Please Share Your 5 Most Effective Study Strategies

Nursing Students General Students

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I'm starting a 12-month ABSN program in January 2010 and I would like to know what works best for studying in nursing school. In my pre-requisites I have found that reading the book is pretty ineffective and that I learn the material much better by actively engaging with it (study group, flashcarding, watching educational videos on CD, using practice study figures...you get the idea). All ideas appreciated!

Specializes in mental health.

1)Know what you are expected to learn in the course. The instructor should tell you in the syllabus or lecture. Record all lectures and listen and listen at least one additional time. There is usually a pretty strong correlation between how many times an instructor mentions something and how important they think it is. If you are assigned reading in a text book the 'learning objectives', vocabulary, diagrams, bold type, and end of chapter questions are all things that the author is telling you are important. If the instructor provides notes...know the material in them.

2)Don't memorize! Except maybe in pharm and stuff that you are told you need to have memorized like some of the normal lab values. Instead, fit what you are learning into the framework of what you already know. I do this by drawing concept maps and trying to teach my friends. If you can't teach something, you don't know it! If your ready to lead a study session the day before the test...you'll score an A for sure.

3)Get plenty of sleep. Memory and organization happen while you are sleeping.

4)Exercise.

5)Have fun. We remember things that make us feel good.

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1. Most nursing textbooks come with a connection to an internet site with a lot of study aides, NCLEX style questions, and other ativities. You'll be sure to find something that matches your learning style there to complement straight text-book reading. One of the best features most sites have are scenarios or little case studies where you use the information in a real life situation.

2. Use the course and unit objectives to focus your studying. This is what the instructor thinks is important, and what the exam questions will be based on.

3. The different ways of pacing your studying others have mentioned are great. Being in a rural area I work/study at home primarily and make heavy use of a timer. 45 to 60 minutes of study, then 15 minutes of housework, then 15 mintues of break (check e-mail, facebook, etc, play a game, play with the dog, whatever) then repeat. It's amazing how much I get done in a day with this approach, academically and housework-wise!

4. Get enough sleep. If I don't get enough sleep regularly, I simply do not function well mentally. You can't keep overworking your brain without giving it time to rest and recover and expect it to keep up.

5. Eat well. I'm not saying go all crazy with a fad diet or major changes with your dietary patter, but make sure you get enough water, protein, and some veggies every day. Eat regularly so you don't get into the quick sugar fix habit when you start to get tired mentally (or physically). Try alternating healthy snacks with the candy/sugary stuff.

6. I know you asked for 5 tips, but I have one more that I think is really important. Don't lose perspective. You are NOT your grade. Yes, good grades are important, but don't let them define you. The passing grade in nursing school are higher than for other programs to ensure that every student who graduates meets a minimum level of competency. If you are passing, you are doing just fine!

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Agree about flash cards..... no help for me.

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I agree...flashcards don't work for me... you have to UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS... NOT JUST MEMORIZE THINGS!!!!! At my school our tests are very similar to the NCLEX (2 of our instructors have written for the NCLEX). So it's very important to understand things and not just MEMORIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :yeah:

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Learn how you learn! There are a bunch of websites that offer quizes to analyze how you learn best. A lot of these websites provide tips to guage your learning to the your personal style.

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Specializes in Case management, occupational health.

be very careful about choosing a study group, and know if you learn that way or not. I cannot do a study group because people want to talk and gossip more than they want to study and it drives me crazy.

Many study groups are really socializing groups. You will quickly learn who in your class is on your intellectual level and who you can trust. I am an A student, when barely passing students ask me to be in a study group I have to tell them no.

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I just graduated from LPN School with a 3.09 GPA, what was effective study for me was creating my own note cards from the power points received from my instructors. I was able to carry them with me anywhere ( market, jogging (especially jogging, I just zoned out).

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Read the required texts, memorize as much as you can but every day, do alot of NCLEX questions in the study mode. The study mode is very helpful at sealing the information in your brain so that when you see a similar question or read it again in the text book, it stays permanently in your brain.

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There have been some great suggestions posted on here. One of the key things to remember is nothing takes the place of hard work self sacrifice. Flash cards are great, recording lectures is a fantastic idea, rewriting notes definitely works, and teaching it to someone else helps too. I put all these methods in to practice.

What you will need to do is find out what works best for you. All these methods mentioned work, but some work better than others per individual. I tried the studying until the early hours of the morning, but that didn't work because I have a 2 year old son. I tried studying first thing in the morning, and that didn't work because I have a 2 year old son. : ) I tried going to the library at the college and that doesn't work well either. Apparently, I didn't get the memo that the library was the new hang out [;ace for people to go and talk/listen to music etc.

My point is that you may have to try different methods, study locations etc. until you find what works best for you. Good luck! : )

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I will share a few of the things I like to do:

1. Flash Cards - I find that even writing stupid little things that you may not find important helps. To me, it is hard to look at a countless sheets or powerpoints and memorize, I need it broken down, and that way works for me. Plus, it is travel friendly! Pop a stack in your purse/bag and you are on your way!

2. Organization/ Calendar - Writing down what needs to be done each week or day ( depending on how specific you want to get) is really helpful. I highlight things off my list once they are completed. Its a helpful visual aid, plus it feels damn good to get to cross something off. :)

3. Study Sheet - Something beside from flashcards, I like taking the info that I am having a hard time learning or remembering and putting on one or two sheets (as few as possible) so that I can look at it quickly before an exam. I usually study a lot before I make this sheet to determine what I need to put on it.

4. If you know it - don't study it. In nursing school, time is limited. You must chose what information to study before an exam. If there is a concept or topic or whatever that you know well already, move on to the stuff you aren't as good at. It will save time and you will cover more information! I know this is hard to do, because most of us are used to knowing everything perfectly, but sometimes its better to know a bit about everything than everything perfectly. In nursing school, it is hard so just do your best!

5. Practice questions - I used online websites, CD's, and questions provided in textbooks. I have noticed that a lot of my instructors grab questions from these sources, so its great to take a look. My school also requires the use of a few online sources, so those are good to look at as well. And of course NCLEX study book! Practicing and reading rationales make you better able to tackle NCLEX and test questions!!

Good luck and I hope this helps!

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This is what I do.

1. Flash cards ( I make my own)

2. Incredibly Easy series

3. NCLEX Qs (I like the CD Roms)

4. Make study a habit. Set aside time every day to study.

5. Outline topics to make your own notes independent of class notes.

6. Look up all terminology I don't understand and write it down.

7. Memory Notebook of Nursing ( I like to color the cartoons. They stick in my mind)

8. Study group

9. Mosby's Notecards. ( These are colorful and funny.)

10. Study guides given in class

11. Study guide that accompanies the text

12. Read the text before class. Review it later.

I like to make notes in lots of different colors. I have huge sets of pens, highlighters, and crayons (for the memory notebook). This appeals to my creative side. I like to see lots of color in my notes. It draws my attention to different topics and important points.

Kay

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Thanks a lot everybody!:bow: So much useful information! :) love this website!!!!!:heartbeat

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