Question about how to study for those already taking the NC1-NC7 courses with EC

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Specializes in Pediatris & PICU.

I have been working through my study guide for NC1 and it seems that a lot of the time the guide doesn't really coincide with the recommended reading. I am wondering how many of you used notes like from the e-groups files and didn't really use the study guide provided by EC. I'm thinking of mostly going just from the notes from the files from different e-groups and just reading the text when I get to places I need expansion on and then maybe reading through the guide when I'm finished to see if missed anything (or maybe skipping the guide altogether-I really don't like that thing). I'm concerned though that I might miss something if I do that. I guess I'm just really frustrated that the study guide doesn't seem to be a little eaiser to get along with. Of course, I'm extremely anal so that's probably not helping!!! :-) Any ideas or advice here. Maybe it's just me and the guide is more straight forward then I think, but it definitely doesn't always follow right along with the recommend reading.

Also, did already post a message like this on one of the e-groups so if you're on it, then yes this is a repeat.

Melissa

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Everyone does it a little differently, but I definitely needed the book reading to provide a little structure to the studying. Granted, the books and study guide don't follow verbatim, but I think the books gave me a good starting place on the various topics. Have you tried the practice tests? They're $65 (I think), but they gave me a good idea of the kinds of questions to expect.

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Specializes in Pediatris & PICU.

Really I was more wondering about the study guide than the books. I said only read the book when needed, but so far I've pretty much been reading it all. I guess what I'm really wanting to know is if I skip the study guide and just use people's notes from e-groups to go off of(along with book reading) will I miss out? Thanks!

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The study guides are basically outlines of the topics that are covered on each exam. They don't really contain much content themselves. Most people basically use them to make sure they've covered all their bases with the resources that they are using.

I'd be wary of using notes from online study groups (like Yahoo Groups) as the only method of studying. I just think there's too much to cover and don't see how that could possibly be adequate.

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Specializes in Pediatris & PICU.

So far the notes I have from the yahoo group I'm on have covered everything from the study guide (in addition to that), but I'm also reading the text along with the notes. The study guide from EC just doesn't flow well with the reading and that drives me CRAZY! lol

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I used the practice exams for each NC exam. BEFORE I would even crack the study guide I would take Form A of the practice exam ($75 and worth about $500 to me!) and find out what I really needed to study, then I would glance at the outline in the study guide to determine where to go next and then the reading assignments in back of the guide. Then study until I felt competent, schedule to exam, and take form B practice exam 4-5 days prior to the exam. I didn't use study groups or outside helps , or even read all the assignments. I just re-learned (from LPN school) stuff I forgot. Got 5 A's and 2 B's. Depending on your learning style, you may want to redo your study plan. TO follow the guide or reading assignemtns would have been un-necessarily repititious for me. You'll know after you take your first exam. I have to say I emphatically recommend the practice exams!!

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I felt a little lost at first also until I found out what worked best for me. The content guides do not 'flow' like they did with other classes I had to take (Ex Micro). If you use the study group notes, make sure that they are correct and up to date. I have found mistakes in them in the past. I used the EC guides because that is what they are testing you on and that is what they want you to know. It worked best for me if I just plain ole studied the books. I'm extremely anal -to-the-max and I did not want to miss one thing, even if I was familiar with it (hence the analness). I also wanted to spend a bulk of the studying for the NCLEX during my studying for the NC exams. It worked well for me, straight A's and passed the NCLEX with 75?s.

Figure out what works for you! Good luck!!

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I used the practice exams for each NC exam. BEFORE I would even crack the study guide I would take Form A of the practice exam ($75 and worth about $500 to me!) and find out what I really needed to study, then I would glance at the outline in the study guide to determine where to go next and then the reading assignments in back of the guide. Then study until I felt competent, schedule to exam, and take form B practice exam 4-5 days prior to the exam. I didn't use study groups or outside helps , or even read all the assignments. I just re-learned (from LPN school) stuff I forgot. Got 5 A's and 2 B's. Depending on your learning style, you may want to redo your study plan. TO follow the guide or reading assignemtns would have been un-necessarily repititious for me. You'll know after you take your first exam. I have to say I emphatically recommend the practice exams!!

Hi- When you say study reading assignments do you read those chapters word for word? I too am very confused by the content guides, but I don't want to waste alot of time reading whole chapters if you don't think I need to.Also, are the practice exams you are talking about the ones thru EC?

Thanks

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Hi- When you say study reading assignments do you read those chapters word for word? I too am very confused by the content guides, but I don't want to waste alot of time reading whole chapters if you don't think I need to.Also, are the practice exams you are talking about the ones thru EC?

Thanks

All resources I used were from EC (outline AND practice exams).

The way the study guide is set up is not how I used it. I mean, I reviewed the info to see if there was stuff I was not at all familiar with, then went to the back for reading assignments to guide me to the areas that related to the outline that I needed help with. Keeping in mind I only had 2 of the recommended texts (so therefore could not do ALL the reading assignments even if I needed to).

Then, picked reading assignments I thought were a fit for me, based on my learning needs self-assessment of the outline AND results from the practice exam. Sometimes I would get into some chapter and get awefully bored or realize I knew the content already (from previous school, work experience, wherever) and skip the rest of the reading assignment. I feel I did not waste any time this way. Also, I feel I did not cheat myself from important content/concepts, because I used the EC exam guide for reference. Why re-learn what you already know?

Mostly ,the way I studied was by lookng up unfamiliar Topics in the texts like a reference book. Some people learn better by following the reading assignments as directed in the EC study guide (or a publisher's version such as Chancellor' or Rue). Some people dig up their own resources to fill in the gops (like the yahoo study mentioned above). I would not have had a clue, however, of what things I felt I needed to focus on without first doing the Practice exam and THEN reviewing the exam content outline. Hope that helps!

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Also, the way I see it is the EC exam content guides include EVERYTHING you will need to know for an exam. Some things on the exam you may already know. Depending on your level of learning needs you will use some or all of the recomended resources.

Kind of like learning a new language. No need to start by learning the alphabet, grammar and punctuation unless you use a different alphabet in the first place. Some people DO use a different alphabet and it is therefore necessary to start from scratch. Some people already speak the language. But, to cover all topics Excelsior covers all of it in the Exam Content Guide. You decide what you need to learn!

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