Study groups?I dont know how

[mom35]

Greetings all, I begin NS on

Aug. 25th. At our orientation back in June, the NS director said they encourage us to study in study groups. I know what a study group is, but I have always studied by myself. I usually do little gestures and say certain things to help me study and I really do not know how to participate in study groups. Does anyone else feel the same? Will anyone offer some advice?:heartbeat:nurse::heartbeat

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I'm in the same boat!

I've always been an academic loner. Mainly because I was also one of the smart kids that ended up teaching the rest of my study group. It got to the point that my classmates would ask to be partnered with me because they knew I could get them an A. By the time I reached high school I flat out refused to do group projects or partners. If I was doing all the work, I wanted all the credit :chuckle

Everyone keeps talking about the benefits of study groups....so I'm going to try it. I met a few people at orientation and exchanged email addies with them. I plan on doing the bulk of my studying on my own, but hearing other people's ideas about stuff could be beneficial. We shall see.

IMO the key is to find someone equally as smart but has their strengths in different areas is that makes sense. That way it is win-win for you two too buddy up.

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

I think that's the key, Vida! Plus....being in a nursing program, the majority of people are motivated and WANT to succeed. The caliber of people is a lot better. I did do some study sessions for Spanish, and those were beneficial. So far we have 3 in our group for our first term classes. I think that should be plenty.

[choc0late]

I personally love and greatly benefit from study groups. I can't tell you how many questions I've had on tests that I literally chuckled on as we had JUST gone over it in a study group, and prior to it I had no idea it existed. I find a study group of 3-5 the best. Of course there is some chitter chatter but if your groupd are die hard A getters, it's just a breather type chat and right back to hashing out problems you go. I really believe I owe my 4.0 from spring semester to my study buddies, as again there were just far too many questions that I wouldn have NEVER answered right without them. I was full time in the spring taking A&P 2, Dev psy, Chem 2, and an English, and like I said 4.0. Over the summer (during 3 sessions) I took A&P 1, Micro and a research class with NO study groups and I got an A-, B and an A-. That to me speaks loud and clear about the difference between study buddies and without. But everyone is different of course. Just giving you my experience this year.

[JBGC4]

I am just like you. Study groups are distracting. But, I can get distracted w/ only myself to blame as well. I think I don't enjoy them b/c I want to do what I want to do, not when someone else wants me too. Like, take a break or move to another section. But, NE is a place where we need to get used to team work- it's all we will be doing over the course of careers :).

There are some positives w/ studying w/ a group as long as you study alone first, for us that don't usually enjoy study groups. It's good to find someone in your group that can pull all of you together to focus. I had someone like this over the summer. If it wasn't for her, we would have jibber jabbered. But, she kept asking the q's and we kept focused. Another thing I like about working w/ a group is that someone in your group is likely to hear something from the instructor that you may have missed. A group can keep you motivated---no one wants to be the 'dummy' in the group, lol!

Make it a point to those of you in your group, that you need to focus on the material alone, and then move to group. You will find most others will like your idea. I plan on tackling mine this way as well. Or, making the choice to only meet once or twice a week, after I've looked over material.

[Rylee2008, ASN, RN]

I have tried to study with a study group, but I found that I do better on my own. Several times before class or a test we would quiz each other to review the material. I would stick with what works for you.

[ImMrBill3, RN]

Study groups can be invaluable. A great group will boost your grade an entire letter. I had a fantastic study group in Chem and we would all take turns explaining and working problems on a dry erase board. In nursing classes it was essential. Don't worry about group members who aren't at the same level as you, that provides the best learning experience. Try explaining to someone who is genuinely trying but doesn't get it, you will know the material better than any other way. Listen to someone struggle to explain what you already have down and learn how to be clear and recognize difficult or important aspects. Be humble and realize that others can understand the material in different ways that may have substantial clinical or test taking value. Use study groups as a way of getting used to working with others, taking report, giving report and making suggestions to providers for pt care can all be improved by having experience in discussions with others.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

We used to get these MASSIVE study guides (I went through an accelerated program) and five or six of us would split it up, answer the questions AD NAUSEAM, and then swap the sections out. That way, no one was stuck doing the whole thing, and we at a minimum had a starting point for our own studying.

We also did NCLEX questions on sections, and sometimes a group of us would meet in the lab to go over practicals.

I went to school with a load of Type A's, so we didn't use study groups per se - we'd have ended up in huge debating matches - LOL - but we found ways to use our little idiosyncrasies to the group's advantage.

Other than that, I hate group work, hated study groups, and am pretty much a loner in the classroom. Nursing school was my first experience where I didn't feel I ended up doing all the work (we ALL hated group projects!).

[Goingthere]

I just started NS myself this summer, and never used a study group. People will usually pair up throughout NS and stay stuck to one another-for them study groups work, for those of us who don't have this type of arrangement- study groups are irritating.

[chuckz, BSN, RN]

I used to like to study alone. When I started nursing school I decided to give a group a try. I hated it, except for one guy that we seemed to click in the way we both studied. We both ask questions, are linear thinkers and probably look too much into the subjects, but we both learn. He is the only person that I study with. When others want to study with us, we both kind of shy away from it.

The key is to drop dead weight. Some people bring things to groups and some people add. When looking at the material, I can teach the material if needed to my study partner, but he does the same thing for me so we both add to our group. Sometimes groups have a succubus what will take energy from the group, add nothing of knowledge and take whatever you teach them away from it. Make sure to drop the weight because it is your career in the end. Helping somebody is nice, but YOU have to come first in study groups because it is YOUR grade and YOUR llfe.

[Nurse2b123]

this is going to sound realllly hard.

step1-talk to someone

step2-talk to them again

step3-while talking to them.ask if they would like to study together

your welcome

[wyotech]

study groups can be very good and helpfull, however, I feel that more than 2-3 is a waste. 2 is best for me, each can quize the other. A third is ok, if they are cool and really wanna learn and not text, and talk on phone. In my study group, i require no cell phjones to ring, or text. Put phones on vibrate and take it outside.

[J9G2008]

Hate study groups, but definitely like having a pal to work with in the practice lab!