What are some better ways to understand and memorize the material?

kimmie4476, ASN, RN · Feb 4, 2010

First off, BREATHE!! Then tell us exactly what you are having problems with so that we can help. One of the key things that helped me through nursing school is that I actually took the time to understand what I was reading or learning about. You can memorize all day, but you really need to understand it in order to tie everything together and remember.

ttt-n · Feb 4, 2010

I notice that a lot of the question that I messed up on is the knowledge questions. I have got so use to critical thinking questions that when a knowledge question comes my way I get mixed up. I'm always second guessing myself when I am taking the exam. Did you ever dealt with this? and if you did how did you deal with it?

kimmie4476, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2010

again, I think it's best to understand the material, but here's a few things that helped me through nursing school....

1.)tape the lectures and listen to them as you are driving

2.)transcribe the lectures and re-read them a few times, highlighting as you go

3.)Study group..not the gab session people, but the workers (the ones who usually score the highest on tests.)

4.) NCLEX style questions before the test

Doing these things had me understanding and memorizing the material in no time as it used all my senses

kimmie4476, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2010

Also, I never would go back and change my answers on a test. No second guessing! Just remember, you know this material, it's up there in your brain, and you just need to pull it out!

I had this really great instructor tell us that when she was going through nursing school and had to take tests, she had to "dump" on a piece of paper before she could answer questions. What she meant was if they give you a scratch sheet of paper, "dump" your facts onto it before answering questions then you can focus on what the question is asking instead of trying to recall facts. (obviously if you are going to try this, check with your instructor before taking the test!!!)

ttt-n · Feb 5, 2010

Thanks for your tips! I'll let you know how it goes. Yes I have a problem of changing my answers because mine is computerized and I can't go back and look at the question again. So that's why I have this second guessing problem too. =(

But yes I know it's for my benefit that I won't change any answers from here on out. I am recording the lectures and transcribing them onto my notes. The only thing I need to do like you said was re-read them over and over. Yes NCLEX type questions, Do you know of any sites that I can get access to them for free?

CaptScrubs13 · Feb 5, 2010

OP I totally feel you. I have had 2 Med surg lectures and I already feel completely lost. It's soo much more information than last semester.

For NCLEX questions, check on your textbook for a CD or scratch-off code that you can access online material with. Last semester my Fundamentals book had one, and this semester my Med surg books have them too - you go to the website, create a Username and password, and enter the scratch off codes, and it gives you access to lots of extra resources. Mine has the entire text online (so you don't have to carry the book around everywhere), NCLEX practice questions, videos and clinical simulations. The CD has less "cool stuff" but still lots of things to help you study by.

ttt-n · Feb 5, 2010

Thanks Courtney for the reminder! I feel so bummed out because I just bombed my first MSII test. Yes you are right, it is a lot more material. I tend to forget these books have CDS because I get so wrapped up in the notes and lectures. =X

I'm going to try this resource. =)

itsmejuli · Feb 5, 2010

Get yourself an NCLEX book like the one by Saunders. Use the cd to practice answering questions. The more you practice NCLEX style questions the better you'll get at them.

NCLEX review books are worth their weight in gold when it comes to preparing for school exams, HESI and the board exam.

kimmie4476, ASN, RN · Feb 6, 2010

You are absolutely right about NCLEX review books being worth their weght in gold! I was just looking at my bookshelves and realized that I have 8 NCLEX study guides! (even though I think I only used 2 of them during school) Do you take your exams from HESI? If so, HESI has a study book that you can buy for around 40.00 that was required in our class for our exit exam and NCLEX review course (also required).

When you are looking at NCLEX study guides, there are several different types. Some of them have more knowledge based questions and some have more critical thinking questions. There was a big green one that I used for knowledge based questions, it was from McGraw Hill and you can buy it on Amazon for about 7.00 + shipping ( I just did a search)

To get more comfortable answering NCLEX style questions, everyone in my study group would bring an NCLEX review book and after reviewing the lecture notes, study guides and other stuff, we would toss out NCLEX questions to each other. It's a great way of answering a lot of questions without spending money on a lot of books (it took me years to collect all mine)

If you aren't part of a study group yet, form one, but you have to be firm on the B.S.ing policy and be prepared to bring the discussion back to studying because, as you know, you don't have time for BS!

ttt-n · Feb 6, 2010

Thanks for all the tips you all!! I will try this all out and lets see where my journey takes me.

shrimpchips, LPN · Feb 6, 2010

Here's my advice:

1) get a good NCLEX book. I recommend Saunders or NCLEX-RN: Reviews & Rationales. The Reviews & Rationales book is great but if you're a visual learner, the book might not be so great because it doesn't have very many pictures; however, the Saunders one does. I'm a visual learner but I like both of them. Use your NCLEX book to practice questions pertaining to whatever you are learning in class. It will help you learn the material and also help you study for the NCLEX at the same time :)

2) If making notecards works for you then make them! I find that making notecards for things such as lab values or for drugs helps, but other than that they don't help me. it sucks, but re-writing stuff helps me learn the information.

3) If you're allowed, tape record your lectures.

4) Look through your notes the same day of lecture after having lecture and also flip through your notes every day to help you learn the material.

Hope this helps!