New nursing student

Lexirunner · Jan 31, 2012

I'm also in fundamentals. I study the material like I would have studied for A&P or Micro... learn all the vocab and any points my instructor has highlighted or emphasized. My textbook has NCLEX style questions in the chapter reviews. I find those really helpful in transitioning what I studied to a more "nursing-oriented" application of the knowledge. Hope that helps!

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Feb 1, 2012

Get yourself one of the 'success' books (from Davis I think). They basically have test questions that are critical thinking type of questions. It will help you prepare for the exams that you will see. I think there are 'success' books for all courses in nursing, they help me prep for exams.

Clovery · Feb 1, 2012

Make sure you are taking good notes in class. Get a highlighter or colored pens and draw attention to the concepts that your instructor keeps emphasizing. Do the questions at the ends of the chapters and in your study guide if you have one. Get an NCLEX review book w/ CD. I really like Saunders because the CD is great - you can choose the subject area, view the rationales, and test-taking strategy tips for each question. It will really help you to prepare for the style of questions that will be on your exams. For things that are purely memorization - like lab values and medications - make notecards and drill yourself. For the conceptual type information it really helps to read it, re-read it, put it in your own words, then do questions based on it. Most test questions you encounter won't simply ask you "what is sickle cell anemia? A, B, or C?" They will ask you to use critical thinking and apply what you know about sickle cell. So make sure you are not studying "isolated facts" and focus more on the big picture.

jsouder0004 · Feb 1, 2012

Thanks guys it really does help, I have been highlighting and writing excellent notes ( instructor even said so) and studying my butt off between reading and answering the practice questions at the end of the chapter. I guess I just was hoping that I was missing something that would make it more clear but thats nursing i guess, its all grey material and pretty much nothing is black and white like A & P.

fmxkrazyone · Feb 1, 2012

When I would study for nursing tests it would seem like I wasn't retaining any information, but if you keep going over it again and again and again, when it comes time to take the test, the information is there, you just have to apply it. It's more than just knowing that the patient has this disease, you have to understand how they got it, what it will do, how to get rid of it and what to do about it all while keeping the patient safe..lol. It really is a whole new language. I used NCLEX study guides to help study for tests and would often find the same questions from the study guides on the tests so I would recommend that because nursing school is all about preparing you for the NCLEX and it's a good idea to start now because it's always evolving. Good luck and keep up the hard work!

aalvar82 · Feb 1, 2012

Do you know what kind of learner you are (audio, visual, kinesthetic)? That would help narrow it down to some options more likely to work for you. I'm an audio/visual learner and ever since A&P I know what works for me. I use the book as my primary source, highlight as I go and right my notes in the book. When I go back I read just what I've highlighted, and if something really jumps out as important I underline it. I may have to make flash cards to help me remember certain terms and to memorize steps for certain procedures but that's it. The most important thing besides the book is to do the "Nclex type" questions that come with the textbook (CD, or registering your text online). My particular book also comes with a "success" companion book and it is nothing but those type of critical thinking Nclex questions. You should be able to make a general outline of each chapter and be able to explain the concepts and material within those sections after studying them for a while. Hope this helps-good luck.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Feb 1, 2012

Don't wait until a few days before or worse, the night before. I suggest reviewing everything you went over in lecture after class and then again later that day. Making flashcards helped me as well as rewriting my notes, even though the latter was tedious at times. Invest in an NCLEX book - I recommend either Saunders or Reviews & Rationales - and do questions based on what you are learning in class. Good luck!