Studying Techniques

here's how I got through nursing school.

1. Find a good study group, people you get along with, who have the same work ethic as you. Try to keep the group small, no more than 4 people is what I found works best.

2. While studying, each person in the group focuses more intensely on a specific part of the chapter/lecture. Then at study group (mind you the rest of the group member have also studied the material but not as intensley) the member who did the focus will "teach" the other members. Soemtimes it is earier to learn when it is someone on your own level teaching you the material and then you can ask the same stupid question 500 times and they won't get mad

3. Flash cards that I WROTE OUT MYSELF! I tried buying them and just reading them but actually writing them out and looking up different terms that I was unsure of really helped.

Hope this helps some! Good luck!

I was famous for using yellow highlighters, red pens and sticky pads to rewrite concepts or make concept maps in my own words. There was something about the colors yellow and red that made me remember well.

Also, for breaking down material, I would first want to know when the exam is, and from there, break down how much of the chapter I wanted to study for the days, and made sure that I had at least 4-5 days before the exam to re-read and then to practice NCLEX-styled questions. I also has a Comprehensive Review Book for NCLEX which really summarizes the information VERY well. FOr the few days before the exam, I reverted to that book and wrote on my sticky pads things that I gained from the actual textbook. Worked like a charm for me, because I graduated top of my class.

I would consider purchasing Saunder's Comprehensive book for NCLEX, because each chapter also included all of the medications used for the particular diseases. That was important to study as well, in case you get a question on that. Word associations work well, also. I was not a study group person, because they really distracted me. It works well for some, however, try not to count on them alone. Bottom line is that you have to know the information for yourself. Best of luck to you!

Use all your notecards up (flash cards) like they are going out of style and just keep quizing yourself whenever you have extra time or during your regular study periods. Also a study group is an awesome idea, make it into a game so everyone enjoys themselves and you will learn better this way as well.

in order to memorize normal values i write in colored papers and stick it all over the walls of my room so that where ever my eyes go i can see it...

study group is also great!

What I found to be a life saver, was a CD I bought from the Discovery store that was made especially for studing. (check the Discovery store on-line) also meditation CD's. Good Luck!!

Read first and then study first. You can't study it, if you don't understand it. Once you understand it, it gets much easier.

Get into a study group

Read the introductory paragraphs to chapters and then the summary points. Then read the material in between. This helps you learn to recognize the "must knows" from the chapter.

Depending on the type of classroom syllabi use that as a reading guide for each chapter. At my school the syllabi are very detailed and this helps me to recognize what is important to really nail down in my brain.

Also really study the concept maps in the text.

Best of luck!