To study group of not to study group...

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Dec 10, 2005

No, I didn't need a study group. I would definately try the student board though. Ask them and see what they say! :nurse: The link is here: https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/

mandana · Dec 10, 2005

I really think it depends on the person. Several people in my class get together regularly for study groups and it works well for them. For me, it doesn't help at all. I have very little spare time, and I have a method that works for me but that just wouldn't translate well to group study, so they are out for me and I have a great GPA.

Do what works for you!

Amanda

RNLisa · Dec 10, 2005

I have only used a study group 2x. I am a 2nd year nursing student. I have gotten all A's and only one B so far. That is with studying by myself. I do better by myself.

IF you study with a group, be sure that you actually study. Sometimes when you have a group of more than say 3 or 4 people, you don't usually get alot of studying done. Mainly it turns in to a _itch session.

Small groups are better, have each member write up answers to your objectives in your syllabus and make copies for each other. Plus, you can each quiz others with the NCLEX questions etc.

But, you can do that by yourself using the CD/ROM that comes with the NCLEX review books.

I guess it depends on the person, how you prefer to study, and how many you have in a group.

Everyone studies differently. But, you can get out of nursing without a study group, don't let those people try and talk into something you don't want to do.

Whatever works!

MIA-RN1, RN · Dec 10, 2005

i am second year student, graduating this spring. I'm a loner by nature, and I can't stand study groups. I feel lost in groups in general lol.

I need to study myself, to work out answers for myself because then I feel more confident going into the exams. If someone else gives me an answer I worry how did they get that answer, where did they get their data etc. I feel more personally responsible studying alone and therefore do better for it.

We have objectives from which to study and the groups I am aware with tend to divide up the objectives and then bring them to group and copy each others answers. That doesn't work for me.

Occasionally if I am reall stuck tho, I'll ask another student about things that are hard for me to remember or unclear because sometimes when its worded differently I can get it. That is rare tho.

If you study best by yourself, then you will be fine not joining a group. Don't let them scare you! Maybe they are wanting you to join their group because of your excellent grade!

Hoozdo, ADN · Dec 10, 2005

Do you guys believe a study group is essential? Helpful? Useless?
Chris.
Georgia.
:balloons:

I graduate this month and NEVER was in a study group. The whole concept does not work for me. IMO it is useless, but I am a good self studier. Your study time is limites - do what works best for YOU.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Dec 10, 2005

I was in a study group maybe 5 times in nursing school, but they did not help me at all. I received straight As in nursing school, and the two girls who were in my study group probably wanted me there cuz of that. I spent most of the time in the group explaining concepts to them! After a while I realized it did not do much for me, except maybe give me experience as a tutor! So I think it depends on what works for you best and also if the others in your group are at your level or not.

-Christine

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2005

Chris. . .I think a lot depends on just how the study group is organized and what you all decide to do. I was in a study group when I was in nursing school that met every Tuesday evening at one of our apartments. We reviewed what we each had been working on that week. Basically, we shared with the other people in the group any great insights we had come up with during the week about any of the material. We were each still responsible for learning all the material. When we all agreed that we were going through rough sections we would decide that at the next week meeting we would each take one particular subject to kind of specialize in and report back to the group on it. Actually, sitting around for a couple of hours discussing and trying to make some sense of what you have been learning is a very good way to cement in what you have learned. Everytime you talk about, or explain what you are learning, you are reinforcing the information in your brain. So, for us, this only took place one evening a week. We often called each other, or got together during breaks at school to discuss things as well. We were very compatable with each other. I didn't feel it was particularly draining on my own individual study time. Even though another student might have seemed to know more about some particular subject and shared that information with the rest of us, I still studied it myself. Again, reinforcement. Flash cards are another way to reinforce information as well as to memorize. However, hearing or reading similar information stated in different words or in a different way is also an extremely effective way to help develop an interstanding and retention of the information, so don't discount the value of doing that. Our meetings were also a couple of hours to relax a little as well. We often ended our evenings by going to a local restaurant for hot fudge sundaes and occassionally a movie.

AtlantaRN, RN · Dec 15, 2005

I didn't get anything done in a study group, i mean get a bunch of students together and you end up just yakking about everything else but nursing!

I did best by myself, with flash cards I made, I would walk around the lake at my church with my nose in my flashcards...I studies my butt off, and always got a's & b's

linda

luv2yoga · Dec 18, 2005

I've had mixed results. I think the key is to find students whose work ethic is similar to yours. When I studied with students who didn't care too much about grades, just wanted to pass, it didn't work for me. Nothing wrong with it, but I set my standards really high. When I studied with another woman who also shoots high, it was very productive.

grentea · Dec 19, 2005

I didn't really do the study group thing in nursing school. I felt like I studied better by myself. I was friendly wth a study group that I would sometimes hang out with when I didn't understand something, but even then it was a really informal thing, pretty much people talking about whatever they didn't understand in class. I wouldn't stress about it. It's certainly not something you absolutely have to do but if you're worried about a test and you've done all the studying you can do but you're still not getting some things, sometimes it can help.

Roseyposey · Dec 19, 2005

I have found study groups to be a good addition to my normal studying, but they are not a substitute for it. I had a good study group of about 7 students who got together to review for finals. We made it like an all-weekend party. There was a fair amount of socializing going on, but we needed the outlet. One good thing you can do in a study group is have everyone bring their NCLEX review books and just go over tons of questions; I think that was the single most helpful habit I developed is using those review books. The sections would correspond to what we were learning in class, and a good amount of the same or very similar questions were on the exams.