Study alot and cannot find away to get a better grade, help

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Specializes in med surg..

I got 2 weeks and I'm done with med-surg and I start ccu in 3 weeks. The last three tests I've got C's on and I can understand why I cannot get over this hump. I know med-surg is hard but Ive always gotten A's or high B's. I know I was told that I studied to much and I believe I was and I pushed myself to live life a little more and study less and I still am getting C's. I re-write, study the book and notes and cant do anything to get over this. I even study the Saunders Nclex book too, for help??? I'm not a perfectionist, a B would be great. Any help? techniques?

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/LTC.

Exactly how do you study? Alone in groups, reading, writing, etc. Maybe you need to add different techniques. I myself learned more by writing. Some learn more by listening so they taped lectures to listen to them later.

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I use a study chart for conditions and also for drugs, that way I can easily look over and review these topics without having to read through all my notes. My table columns are: Condition/Disease, Assessment, Diagnostic Tests, Nursing Interventions, and Patient Education. Everything you should have to know will be right there on the table and then for the drugs I will do the drug name, safe dosage range, any tests associated (ie: PTT for Heparin), side effects, and patient education! I hope this helps it has really helped me I just took my final for the semester and got a 95% on it! Good luck!

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Specializes in med surg..

thanks:)

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Maybe its how your studying, at my school our test questions are phrased in a way similar to the NCLEX to get us used seeing them written that way so when we take state boards we wont be as hard. With these kind of questions its more about not only knowing the information but about applying them aswell. When your studying try to use a critical thinking approach. Also as far as raising your test scores, try and read each question and look for key words such as "always" "never" "best" "worst" etc. because these alot of times are clues to the correct answer.

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I record lectures, read assigned material/notes 3 times, and re-write chapters in my own words/summarizing. Also when taking tests, I cover the answers and read the question 2 times, then underline key terms (best, initially, etc), Then I ask myself what is this question asking me? Then I REMEMBER DON"T ADD TO QUESTIONS, whatever info is there is all you can consider. Then I look at the answers and choose which ones best. On alot on NCLEX type questions there are more than 1 right answer, your job is to pick the BEST one. I started doing these things and I am improving, Hope this helps you Good Luck

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At my school we have a learning assessment module. You have to answer the questions honestly and it tells you how you learn. If you are having difficulty, you can go take another test, and it will tell you any learning difficulties you may have. In our school, you cannot use a recorder unless you have a learning difficulty that means you are a more auditory learner. They have to give you help with whatever learning style you have as well, but you have to go and speak with someone. If you are having problems with NCLEX style questions and the whole critical thinking, there is a book called test success (author Nugent) that really helps you understand that way of testing and other students swear by it.

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At my school we have a learning assessment module. You have to answer the questions honestly and it tells you how you learn. If you are having difficulty, you can go take another test, and it will tell you any learning difficulties you may have. In our school, you cannot use a recorder unless you have a learning difficulty that means you are a more auditory learner. They have to give you help with whatever learning style you have as well, but you have to go and speak with someone. If you are having problems with NCLEX style questions and the whole critical thinking, there is a book called test success (author Nugent) that really helps you understand that way of testing and other students swear by it.

I can't believe they won't let you record lectures, Your in college lol. The only thing we can't record is Clinicals, but why would you record that anyway. The recordings vary in different classes. I don't have a learning difficulty, I just like to record what they say becuase when I am reading and writing my notes etc. I can refer to anything that they might have said about a certain thing. Or alot of times they disagree with the book and tell us something different so I want to make sure that I am studying the right thing.Or one instructor in particular talks faster than the speed of light lol so I like to record her because I can barely listen and understand what shes saying let alone take notes. Just because you record does not mean that you have a learning difficulty,or that you are an auditory learner. I learn best by doing and writing, just like to record to!

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I would LOVE to be able to record. I have no idea why they don't let you unless you can prove you are an auditory learner. Thats just what the school says. When I was in my other non-nursing classes you could record whatever you wanted. Its very strange. I didn't mean anything about anyone (having a learning difficulty, etc), I was just saying thats what my school does.

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I suggest same as the others; get more practice on NCLEX-style test questions. You can have the content down backwards and forwards but if you don't learn how to read and answer these particular type of multiple choice questions, you'll have trouble making good grades.

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Specializes in Home Care.

Use the cd that comes with the Saunders NCLEX book. You can select the content from the cd you want to test yourself on. Answer the questions and read the rationales. There are hundreds of questions from each subject area on the cd.

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I know how you feel, an effective study technique is key and completely trial and error. What I've found works best for me is getting together with a cohesive and consistent (and small) study group to discuss all concepts we'd gone over in lecture or in out of class readings/assignments. By reviewing out loud we're able to discuss how we would apply this information in a clinical setting, and by helping each other understand the how's and the why's of everything we can connect the dots easier and it tends to make more sense. I evaluate the success of the group by making sure I'm able to not only recall but also to re-explain the content. This allows for multiple exposures which helps it sink in. I know everyone learns differently, but I'd suggest trying the application route rather than memorization through index cards or anything...nursing is hardly something that can be memorized.

Best of luck, don't forget you'll be a great nurse some day :)

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