Study Skills

cocoa_puff · Mar 8, 2015

Hi Elle16,

What I do when is read quickly or skim the chapters before lecture. After lecture, I use the objectives our instructors gave us to make a studyguide for those chapters. I'll go back through the chapters to find the answers, mainly focusing on the nursing interventions, priorities, and WHY that would matter to me as a nurse. I write my studyguides in colorful pens because it helps me focus better, plus I like to write the adverse reactions and side effects in red pen. I draw pictures to help me remember and understand stuff better.

The week before the test, I'll review a section of my notes and studyguide at a time (for example, lecture #4 one day, lecture #5 the next), and I'll look through those chapters again, mainly the boxes and what I've highlighted. I use my NCLEX review and ATI books to supplement my readings because they're so much more condensed and focused. I'll also do the practice questions and read the ALL the rationals. I take the day before a test off from studying to let my brain rest and give it a chance to absorb everything. I hope this helps! Best of luck! :)

Elle16 · Mar 10, 2015

Thank you, cocoa puff for replying, I'm going to give your techniques a try!

cocoa_puff · Mar 12, 2015

You're welcome! :)

TLizS · Mar 12, 2015

I do very similar to the other suggestions

I skim the chapters before lecture...then after lecture I take my notes/power points and make an outline....then I go back to my text and elaborate on whatever was emphasized in lecture...then if we get a study guide I go back and add anything I missed to my outline. after that I close my text books and only use my outline to study...sometimes I'll read over the information in my saunders NCLEX review. If I still focus on my text books I get too hung up on every little detail and stress myself out so I just try to include the most important info in my outline

I do a lot of NCLEX review questions...we use PREPU and ATI and those help a lot and I do the SAUNDERS NCLEX questions

There is NO WAY I could get through all of the reading if I was reading everything in full....so far this has worked for me...I'm first semester but I have A's on every exam so far...honestly....it's all trial and error until you find what works for YOU!

Elle16 · Mar 14, 2015

TLizS, I like your idea about making a thorough outline and closing the books to study with. I'm going to get the Saunders book--thanks!

Elle

_futureRN · Mar 14, 2015

A lot of people like to read before class or while they're preparing for the exam, but I elect not to. I've found that our professors generally lecture straight from the book and use the powerpoint that were supplemented by the book company so it's essentially the same. It helps to meet with friends and quiz each other because it really allows that information to consolidate.

Elle16 · Mar 16, 2015

Hi futureRN, per your advice, I'm going to try to find some people who want to quiz/study together. I think it will take my learning/understanding to the next level; I need to learn to think more critically, like a nurse. I still freeze and my knee jerk is DITH--deer in the headlights!