So stressed out :(

I have not started school yet, but you should calm down, take a deep breath and think about what you need to study and what would help you learn the material. Some people or visual learners, so you can make flash cards or if you learn better by listening, tape yourself going over the chapters that you have to learn, so you can listen to them in your car or anywhere you have a tape recorder......I hope this helps and good luck....

I agree! Please stop and breathe. What is the material that you're exam is on. Maybe we can direct you to some good websites.

have you tried a study group? I haven't quite figured those out yet but we are going to try it next week.

when all else fails, *breathe*

I'm in my second week of nursing school and I am overwhelmed! I have my first exam on monday and I have no idea how to prepare for this thing. I'm losing my mind! Has anyone on here been to Stratham Tech in NH? Does anyone have any advice that might help me?! Thanks

I felt the same way you did last week. We had our first test yesterday. I was so sick this weekend, I couldn't even eat. I had no idea what parts of the 30 some chapters we had to cover would be narrowed down to be on the 50 question exam. But, I went over the important parts, or what seemed to be important - judging from what was mentioned during class. Made my own questions out, and reviewed reviewed and reviewed some more! And, to be honest, I was very prepared, (I think), we haven't gotten our grades back yet, not 'til Friday, but I think I did well. And don't get me wrong, I am not the type that answers come easy. I am not one of those that are lucky enough to be able to read it once and retain it. It takes a lot for me to remember something, especially if I am trying to LEARN instead of memorizing. What is your first test on?

Join the club....I don't have any relief anywhere...I don't think my brain can hold anymore information....

I'm in my second week of nursing school and I am overwhelmed! I have my first exam on monday and I have no idea how to prepare for this thing. I'm losing my mind! Has anyone on here been to Stratham Tech in NH? Does anyone have any advice that might help me?! Thanks

I don't go to your school but I can relate. First take a deep breath because anxiety will get you no where besides seriously ill.

2) What is the first exam on? What class Fundamentals, Assessment?

3) How many chapters?

4) Do you have a day planner?

Jamie-Sue,

I'm in my 3rd week of nursing school and this is my first semester. The advice from all members has been very useful to me. Not everything will be applicable to your style, but use what works for YOU.

Here are some things I do and many are the same what everyone has been telling.

-I read ahead, that way I understand the lecture and easy to follow along.

-While you are reading, note any questions you have. Most will be answered by the time the lecture is done. If not you can always clarify.

-Try not to highlight everything possible but just the salient points. This way, when you read again, the imp things pop out.

-Listen to the lecture, make notes.

-Instead of making flash cards, try recording the same. It will save you time.

-Solve as many questions as possible (though it's hard to find the fundamentals).

-Be organized and on top of things.

-Allot time for studying, library is a good place.

I'm trying my best but there are days when I feel overwhelmed. I'm not bragging but I got an A in my first test and I feel that you just need to get a hang of things. Good luck and hope this helps.

Answer as many NCLEX style questions related to the information as posible. It will give you practise on how to approach the questions and the rationales wil direct your studying. Our school required Fundamental Success. Also use the resources that come with your text. Most have CDs or web sites that offer NCLEX style questions with rationales for each chapter and sometimes they refer you to the section of the text that you are having difficulty with. IF your instructors do not give you a study guide, then use the learning objectives that they give you as one. These are the things that many of the most successful student in my classes use.

Review what is written on the syllabus and any objectives that were handed out. Use them as a starting point to organize what you should be focusing your studies on.

I completely agree! Reviewing the objectives/summary/syllabus before you read to see what your professor thought was relevant. Do it before you read each chapter. It can make a big difference in organizing your thoughts. Take notes as you read, if you can. Writing it down may help too.

Get plenty of rest, eat well (as much as I LOVE Pop Tarts, they are not good study food). Trail mix is excellent energy. I sound like a mother hen but after 4 yrs in school (before NS), this is tried & tested. It seriously works.

GOOD LUCK!

I bombed my first test. Totally bombed it. Flashcards did not do me any justice. I use highlighting just to help me focus my reading and I read things that I highlight twice as I read through but it doesn't help me much when I'm rereading. I focused on main ideas and that was where I failed. The questions I missed on the test were, for the most part, in the minute details that came from tables/diagrams and detailed supporting information that I did not think would be on the test. Our test was DEFINITELY NOT on main ideas.

This time, although I did not get my grade yet (she's calling us all w/ our grades today) I think I did a LOT better. This time, I did not worry so much about flash card type memorization. Instead I focused on applying the information. Every paragraph I read and then thought back over and asked myself "what is a real world scenario that this would apply to?" There were a few memorization type questions on the test, but the application knowledge I used kinda covered that as well. We did also study like crazy, getting together to ask eachother scenarios and such, which helped, but the "what does stereognosis mean" kind of stuff that we memorized just did not come in to play.

I hope you do well on your test. I hope I did well on my test! :)

I bombed my first test. Totally bombed it.

This time, although I did not get my grade yet (she's calling us all w/ our grades today) I think I did a LOT better. This time, I did not worry so much about flash card type memorization. Instead I focused on applying the information. Every paragraph I read and then thought back over and asked myself "what is a real world scenario that this would apply to?" There were a few memorization type questions on the test, but the application knowledge I used kinda covered that as well. We did also study like crazy, getting together to ask eachother scenarios and such, which helped, but the "what does stereognosis mean" kind of stuff that we memorized just did not come in to play.

I hope you do well on your test. I hope I did well on my test! :)

I believe this is the key. NS is so much different than any other major out there. The instructor is making you think as a nurse from day 1 of Fundamentals. This can be very difficult for most of us who are there to learn how to be a nurse. I firmly believe every school should require a short class before nursing classes actually begin to expose us and teach us how to study best for this major. To be thrown in is accepted practice in every school, but personally, I believe its unnecessary. I've been told they are weeding out the ones who won't make it. Don't believe that either. I've seen people fail fundamentals and retake it and go all the way. Schools should focus on student success rather than weeding the weak, as they perceive them. Just my:twocents: :wink2: