Study Skills

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2005

I do it the old-fashioned, tried-and-true way: drill and kill. I spend hours reading because the devil is in the details.

jschut, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2005

Since I have changed my study habits to the "tried and true" way...I am getting higher grades.

Today I got a 90% on an exam.... :)

It's probably the best way, huh?

FroggysMom · Dec 6, 2005

Since we all have our LPN/LVN....and we already KNOW how stressful nursing school can be...how do you all effectively study?
For tests?
For homework?
Keeping up with paperwork?
Any tips, tricks or secrets????
As for me, I have a planner/calander that I write EVERYTHING in and take it with me everywhere....classes and due dates are written in different color inks....
Tests are studied for by reading/skimming the material and going over notes/powerpoints...I take frequent breaks and sometimes have to go to bed early and get up bright and early (like 2-3am) to study some more....
Now...your turn.

I guess I uses drill and kill, but in a different way. I take the days notes from class, create questions from them, and put the answers below. I then read the question while covering up the answer. Then instantly see how I do. Believe it or not, it works for me, and also the question sheets I create give me a format for review for finals, etc. This works for the nuts and bolts knowledge. When it comes to the interpretation, however, read read and read, and try to grasp the concept of the why, not only the how.

This has helped me. Hope it helps you the same. Good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2005

Since I have changed my study habits to the "tried and true" way...I am getting higher grades.
Today I got a 90% on an exam.... :)
It's probably the best way, huh?

Yep. I personally like the old fashioned, tried-and-true method of yesteryear: drill and kill. Congrats on your good exam score today. :)

rnwendy23 · Dec 6, 2005

Well I haven't been studying lately hence the reason I have taken any exams recently (I'm enrolled in Excelsior college, so you take the exams when you are ready). I think it's been a year since the first exam I took. I'm not good with studying by myself and I don't seem to be disciplined enough to do it either. Any suggestions? I know I want to be an RN, it's just getting me there that is the hard part. I've been an LPN for 2 1/2 years in a sub acute rehab center.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

jschut, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2005

Well I haven't been studying lately hence the reason I have taken any exams recently (I'm enrolled in Excelsior college, so you take the exams when you are ready). I think it's been a year since the first exam I took. I'm not good with studying by myself and I don't seem to be disciplined enough to do it either. Any suggestions? I know I want to be an RN, it's just getting me there that is the hard part. I've been an LPN for 2 1/2 years in a sub acute rehab center.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Good luck with Excelsior. I tried to go that route, but found that I simply wasn't disciplined enough with myself.

Maybe just set a specific time aside when you will study and what you will study. Give yourself a time limit and stick to it, such as 4 months per class.

Wish I had a more effective plan for ya......

luv4nursing · Dec 7, 2005

I might not be the best person to give advice bc everybody always says its bad to cram, but that is how Ive always done the best. I work best under pressure! lol. It goes to show u that everyone is different bc I graduated the top of my class and I usually didnt study for a test till the morning of. I would MAYBE read the chapter(s) the night before but then Id wake up at 4 in the morning and plug away until 7 or so and then go to school.

What I used to do was if I was motivated or didnt have to work. Id read the chapter the night before. SLOWLY. Id highlight and take notes in pencil in the book. Then Id get some sleep (let my mind process what I read), wake up extra extra early. Then I would read the chaper again, this time just skimming through it focusing on what I highlighted (u cant be one of those ppl who highlights half the book though), and the chapter summaries. Id also refer to the workbook if it was assigned. Then Id make a cheat sheet(as in my own notes) from the objectives and my notes. Then Id just read that over and over and over until it was time to go. worked every time!

but not many ppl study like that, although my best friend in school studied just like me.

luv4nursing · Dec 7, 2005

Well I haven't been studying lately hence the reason I have taken any exams recently (I'm enrolled in Excelsior college, so you take the exams when you are ready). I think it's been a year since the first exam I took. I'm not good with studying by myself and I don't seem to be disciplined enough to do it either. Any suggestions? I know I want to be an RN, it's just getting me there that is the hard part. I've been an LPN for 2 1/2 years in a sub acute rehab center.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

rnwendy,

do u have the pre reqs already? Im getting my RN thru EC too. I just started so Im not sure how Im doing yet. I work in home health/private duty so I have TONS of downtime to study at work which is a good thing. I think what will work best for me is to put myself on a deadline, maybe even schedule the exam before I even start to study, then I know I HAVE to study. I will work my way thru the study guides and readings, then about the week before the exam date I will REALLY study study study. Then Ill take the test and hope for the best. I only need microbiology and the nursing classes and I hope to finish in 9-12 months. If I feel I can do them quicker I will as long as I have the money.

I got a good deal on the study guides from someone so those should help me a lot too. That and the study groups and notes on yahoo. good luck and feel free to pm me, maybe we can keep each other motivated!

Boston-RN, RN · Dec 7, 2005

I read the material prior to lecture...listen to lecture and take notes on what's in the lecture and not in the book (and vise versa) and highlight that info. Then I re-read the book with the lecture notes in hand for comparison and highlight what I think was important and flashcard anything that needs to be memorized that I don't know yet and then I review the flash cards a few times before the test.

This is my first semester and prior to the final I have an A average

Good luck to everyone...happy break.

rnwendy23 · Dec 8, 2005

rnwendy,
do u have the pre reqs already? Im getting my RN thru EC too. I just started so Im not sure how Im doing yet. I work in home health/private duty so I have TONS of downtime to study at work which is a good thing. I think what will work best for me is to put myself on a deadline, maybe even schedule the exam before I even start to study, then I know I HAVE to study. I will work my way thru the study guides and readings, then about the week before the exam date I will REALLY study study study. Then Ill take the test and hope for the best. I only need microbiology and the nursing classes and I hope to finish in 9-12 months. If I feel I can do them quicker I will as long as I have the money.
I got a good deal on the study guides from someone so those should help me a lot too. That and the study groups and notes on yahoo. good luck and feel free to pm me, maybe we can keep each other motivated!

I have all the pre req's done, just need to take info literacy and the exams for nursing concepts. Micro is done, thank goodness. I get all my study guides from excelsior's website and I don't have to pay for them. Maybe what you paid for is fancier or something. Where do u live? Someone else told me to schedule the exam first then study, so like you said, you have to study and be ready by the date that you have already chosen and paid for. I have joined the study groups on yahoo and looked at all of the notes. They look like they will be a big help.

montrece, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

I just started with EC also and was wondering if anyone had some advice on how to prepare for the tests!