HOW TO STUDY AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE NURSING PROGRAM

Study Skills

1. Be Prepared

Always read BEFORE coming to lecture @ the very least, skim the material

Make notes of questions Mark page and write out the question Include your thoughts See if it’s covered in lecture

It could be clarified before you have to ask about it

Outline the Chapters to be covered that day Don’t highlight yet, you will have too much information By outlining the chapters, you can insert “key points” during lecture

Utilize all resources to clarify information The internet, etc

Be wary of where you get the information

2. Attend Class

Show up on-time and prepared Have your book, notes, outline, etc

Stay the length of the lecture Don’t assume others will take notes that will make

sense to youParticipate in lecture

Ask for clarification if you are lost Actively participate in activities

Case studies, etc

3. Study Smart (not hard)

Remember, you are going to be a NURSE Focus on nursing aspects

Don’t highlight the entire book That would be way too much to study Use your HESI book to minimize the material

Separate the ‘need-to-know’ from the ‘good-to-know’ Focus on nursing

Use your notes from class as a guide, not the template of exams Nursing is application of the theory and disease(s) you study Lecture is to supplement your readings, not replace it

Don’t move-on to another chapter until you understand the 1st one

4. Dedicate a schedule

Treat school as your JOB Own your education Nursing is a profession, and you are professionals

Set up a realistic study schedule 8 hours a day is not realistic 12 hours on Saturday every week is not conducive to achievement

(cramming) Add in times for exams, papers, etc

Your schedule of exams is given to you well in advance for all courses Study ahead of schedule

There will be exams in the same week, and even the same day(s)

Recommended study time is 2-4 hours per lecture hour Study everyday

5. Questions, questions, questions!

Review questions covering the topics each week

Use multiple NCLEX study guidesThe internet has billions of free NCLEX-style

questionsUse your on-line resources that come with

your textsYou can never do enough questions!

6. Common Mistakes

Studying like you are taking a history exam Also called rope-learning Memorization is a small part, not the majority

Studying too much material and grasping none of it AKA highlighting the book Not using HESI and notes to condense the material

Not focusing on the nursing aspects of the chapters You will be expected to use the nursing process to

answer 95% of exam questions

7. Test Tips

Be prepared Study daily Use NCLEX review questions

Get plenty of rest Your brain functions best with plenty of rest

Give yourselves a break Don’t beat yourselves up, this is a learning process

Take your time