Every student learns differently, and each program has a different way of teaching their material. These study methods were the ones that worked best for me, in courses preparing us for the NCLEX. The program was also traditional in-class program and held scheduled classes. The way I studied for my online BSN classes were slightly different than that of my pre-NCLEX courses.
#1 Outline the Reading.
There is a lot of reading in nursing school. I knew some students who never opened their textbook. Depending on the professor they either tested right from their lectures, mainly from the reading or a mixture. A few exams I did not read, although those tests were not any grade I was proud to take home. I began outlining the reading. A warning, first and foremost, learn to pick out the important information do not rewrite the chapter. For me, taking detailed notes, burned me out and then the next exam I had stopped reading. Only note vocabulary and main ideas, disease processes.
#2 Flash Cards
I love flashcard and index cards. I would turn the information from the lecture and my outline into questions. The study aid was helpful on the run if you’re stuck in a line, waiting for an appointment, pull out the cards and go through them. I worked as a cashier during nursing school, in between customers I would pull my cards out and go through them. Now a word to the wise, I had always used flashcards, but they didn’t work until nursing school. Back in high school or early in my first attempt at college I would make cards the week of my exam. The practice of making the study aid so close to the test is not a good use of time what so ever. I found that the cards work best when you take all the information given in a week and set a deadline for yourself to have them written. Then at least once a week go through all your cards. This way old stuff stays fresh and more information will retain in your long-term memory.
#3 Questions
If you’re in a class preparing for NCLEX, buy the up to date books with NCLEX questions. Whether Lippincott, Saunders, ATI, or the Success series. I had used them all. All the books have NCLEX style questions, just like the exams. As many times as professor tell you they are not trying to trick you, as a student, it’s hard to believe. Practice with questions written in the same method. After answering some questions read through the rationales. At least read the rationales to the questions you got wrong, it will help. The rationales will help in understanding why you got the answer wrong. Questions allow you to reevaluate where you should spend more time studying. If all the pneumonia answers are correct, but you keep missing questions on chest tubes, then study chest tubes and lightly review pneumonia.
Everyone studies differently. Whether these methods aid in your studying of the material or some other method completely different. Good luck and keep studying.