Too much studying?

[Niicole]

A little lengthy background. I joined today and this is my first post. I'm going crazy and I need somewhere to turn to.

I knew I wanted to go to nursing school in 2012. I got out of the Army and tried to find the right school. My husband got stationed in Germany so I had to go to school online. I did all my prerequisites and graduated Magna Cum Laude from South University with an Associate of Science in Allied Health Dec 2014. I went back to the states because my husband was supposed to PCS and I was 34 weeks pregnant due Feb 17, 2015. I purchased the ATI study manual Jan 2015 and I had three weeks to study. I scheduled my Teas V exam for Feb 12, 2015 but the school said that they didn't receive my nursing application and I was nearly due. I didn't want to go into labor so I didn't take the test and stopped studying. My son was born Feb 16, 2015. We came back to Germany April 2015 and I took the practice test version A and scored 58.0 I was discouraged. Since then I have been studying my areas to review on and off for about 9 months. I applied to another school and got accepted on pre-status for Aug 2016 but of course you can't be fully accepted into the nursing program without the Teas V. (I need a 60% for their program) I tried to find locations here in Germany where I could take the test and get it off my brain but there isn't one. So in the meantime, I just continue to work on my areas to review. Retaining the intimation is hard. I should be leaving Germany any day now. I've purchased the Teas V mastery app, taken one of the practice test in the back of the ATI book and I plan to take the other practice test and purchase the online test version B. People scratch their heads when I say I'm still studying and honestly I feel some type of way about it but I really want this, I need this and it's nothing I want more than to become a nurse (ultimately, a CRNA) I turned 28 in Dec and I don't have a career. Is there a such thing as too much studying? I'm just discouraged at this point.

[nurseoneday1216]

Hey Nicole!

I don't think there is anything wrong with continuing to study, as long as it is PRODUCTIVE studying. If what you have been doing isn't helping you retain things, maybe try a different avenue. To prepare for the TEAS I found that the most effective strategies for me were to make flashcards for material I didn't know, and watch youtube videos explaining concepts for the science section. Just go to youtube and type in "TEAS ______" and fill in whatever subject you are having a hard time with! I also read the ATI TEAS V study manual cover to cover and did both online practice exams, along with the practice exams in the book. If it makes you feel better, I scored over 10 points higher on my actual exam than I did on any of the practice exams I took! Hope this helps, good luck!!

[Niicole]

Thanks, it does help!!! I decided it's time to leave Germany to pursue this career. I'm scheduled to take the TEAS April 01, 2016 and I'm actually just ready to put it behind me. Best wishes to you and I appreciate the advice!