I start my pre-nursing program in a few weeks and I'm already starting to freak out! There's a lot riding on me doing well as this will determine if I get accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Sept. 2016.
My problem is when it comes time for midterms and finals I always do terrible. VERY terrible. Luckily my grades throughout the courses are good, otherwise I would definitely fail!
I haven't been in school since high school (20 yrs ago) and seem to have forgotten how to study effectively. Right now, I get so frustrated and upset with myself for not being able to study or for waiting almost to the last moment, that it's freaking me out! I want to be a nurse so very much, but I know that it won't happen if I don't have a good study method.
I'm open to any and all suggestions! What are your methods of studying? What works and can guarantee positive results? Please help!
There are generally a few ways that people remember things. Some remember by writing, some by reading, some by hearing, and some by speaking. You first need to determine which of these types is yours. I learn by speaking. I found someone in my cohort that learns by listening. We study together for every class.. every semester. We're joined at the hip until graduation day, basically. We skype nightly and I lecture her on what we've learned.. clarifying everything in detail. We both remember it all that way. On the days leading up to a test I quiz her for an hour a night.
Will this work for everyone? No. But it works if you're one of the types that learns this way.
I was an older student too when i went back for my lpn to bsn. One thing that helped me with the soft sciences was buying the study guide/workbooks that went with the classes. I worked through the questions and it really helped the info stick. When I started undergrad nursing I had established good study habits. I'm a real big fan of the workbooks!
There are generally a few ways that people remember things. Some remember by writing, some by reading, some by hearing, and some by speaking. You first need to determine which of these types is yours. I learn by speaking. I found someone in my cohort that learns by listening. We study together for every class.. every semester. We're joined at the hip until graduation day, basically. We skype nightly and I lecture her on what we've learned.. clarifying everything in detail. We both remember it all that way. On the days leading up to a test I quiz her for an hour a night.
Will this work for everyone? No. But it works if you're one of the types that learns this way.
This is amazing!! Am an auditory learner so having someone like you would do me some good in school. I love this, here's to hoping it will happen when I start nursing school:)
I start my pre-nursing program in a few weeks and I'm already starting to freak out! There's a lot riding on me doing well as this will determine if I get accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Sept. 2016.
My problem is when it comes time for midterms and finals I always do terrible. VERY terrible. Luckily my grades throughout the courses are good, otherwise I would definitely fail!
I haven't been in school since high school (20 yrs ago) and seem to have forgotten how to study effectively. Right now, I get so frustrated and upset with myself for not being able to study or for waiting almost to the last moment, that it's freaking me out! I want to be a nurse so very much, but I know that it won't happen if I don't have a good study method.
I'm open to any and all suggestions! What are your methods of studying? What works and can guarantee positive results? Please help!
Thank you.
During mid-terms when I was failing Anatomy I turned to flashcards and quizlet, which is an online flashcard site.
I looked at my flashcards from my phone and studied every night, while I was on the bus, while I was eating lunch, dinner etc. Basically I lived, and breathed AnP. I managed to get in from my pre-nursing into actual Nursing School for the BN. If you want to see my work for reference, here.
What works for me is with the permission of the instructor, I voice record lectures. This allows me to focus on the mannerisms of each professor and I do not take notes in class. This does NOT mean I don't pay attention in class. I feel by doing it this way, I am able to absorb more while watching and listening rather than frantically writing notes in class. Then when I get home, I transfer the recording from my recorder to the computer and that is when I open the powerpoint and start taking notes. This way, I can pause, and type something out or go to the page in the book for clarity/detail.
This worked for me all through my pre-reqs and first year of nursing! I hear it once in class, once again at home and then I can listen to the lectures while in the car, grocery shopping, on lunch breaks, etc. I will be 34 in a few months so while I am not "old" My brain is definitely not as young as it used to be. Lol.
If you are auditory, this may work. I am auditory and visual, so I do spend time on detailed science concepts tracing things out and explaining each step/phase/reaction. Helps me understand backward and forward!
Good luck! The fact that you are eager to learn to your full potential is sometimes the biggest road block students have. Time manage and you will get there!
Specializes in Post Acute, Med/Surg, ED, Nurse Manager.
Here is what works for me if it helps.
1. If you use it 3 times it is more likely to stick. SO 1. I take notes in class, 2. I read the book and highlight/ take notes from the book. Then 3. I turn both notes into flashcards by making practice test questions.
2. Sit next to peers you think are smart sucessful and going to pass. Teachers are most likely to pair lab partners or group work by where you sit. Pick someone that can hold up their end.
3. Get a study group of studdnts you can relate to you will most likelg have same students in all prereqs. Study about 10 min after class in hall, make practice test questions after class and quiz each other. Before major tests get together quiz each other with all of your practice test questions. Most likely with a group of you makjng flash cards you will cover anything on the test. Keep it light and fun. Share nuemonics. I still remember laughing hysterically studying whdn we realized the epiglottis looks kinda like female repoductive parts. We all had twisted sences of humor and we all got between a 3.5 and 3.9 in all of our science classes because we studied and laughed and studied some more.
4. Dont just cram. But cramming after regular studying helped me. The morning of major tests i was so nervous I had to keep at it and reviewed until i opened my test. But it settled my nerves and helped ease my anxiety.
5. Find out your learning style, make a plan based on you. I am visual and a little auditory. I like to see it, drawing, read it. Ect.
You will do fine! Just relax. Its not as hard as you think just take it one test at a time.
I really struggled with studying despite being a strong student in my previous field (language arts), plus I had been out of school for many years, too. I started paying attention to how I studied and focused on what was effective for me. Some tips that worked for me:
-How long does it take you to read a chapter of a textbook? Divide the minutes by pages. I was shocked that I, who can speed read a novel, averages 6 text-heavy pages of a textbook an hour. Plan accordingly.
-How long can you study for at a stretch? My max is maybe 3 hours, so I planned for breaks and a change of location.
-Can you study at home? I cannot. I had to go to the library AND wear headphones with wave sounds. I think the wave sounds created a learned shortcut to getting into my study mindset. I also ate a lot of mints while reading, then had mints during exams. I don't know if the mints helped reinforce learning.
-I made hundreds of note cards that I never looked at twice, but transcribing the information helped me learn.
-I would explain key concepts to my spouse, friends, and dogs. Articulating what I learned helped reinforce the learning. My poodle is now totally down with blood gases.
So...go all ADPIE on your studying: assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate. Good luck!
What has helped me in pre-req courses has been writing down notes, re-writing the concept of a topic in your own words, and reading the material well in advance so you can have a solid foundation walking into your next class. Also, take time each day to study, review, take notes. Having consistent study time is helpful.
Flash cards, a playlist of acoustic music or piano without lyrics, YouTube tutorials for difficult math problems or concepts, setting a strict schedule for when you can or can not be on social media, taking breaks every hour or two to clear your head. (: that's what works for me most days.
Meeshie
304 Posts
There are generally a few ways that people remember things. Some remember by writing, some by reading, some by hearing, and some by speaking. You first need to determine which of these types is yours. I learn by speaking. I found someone in my cohort that learns by listening. We study together for every class.. every semester. We're joined at the hip until graduation day, basically. We skype nightly and I lecture her on what we've learned.. clarifying everything in detail. We both remember it all that way. On the days leading up to a test I quiz her for an hour a night.
Will this work for everyone? No. But it works if you're one of the types that learns this way.