study- cram or everynight

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I study every night and every test I get the same grade 84. Sometimes I will get a A here and there but not a solid all the way through. I do all the readings,take notes,go over stuff every night. Then I here people say that they studied the night before a test and score a 96 or 98. It is getting kind of frustrating. I used to try to not worry about it and only worry about myself but its getting more and more difficult.

What do you all do studying- cram or every night?

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What do you all do studying- cram or every night?

depends what the objective is:

if i want to just pass a test-- cram

if i want to learn the material-- every night, and then supplement with research articles, etc.

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I try to study a bit everyday with heavier concentrations closer to the tests.

I. for one. cannot cram. I can't sit still that long.

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Specializes in OB.

crammer.

got an A last semester.

I do best under pressure. need my anxiety level a bit raised so that I am sharper and more focused on the material. If I sit down with the info and know that I still have a week before the test, its not long before I am gawking off at something else or daydreaming. the 2 days before the test, I am thinking Oh Crap, i have a TEST! and that gets me going.

I tried once to study along the way, had like 32 hours of study time in for a test and I got an 82. So that is NOT for me.

Gotta figure out what works for you and go with it

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I'm just the opposite! Cramming has never done me any good.

I'm a "every day studier", I guess. I read the material before class, listen and take notes during class and then I review everything after. For tests, I might review longer, but I feel at that point that if I don't know it then, I never will. It's worked OK for me so far; I get A's.

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I have found that touching on the material every day or thereabouts helps me greatly. I audiotape my lectures and listening to that often helps tremendously, too.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

This is Nursing School, not High School. The Crammers get weeded out eventually. Maybe not in first semester, but usually before the end. He/she is not learning anything. Eventually cramming will not be enough to do well on a test and professors will be tired of his/her lazy ways.

On the other hand, you probably comprehend the material because you actually learn the information. So, stop comparing yourself to other people. Continue to strive to learn the information and you will be fine.

By the way, I am told that B's in Nursing School are outstanding grades!! I am a 4.0 so far but I have long resolved that if I get a few B's in Nursing School I should not be ashamed. Besides, Registered Nurses say "C's = RN" so how bad are B's? :D

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Specializes in OB.
This is Nursing School, not High School. The Crammers get weeded out eventually. Maybe not in first semester, but usually before the end. He/she is not learning anything. Eventually cramming will not be enough to do well on a test and professors will be tired of his/her lazy ways.

On the other hand, you probably comprehend the material because you actually learn the information. So, stop comparing yourself to other people. Continue to strive to learn the information and you will be fine.

By the way, I am told that B's in Nursing School are outstanding grades!! I am a 4.0 so far but I have long resolved that if I get a few B's in Nursing School I should not be ashamed. Besides, Registered Nurses say "C's = RN" so how bad are B's? :D

I see you are a first semester student. So how can you begin to know what will happen by the end?

I am a crammer and I graduate in May. I have gotten an A 2 semesters and a B+ the first semester. Please dont make sweeping generalizations, for I have NOT been "weeded" out. I also scored a 1052 on the Hesi, so I AM learning the information. I am far from lazy, I am better under pressure. This is not true and will not work for everyone. As I said before, find what works the best for you and stick with it

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

At the beginning of my nursing program, I studied every night. As I progressed, I did more cramming. I think that in the beginning students usually need more study time, because everything is brand new. As you get used to nursing school and become more familiar with nursing concepts and such, study time decreases.

However, everyone is different. I may need three hours of study time to get an A, where my buddy may need six hours for a B. Only you will know what study methods work best for you - just make sure that you are retaining the information no matter what you're doing. If not, you'll be a goner for NCLEX.

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This time around, I will not be a crammer....I plan to be a nightly studier and reader.

Found that while cramming gets me by, it doesn't do me justice. And as the above poster stated....cramming will get me a passing grade, but I want to learn....

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depends what the objective is:

if i want to just pass a test-- cram

if i want to learn the material-- every night, and then supplement with research articles, etc.

Good advice! I always go over my material throughout the week before the exam and every now and then cram in some extra stuff the night before. It's best to go over it every night because if a question comes up, you have the time to call/email/ask your professor in person for clairification.

Good luck

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Specializes in OB.

OP-

So what you need to do is determine why you are missing the questions. Are you missing the pathophys ones, the nursing process, the labs, meds, priorites? if you cant narrow it down to a certain type of question, then go to analyzing if maybe you are "over thinking" the question. Do you change answers only to find you had the right one to begin with? are you second guessing yourself?

Did you not have a clue and needed to study the content more, or did you maybe not read the core of the question correctly? Always be aware for the nurse know that this will cause all EXCEPT.." and the word "NOT" as in this is "not a side effect".

It is frustrating to study your bum off and fall short of that nice pretty A. There are others who wish for YOUR grade. In the end, yes, C does equal RN,but if your B really bothers you, make an appointment to see your advisor to help you determine why you answered a question the way that you did. She should be able to look at your test and ask you " what was your rationale for choosing this answer" and hopefully help you to figure out what you are blocking.

personally I think an 84 is a great score, and good job!!!!!!!

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