study crash?

[NurseJay85]

I'm finding that I will spend five or six hours studying materials and then do poorly on a test I don't know what else to do. I don't think I can sit any longer than that and it's frustrating to put that much effort in and have it yeild such poor results. Any advice?

[na-na]

how do you usually study for your test? if your studying methods are not helping you pass your test then you should change your study methods.

[NurseJay85]

I do the study guide and the test reviews our instructor gives, I also do all the drug cards that are assigned each week. Sometimes I study alone and sometimes with my girlfriend or classmates.

[Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN]

After a few hrs your brain shuts down. Make sure you take a break every hr for 20-30 mins. Also study the material to understand it not to just read it. When I used to study, I would sum everything up in my own words. Also maybe get an nclex book and do practice questions for whatever subject you are studying.

[Compassion_x]

Don't study more than an hour or two a day. Study a lot, but cramming isn't effective. So spread it out and take breaks.

[StudentOfHealing]

Can you do 2 hours in the AM & 2 hours in the PM?

Or 2 hours separated by at least 1-3 hours?

Are you studying hard and smart? or just studying hard? (Focus on your weaknesses, allocate time to the things you know you don't know).

More studying is not the answer, I think its about coordination.

Make sure your studies begin right after the first exam ends.

[NurseJay85]

I'm hearing two major things here, focus on my weak points and breaking up the study time. I am going to try both. Thanks guys

Jay the CNA

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Study immediately after lecture. At least review your notes. Also, spend son time studying daily. Then *also* study before your tests.

Read your text books---multiple times!

Learn how to select the best answers using deductive reasoning and other clues.

These things helped me!

Good Luck!

[LeeLeeTheGPN]

Your issue may not be studying. You probably have the content down, however, a huge trick to success on NURSING exams is knowing HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU ARE BEING ASKED. A lot of times tests are not content based; they are based on ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION. You have to know how to apply the content to the situation. I suggest you read the chapter in an NCLEX book that discusses how to break down a question to know what it is asking you to answer. A lot of times the answers seem to make no sense at all but when you break it down to what it was asking you to answer in the first place, you can understand where you are going wrong.

[NurseJay85]

I do think I overthink the questiins sometimes. I even second guess things from time to time when the answer seems to obvious. My instructor tells us to go with the gut feeling and never change an answer unless I'm positive about the change (ie a later question answers the original one)

Jay the CNA