i still don't know how to study!

I think your underestimating yourself. Re-writting those index cards is studying :)! In fact that is how I study. I take notes in class, read the material and write either index cards or in my notebook. But I don't write in the blind, as I'm writting my index cards I'm also saying what I'm writting in my head. I find in nursing school there is so much work just to stay in the loop there really never is official study time left! Honestly, I think you are studying:D

First thing, find out your learning style. You can take an online test to help determine your style try http://www.learning-styles-online.com/, then find out which study methods work best with your style.

Second, Do you have a study guide for your nursing fund. or med surg text? If not I highly recommend finding out if their is one. I have found that many of the questions from the test banks come straight from the study guides or vice versa depending on how you look at it.

Finnally, don't write too much info on your flash cards. Flash cards are best when you have to memorize info and if you have too much info on them it will never go into your long term memory. Try mnemonics devices to help memorize all those S/S.

Hope this helps a little. Dont beat your self up over a B it is still passing and after we are done with the NCLEX no one is going to ask us what are avg test score was in nursing school.

Yes I agree, you are probably getting more out of writing index cards than you realize!

Don't be so hard on yourself, It took me a year to find out what studying habits really worked for me!!

Let me share what I do and maybe it'll give you some ideas to try, if not maybe someone else who reads :)

I always do the reading the night or two before a lecture. Then when the teacher is lecturing it's not so foreign and I'm more likely to come up with questions to ask then and there rather than later.

The evening of lecture, I'll write up note cards from that lecture. Doing them one lecture at a time helps me keep from spending hours upon hours of doing them and I am able to better absorb what I'm writing and reflect from the lecture.

I take the cards to the gym, work, everywhere.. Whenever I have 10-15 minutes I run through them. Little bouts here and there really help :)

Once I have a good handle on the info I start doing the text review questions, nclex review questisons, and another review book I have that has questions. I'll even go to borders and pick up random books to practice extra questions.

I like to meet up with a classmate and question eachother, we always seem to remember the conversations about the material for some reason!!

Hope You find what works for you!! If you ever have any questions please feel free to message me :)

BTW..I think your grades are great, First semester was my toughest!!

You will find your own pattern eventually. I was in the same boat as you and I realized that I was retaining while writing. I graduated the top of my class by doing what you are doing presently.

I can only tell you how I study... I read each chapter and highlight all the important parts of it. Then I do the study guide that goes along with the book, and after doing that, I go back and read each chapter over, mostly focusing on the highlighted parts. I made an A in my fundamentals class last semester and have made all As on the test so far this semester.

As an adult with ADHD I have found studying to be most challenging, and for the most part I mostly rely on memorizing what was given in the lectures. On those occasions where I must study I do struggle and find reading more than a page a painful process, one method I use is a cooking timer that I force myself to follow. I open the chapter and set the timer for 10 minutes and I refuse to detract from my reading for the 10 minute period. After the timer goes off, I get up and take a short beak then I return to my book for another 10 minute stretch. This is time consuming, but this is what I found works for me. In addition, I have discovered that just reading the text is worthless for me, I must write notes and it also helps me to explain to someone which I often do while studying, I challenge you to find anyone that has a dog that knows more about O-chem and biology than mine. My dog is a great student and he never interrupts. hehe... Good luck