i need help with studying

SunnyAndrsn · Nov 21, 2008

i'm in second semester RN school and i have about three weeks of school left and three more exams. i barely have enough time to read 150 pages in the next three days plus i have a seminar and then a cath video and an NGtube check off. i could kill someone right now with the stress i'm having. i'm breaking out in hives like mad and my legs are hurting so bad from sitting 10hrs constantly. yes i do take breaks and i do stretch but my legs still hurt and i keep stratching because of my hives! when i wake up i'm like a machine and just go. i'm tired nothing is sinking and there's so much information i can't swallow it in the short amount of time enough to pass. i am NOT passing right now and i have a 73% and i only need a 75% to pass the course but ugh........... i'm going crazy. please help me. what do i do?

Take the time to get some sleep, because without enough rest nothing is going to stick. Take an hour to do something besides studying--and spending time here doesn't count. Veg out, watch a TV sitcom, take to a friend about non-nursing stuff, play a game, walk the dog...you get the idea.

It's amazing what coming back with a refreshed mind can do for you.

Good luck.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2008

Welcome to the wonderful world of nursing school! I remember those days well; except for the hives. I was convinced I was developing pressure ulcers related to prolonged immobility.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 21, 2008

Nursing school sucks. I agree with the others. Get some sleep, take a hot bath, breathe. When you get to this point, you're right, nothing is sinking in. Do something fun, that has nothing to do with nursing!

Good Luck!

NewRN12109 · Nov 21, 2008

I agree with everyone else. Being tense and hurting isn't going to get you anywhere. I also came to the conclusion when I was in nursing school that there just is not enough time in the day to ready everything that they want you to read. You have to pick and choose. My instructors actually told me this. You need to read about what you are studying at the moment do not try to fit EVERYTHING in because you aren't going to be able to and you are going to burn out like you are on the verge of doing now. Set little goals everyday and when you hit those goals pack it in for the day thats it. Don't open the books again till the next day. It's hard but you CAN do it. Think of the end results thats what got me through.

samdombek · Nov 22, 2008

Here's something I wish I had done while in nursing school . . . get yourself an NCLEX review book. A previous edition is fine as long as it's fairly current; it doesn't have to be the up-to-the- minute edition.(I used Saunders when studying for my NCLEX, but any of them will do.) These study guides call out and highlight the most important information that is covered in your text. It's really great because even when you're not cramming for tests, you can just read along with the subject matter you're studying in school. If I had used an NCLEX study guide while I was in school, I think I could have saved myself a lot of stress and cut down on my textbook reading significantly. Hope this helps, and good luck!