, u will overload your brain with so much unneccessary stuff that u are not focusing on the main points, trust me been there done that lol..some people are just good test takers, so don't worry about the one's who are doing better than you b/c in the end the most important thing is retaining all of that info, not just making a good grade!!

shortnorthstudent · Oct 15, 2010

Definitely check and see what is available at your school to help you study more effectively. My school has supplemental instruction 3x a week, programs on the computers in the nursing lab to help learn to answer NCLEX tests, assistance with organizing your time for study, etc. Lots of options out there to help.

I have found the Test Success book to be incredibly helpful in learning how to read the questions and weed through the answers.

As for my studying, I spend a minimum of 2 hours per hour of class every week studying. I have my days scheduled with 4 hour chunks of studying done in 45 min study, 15 min break segments. The day before lectures I outline my chapters. I don't fully read every word, but outline them. This gives me a leg up on lecture. The night of lecture, I take the powerpoints, my outline and any notes I made and combine them and rewrite. Actually, I type it and know it might be more effective to write, but I just don't have the time and that much writing hurts my hands. Then I spend a couple of hours each preparing for seminar, skills lab and clinical.

I make flash cards for unfamiliar vocabulary, lab values and processes, etc. Things I can cart around in my purse to review when I have a few minutes. I put 15 or 20 cards in and review those. As I learn them, I remove them and add more. I also record my lectures and listen to them while I'm sitting at my childrens' sports practices and in the car driving to clinical, etc.

Anyway, take what I say with a grain of salt. I've only taken 1 nursing exam (got a 96% on it). However, I studied similarly for all of my classes in the past and the only mar on my GPA is a B in statistics that I took online.

Despareux · Oct 15, 2010

Have you used your books resources? We have e-books that have material only available online or through e-book content. Those extras are very helpful.

I don't know about you, but the amount of reading can be grueling at times, and it can also be very repetitive from one book to another. So for me, additional study material, outside of reading, is always a bonus.

I WAS an A student. This is my first semester of NS and I just got a B on my first exam. I was extremely bummed and it completely lowered my confidence. But it is apparent that I need to change my study technique, so this last test has been a learning experience for me.

jc3015 · Oct 15, 2010

I was a 3.8 GPA student going into my LPN program and pulled straight As. Then I went into the ADN program. Different beast, altogether. I was studying way more and barely managing mid-Bs. However, when we took the ATI exams for each class at the end of the semester, I was doing level 3s on each, so I felt a lot better. I got a high score on my mock-NCLEX exam, needed to exit the program. I was doing moderate on the class exams, but doing much better on the actual "thinking" exams. I think those will be the most important. Can you apply what you know? j.