Study Habits

Achoo!, LPN · Nov 7, 2006

So far I have kept my A's up to this midterm. I don't know if it will stay that way.

I typically spend an hour a day for each class, and an hour for clinical paperwork. I read the chapters, take notes, do the practice questions, use the CD that comes with the books, and review the lecture notes. I don't do it all at once. I take breaks and do other things to give my brain a rest LOL. See how you learn best- visual, auditory, graphs, writing down info, and try to go from there.

iHeartNICU · Nov 7, 2006

Hi RN 2 B. I am a 3rd semester RN student and as of this moment I have a 4.0. I don't know that i really have a study formula but here goes anyway.

I go to class ...EVERY CLASS (unless contageous or nauseated or vomitting). I don't take a tremendous amount of notes. My energy is spent on listening to the instructor. Most instructors are great and can explain everything very well and if you just listen you will get so much more out of it then if you are frantically trying to write every word they say. If you're busy writing you may miss important stuff. Also, if you hear the instructor mention somethng more than once, IT'S IMPORTANT. I know this sounds common sense but some people don't seem to take notice that something is being mentioned multiple times. If I don't understand something when I get home I get out he books and specifically figure that one thing out. If that doesn't work I call whoever I know and try and get their perspective on it.

I also read everything that the instructor lists. Here's the thing though...I don't read and try to remember everything word for word. I read a section and talk myself through it until I understand it...not just memorize. A question on a test may not say "Suzie has asthma, blah, blah, blah, what is the first nursing priority" but rather "Suzie is having X, Y, and Z, symptoms, what is the first nursing priority." Not a great example off the top of my head but point being you will have to put info together to make sense of it.

Another thing is that I normally don't do study groups. I know that study groups help tons of people but for me personally, they are distracting. Too much time is spent on things I may understand and my time is better used moving on to what I don't understand. Like I said though, some things work for some and not for others.

I spend a lot of time studying...but not all the time. I still do manage to do thiings with friends and family (fun things). If I am studying and I find that I am bored w/ it and not getting anything out of the study session, I leave it alone for a while and come back to it when I'm more prepared to focus. It doesn't help to study (or work on care plans) if your mind isn't focused, ya know? It's better for me to get some other things done or spend time w/ friends than just sit there getting frustrated.

Oh, and one last thing...a positive attitude goes a long way. Don't let the phrase "I can't do this" get you down.

Whoa, sorry so long. Just what I do and so far so good. Best of luck. If you ever have an more specific questions feel free to PM me.

jov · Nov 7, 2006

I attend all lectures. The weekend before the exam (our tests are usually staggered so we don't have two tests in two subjects in the same week), I go through the PowerPoint notes and rewrite them in a manner that makes sense to me. I only re-write what I am weak on. If it is something obvious, I leave it off. I put things into tables so I can compare and contrast one disease process with another. As I am rewriting the notes, I am skimming through the book on the same topic (I generally don't read before class). If it's a complicated topic, like B cell vs. T cell immunity, I might even draw out a picture page. I add a page at the end of my notes on MEDS where I copy and paste any med information, and I do a NUMBERS page where I will copy and paste any important numbers, like lab values. (I don't memorize well so I need an extra boost to remember that kind of stuff). I do the on-line questions, or CD questions, or NCLEX study questions, any other question adjunct I can get my hands on. I don't do study groups. The night before the test, I go over MY re-written, re-organized notes again and again.

I'm generally pulling A's but more importantly I feel I am learning it.

BONUS: For NCLEX/HESI, I have my study notes already put together.

This is only my way. You need to find a way that works for you.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2006

recommended reading for study tips for nursing students:

http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/study_skills.html - study skills for the nursing student from daytona beach community college nursing department with some good advice.

http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/test_taking_skills.html - test taking skills also from daytona beach community college nursing department. a couple of sample questions and how to choose the correct answer for these application type questions.

http://www.efn.org/~nurses/ - this is a website maintained by the nursing students at lane community college in eugene, oregon. for study and learning tips specific to nursing students click on "tips for learning" at the left side of this home page.

https://allnurses.com/forums/1909043-post26.html - how to answer application type questions

sephinroth · Nov 8, 2006

Whenever i read a book, i use highlighters and highlight the important details to remember. Sometimes, i go over the book again and read everything, just in case i didn't highlight something important. And when the time comes to review, all i need to do is find the highlighted sentences and concepts.

My grades aren't that high, but i think it's pretty fair. Never got below 2.87

NaomieRN · Nov 8, 2006

So far my average is a 94 in nursing 101.

I attend every class, I do not take a lot of notes, instead; I listen. I record all the lectures and listen with my powerpoint notes. I read every single chapter. I try to understand every chapter instead memorizing. I participate in a study group, but next semester I will find another group or study on my own. The people I am studying with rightnow, they are lazy and not committed to the field of nursing. They have not common sense and relying on me heavily. I scale back on meeting with them as of this week. Although, I am doing well, I do not want any stumbling block.

Like my instructor said from day one, you have to read, read, read and read. Also, pay attention to the charts, check the website companion and practice the nclex style questions from the website. Good luck to you.

jemommyRN · Nov 9, 2006

I think one of the important factors in understanding nursing and making good grades in reading the book. I know a lot of students that only use the notes. I feel like you can't get a complete underlying understanding of the concepts as the notes are usually brief. Reading the book works for me.

RN1263 · Nov 12, 2006

Hi RN 2 B. I am a 3rd semester RN student and as of this moment I have a 4.0.

I'm 3rd semester RN student also & I must admit I'm impressed that you have kept a 4.0, I had mostly "A"s until the nursing program & now I have mostly "B"s.

I don't know one person in my program getting "A"s anymore......So, good job!!

RN 2 B · Nov 16, 2006

Thank you all for help. Keep up the good work.

halayne · Oct 23, 2007

hi,im having a hard time self-studying because there are a lot of distractions at my study place... by the way, im preparing to take the nclex exam this december and i havent started reading the saunders comprehensive review book. how can i manage to read and undrstand all of its contents in 2 months?because when i am reading or reviewing,its hard for me to turn the nest page coz i am memorizing it word for word or eventhough i already understood what it means i still read it AGAIN SO MANY TIMES THAT i cant turn to the next page anymore. and sometimes i do feel sleepy. its only 2 months from now and im going to take the nclex. can you recommend something that can improve my study habits?thanks..:monkeydance:

krenee · Oct 23, 2007

I get As, and here is what I do:

I do the readings before the lectures. I tape the lectures, and listen to them every time I'm in the car. Yeah, I'd rather listen to music, but this is more important to me. After the lecture I start making flash cards - I make them from the lecture notes first, then I go through the chapter(s) and make more flash cards. I carry them with me everywhere and study whenever I have down time. When I'm at home and want to study my flash cards, I read them out loud - my reasoning for this is that it's another "sensory" way to get the information into my brain. I do the online exercises from the book, basically I'll go through one every time I sit down at the computer, so it's more ongoing than all at once. Of course I do the questions at the end of the chapter, and if I have time I have a supplemental book with information to read and practice questions. Another thing I do if I have time is to go through the chapters again and make notes of things that seem more important. I rarely study more than 30 minutes at a time, but at the same time I study ALL the time, it's more a little here and a little there.

Good luck!

Kelly