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

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Hey guys I just wanted to get your perspective and kinda vent. I find myself studying everyday. I study the lectures right after class and expand my notes. I try to read some of the book to elaborate on the powerpoints. I study the objectives and I try to review at least everyday. I did saunders nclex questions and I do the questions on the back of each chapter of my book. And I also weight lift 4 times a week. Currently I'm taking med surge and I'm just not satisfied. How do you remember all the s/s, drugs, interventions. For the effort I put in I expect at least a low A, but no I barely make a B. I even looked at my VARK to see what kind of learner I am and it says I'm visual and auditory, I did the suggestions and still I don't get an A. Heck I even tried the Dominic O brien method LOL... I just feel lost. I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others, but when I ask around "what did you get," usually they would tell me "Oh I got a A and I only started Friday" when the exam was on Monday. I ask smart people how they study and I do the same but it doesn't work. I'm aspiring to be a CRNA and I know B's won't cut it. If I expect to chase this dream I need to change. I know this question has come out a lot, believe me I've researched, but if you are a "A" student or if you do pretty darn well in school generally, what exactly do you do? If possible elaborate as much as you can. Highlighting? rewriting notes? talk to yourself? study groups? I know some study techniques won't work with everyone but I just need to try anything lol. Sometimes i wish I had photographic memory :eek:

Someone else may have posted this but; you may be struggling with critical thinking skills. It's not something you learn over night. It takes practice. I use Test Success By Nugent to help prepare me for the first yr in nursing school. It's an awesome resource:

Amazon.com: Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students (9780803618947): Patricia M. Nugent, Barbara A. Vitale: Books

It helps you start thinking like a nurse. You'll get a better understanding of HOW to read questions, HOW to analyze the information in the question, and tons of practice questions relating to fundamental nursing skills. It also has a section that helps you analyze your test performance. You are studying but still getting certain answers wrong ...but why?? It is because you don't know the information? Is it because you can't recognize the distractors? This books will help you identify why you missed the right answer. Then, hopefully, you'll see a trend as to why you are getting the answers wrong.

Also, what is the best way for you to learn? I need to write things out in charts and outlines. I also need to see animations of things if they are available. Check this site out if you don't know what type of learning you style you have: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

Good Luck!

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If you are studying a lot...then your problem might be test taking skills. There are books that can help you.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
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.

This is the difference between the A's and the B's. The A's who 'don't study that much' are able to think and rationalize better. Memorizing will only ensure that you know all the information required to think through the answer. You can know every s/s of a disease and it's management, but if you do not know how to apply it to a clinical situation, and prioritize (and figure out what the best answer is), you will not excel. You can pass, but you will rarely see A's- unless your exams are all knowledge (ie regurgitation) questions.

This is why NCLEX review books are really a great way to study. If you go through enough questions, you're able to figure out what the key points are on specific topics, as well as the thought processes behind each rationale.

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Specializes in Orthopaedics, Med/Surg Acute Care.

I want to share two things with you: first, do you know what you call a med student who graduates dead last in med school? Doctor. Even if you aren't pulling A's it doesn't mean you won't pass nursing school and do well working as an RN in the real world. I earned B's in nursing school and then passed the NCLEX in only 75 questions because the computer shut off. Now I am doing the RN-to-BSN and getting almost all A's.

Secondly, most classes in high school and general college classes call for straight remembering answers to spit out on the tests. Nursing classes require you to apply what you are learning. The How and Why. When I was in nursing school many, many years ago I helped some fellow students by changing the way they looked at the material they were learning. In real life nursing is like Jepordary, the game show. You get the answers in the form of lab results, vitals, and such, and now you must work backwards to find why it's happening.

Also another way to look at it: if this is happening in the body, what do you expect to happen next? It is a linear approach, like a flow sheet. Is this happening - yes or no. What do you expect the body to do next? The body is a constantly changing thing. It tries to compensate for problems. Sometimes when it tries to compensate it helps, and sometimes it just makes things worse.

Congrats on the B's. You worked hard for them. Keep up the good work.

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I gave up on A's, figured out that if I'm studying for A's and getting B's/A-'s than so be it. I'm not going to stress about a GPA on top of everything else I have to stress about.

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wow thank you guys a lot..it really put things into perspective. I just got my exam back and I got another B haha. I'm really beginning to think its the way I critical think. When I took a look at what I got wrong, I KNEW the information, I just didn't know how to apply it. I study so much and sometimes I just get discouraged that I'll never make an A on any of the exams. I'm always a "B" student. I HATE those people who say they only study 3 days before and get A's omg..****** me off...seriously. I'm in medsurg now, and its HARD! I wish I could IMPROVE my critical thinking skills -_-..

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Specializes in NICU.

Seriously, if you're getting Bs on your exams, you're obviously absorbing a good amount of the info. I wouldn't stress myself out because I'm not making the almighty-A. While I often am an A student, I've been fine with getting Bs, especially in the more difficult classes.

As far as critically thinking--start with your ABCs and then your Maslow's hierarchy. Then move on to understanding the patho of the dz of the month. What makes each disease or malfunction special?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
wow thank you guys a lot..it really put things into perspective. I just got my exam back and I got another B haha. I'm really beginning to think its the way I critical think. When I took a look at what I got wrong, I KNEW the information, I just didn't know how to apply it. I study so much and sometimes I just get discouraged that I'll never make an A on any of the exams. I'm always a "B" student. I HATE those people who say they only study 3 days before and get A's omg..****** me off...seriously. I'm in medsurg now, and its HARD! I wish I could IMPROVE my critical thinking skills -_-..

Have you ever considered that you're studying TOO much? The instructors in my program advise us to only study in 2 hour stretches. Study for two hours, take a break, come back, study two more hours. But never more than 4 hours in a day.

And you really should stop worrying about when other people start studying and what grades they get. Seriously. It has no bearing on you and it's not going to make your grades any better or worse. Who knows if they are even telling the truth.

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