Only The Studious Survive By Hayley Drago , Brandy Haley , Tylar Hendricks , Kasey Padgett , Griselda Palomares , and Emily Ray
According to the experiences of senior level baccalaureate students , nursing school has been one of the hardest endeavors ever completed . Adapting to nursing school was a big change from the prerequisites previously completed . Between lectures , clinicals , care plans , formal written papers , and projects to complete , it may seem impossible for nursing students to find time to study and sleep . Therefore , it is important for nursing students to find study methods that work for them .
Knowing your learning style may make studying easier and more effective ( Nurse . org , 2019 ). By knowing your style , you can better individualize the way you study . Scheduling a time to study when you can be in a comfortable environment without distractions can help you to concentrate better , allowing for more productive studying ( Kumar , 2015 ). Allowing yourself to take breaks will help make you more productive ( Nurse . org , 2019 ). For example , one study suggested using the 45-15 method which means that you study for 45 minutes , with no distractions , and then allow yourself a 15-minute break ( Nurse . org , 2019 ).
Also , NCLEX-style practice questions can be very helpful ; in addition , using a workbook that has NCLEXstyle questions can help you practice for your board exams ( Nurse . org , 2019 ). You might try rewarding yourself for meeting a goal , even if the reward is watching a recorded TV show after you finish reading for the night . However , an important factor for nursing school in general is time management ( Kumar , 2015 ). Scheduling out events and deadlines in a planner or calendar can simplify time management skills . Scheduling strict times to use social media and other enjoyable websites may prevent you from wasting excessive time that does not benefit your study goals . If you are a person who loves social media , it is very important to schedule specific times for browsing and then not spend time browsing during study times . To establish effective study habits , it may benefit you to learn the difference between good and bad study habits .
Study Habits and Academic Performance A study aimed at determining the relationship between study habits and academic performance considered the study habits of 129 undergraduate nursing students . The researchers concluded that poor study habits — including studying in a noisy or a cluttered environment , staying up late , cramming , and studying when tired — lead to poor academic performance ( Kumar , 2015 ).
Good and effective study habits include alternating the study place , actively engaging your brain , taking tests , getting adequate sleep , going to class , managing time , and being careful not to categorize where you lie on the learning spectrum . Alternating the study setting increases the chances of retaining information . Also , changing the setting in which you study may be more beneficial to efficient studying , so you are not surrounded by the same atmosphere the entire time . Taking notes while reading is a way to engage your brain ; finding practice tests , either online or through material provided by your school , helps to test your knowledge on the subject . Taking practice tests may prepare you for comprehensive final exams . Going to class and participating while there provides an important tool in academic outcomes because a large portion of information is retained through hearing it ( Kumar , 2015 ).
Time management may allow students to feel organized ; planning ahead decreases procrastination and increases work ability . No matter how you as a student choose to study , the most effective method might be the one that allows you to have the best outcomes on tests . In the electronic generation we live in , additional study tools that could be more effective in improving knowledge retention are electronic textbooks and e-learning modules .
E-learning is a tool for education that might be able to provide additional educational benefits when implemented into the classroom education of nursing students . In an e-learning study , significant improvements in post-test scores using an e-learning module showed better performances than lecture and books amongst the population of undergraduate nursing students ( Morgulis , 2012 ). Nursing students are required to know life-saving skills that are always changing . E-learning is a convenient tool to reference ; also , it allows nurses and nursing students to use technology for daily tasks , to connect with others using news updates , and to provide a means of conversation ( Morgulis et al ., 2012 ).
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