Study tips, tricks and tools?????

I did it the long way; I read the text ahead of time, then I recopied my lecture notes, incorporating extras from the text. I learn best by doing, writing, and saying it. Quizzing each other really helped me. I did homework at least 4-6 hours on weekdays, and usually at least 8 hours on Saturdays.

Do you have study groups?

I graduated back in '79, before most of us had computers. I wonder if there are some computer games, etc., that would help? Someone more recent than me could help you more.

Memorize every chart/diagram in the text! If there are practice questions at the end of the chapter try doing them; if you can't answer correctly you need to go back over the material. For the most part I figured out which teacher relied on text versus slides from their lectures; it varied but I usually figured out which material I needed to have memorized after the first test.

Oh also I wouldn't have made it through without friends!!! Make friends with a group of study buddies! Both the support and study tips are invaluable.

One last thing, DO NOT GIVE UP. Senior year, last semester of nursing school: 3 of my study group and myself faced having to re-take OB lecture and therefor delaying graduating if we did not pass the final. 2 of us needed an almost perfect score on said final! 3 out of us 4 graduated on time. Heartbreaking for my friend, but the point is you will struggle. You might possibly fail a course; just don't give up and please know that you aren't alone.

Not in any order:

* Do your best to learn concepts vs. memorizing.

* Find NCLEX questions that go over the material you are learning, and run through them paying attention to ALL of the rationales (for right and wrong answers alike).

* Promptly meet with your professor(s) anytime you do poorly on an exam.

Study using the nursing process in order to gain understanding of key concepts;

Study NCLEX-style questions and review rationales; your best bet is to look into getting Med-Surg review books that also double as NCLEX-review books; i.e. Davis (The Success Series), Pearson, and Lippinicott.

Also, as soon as you get an unfavorable grade, seek the instructor out as another PP suggested; most want to help you and will give you additional suggestions for resources.

Definitely do as much nclex style questions as you can pertaining to what you are learning.its a good way to study. A great app is nclex mastery. I also loved using the med surg success book second edition Davis as mentioned earlier, it's a great book to do questions from and I used that book for MS1 and 2. Are you allowed to use recorders? If so I would suggest it.

Does your professors tend to post power points ahead of class? Read that if they post it early and print that so you take notes on it during class.