Nursing study groups - anyone NOT find them helpful?

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I'm reading an optional text book now entitled "Test Success for Beginning Nursing Students". I'm only on the 2nd chapter, but there are a lot of references to studying with others and nursing study groups.

I've always studied best on my own. I'm open to the idea of a study group, but I don't want to have to make a special trip to school or anything for it (I live an hour away, one way).

Did anyone not find them helpful? I can see exchanging thoughts and ideas during or before/after class or clinicals, but I'm hesitant to change my entire way of learning. I also don't want to join one, then have to back out if we are assigned partners or something.

I'd love to know everyone else's thoughts and experiences with them.

Where I can find a good source for LPN test---perhaps I can be sure that I'll see at least 30% to 50% word for word from the actual test?

I have taken the LPN test 3 times--still not able to pass--I need some help--any one who can help me, please reply back.

Thanks,

Saintanor

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
i definetely prefer to study alone. the worst thing for me is right before an exam when people start asking each other last minute questions and everyone has a different answer! :uhoh21: i actually leave the room so i don't get confused.

couldn't have said it better. i find myself looking for a place to hide. other students used to think i was a social snob or something. my lowest test grade was when i got sucked into a group studying immediately before a test.

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Specializes in ICU.

Everything that I have read about studying "surviving" nursing school has always said to study with a group. I am leery about this also because there is ALWAYS a slacker in the group. The conversation can easily convert to something other than what is supposed to be studied.

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I am so happy to hear that I'm not the only one who prefers to study alone. I've read so many posts declaring how indispensible these groups can be that I was more than a little worried. Not only do I study better alone, but the idea of trying to squeeze in a study group into an already packed schedule just stresses me out.

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Specializes in CCRN.

For what it's worth, I study on my own and with a group. My grades and the grades of the others have increased greatly. You must be very conscience of who you allow into the group. It has been my experience that those who do bring the group to a halt eventually stop coming. Could be I make sure we stay on task. Our current study group consists of four students, 1 18 years old, 1 21 years old, I 32 years old and I'm 39. I have found it is great to talk through the points of assessment one of us may not be clear on, or someone's way of learning certain systems. We all do our reading in advance, each one of us taking a section of the assigned readings, and we then teach the others what is in that section. This has been wonderful as there is SOOO much reading assigned. Don't get me wrong, I still read everything, but do not feel overwhelmed if I must skim the chapters that they teach me. As far as scheduling times to meet, we are all dedicated to succeding in this nursing venture and have designated two times a week that we meet. Everyone has just set aside that time each week for study.

I also read the same book and found it very helpful. We have incorporated underlining the true question asked and scratching off unimportant info in the questions.

Just find what works for you and stick with it. School is stressful enough as it is.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... I've always studied best on my own. I'm open to the idea of a study group, but I don't want to have to make a special trip to school...

I'm there.

Don't think a group is the most efficient way to learn. I may pick up something quickly, but someone else may get hung on it and need more time... and vice versa.

Believe the reason groups are important in nursing school is not so much to actually study together, but to divy up the long assignments and then share outlines, etc.

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I have to say that when I started nursing school I studied alone always and learned best this way. Then the material got harder and my grades got lower. I had to change my way of studying. I started studying with only two other people who were also serious about studying. We drilled each other. We all brought different NCLEX books and used these to throw questions out at each other. I also met a lady while working that writes questions for NCLEX and I will copy my notes and give them to her two weeks before a test and she makes up questions for me. A study group only works if it's only a few people who are just as serious as you. More than three people is too many. As you get further along in the program, you will realize that you need different rationalization from others. I got so stuck in my own rationale that I was missing test questions. When I started studying with my two buddies they would give me their rationale and it made sense. My test scores improved greatly. You will quickly find that in nursing school you will have to learn in a new way that you never did before. I have changed my way of studying 3 times since I started the program. So my advice is to start out doing what has worked best for you in the past but as soon as your grades start to drop change your way of studying. Also you have to study on your own for several weeks before you do a study group. You can't just show up to a study group and be like OK teach me. If you know the material before you start studying with a group, those opinions from others will help greatly. I can't tell you how many times one of my friends caught something in their notes that I never looked twice at and it would be on the test and vice versa. If it wasn't for my "circle of trust" as we like to call our study group we wouldn't have done as well. So please don't count it out.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Great post, J!

Thanks.

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Guess I'm just really lucky with my group. We stay on topic and are all serious students. I have a 4.0 going into my last semester and some of those As I've gotten by the skin of my teeth. If I'd missed one more question on my med/surg final I would have gotten a B in the class. There's one woman in our group who has an uncanny way of knowing certain questions that will be on the test. I love my group! We rock!

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Excellent post PennyLane and what an awesome accomplishment for you. I on the other hand missed an A by 1 measly point last semester. Oh, well I still did great and tried my heart out. I hear you about the 1 person in the group that can make up exact test questions. We have a lady that will be looking at her notes and say OK this is what so and so is going to ask about hypovolemia and guess what? That is what the instructor asks. Amazing! I don't know what I would do without her.

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Jen--Isn't it great to have one of those ppl as your friend? I don't know what I'll do next semester. She moved to Hawaii and is finishing up school there. Not only will I miss her, but I'll miss her sixth sense about test questions! :crying2:

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Tell me about it. I love my friend. So sorry to hear your's is moving away. Maybe some of it rubbed off on you. Good luck.

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