Study T
To make sure that I absorb information, I set a timer for 30 minutes. I will study for 30 minutes, then take a 10-minute break. I find that repeating this helps me recall things easier, while not getting burnt out.
- Peregrine Kimble, nursing student, Fortis College, Westerville, OH
The most important thing to remember about studying is to be aware of your weaknesses and tackle those first! As a nursing tutor through my time in nursing school, most of my time helping support my fellow student nurses was to help identify and develop a plan and tackle it! I realized that we ourselves are our biggest contributors to self-doubt. Staying positive and discovering your best style of learning will go a long way!
- Karen Miranda-Diaz, nursing student, San Bernardino Calley College, San Bernardino, CA
After many hours of trying out new study techniques and materials, I have found a few things that work best for me and have helped me be successful in nursing school.
Set up a study plan. Although I study almost every day, I have committed three-four days prior to my exam where I concentrate on focused study time where I review lectures, rewrite notes, and complete practice problems. When I have days planned in advanced to study, it helps me feel less stressed and behind because I know I have these days set aside to study.
Use your resources. One of the biggest things I have learned while studying is to not focus on one form of studying. I need to study using different formats such as watching videos, completing practice questions, hand writing notes, and speaking aloud the information I am learning. Using different learning styles helps solidify the information.
Highlight the most important concepts— break them down into the most important " sub-concepts " and create concise but effective notes. Once written, read and review to process and fully understand. During this secondary note-taking process, rewrite notes a second and / or a third time. Research has proven that re-creating notes more than once is effective when getting the information to " stick." I like to have fun in my notebook, I use colors and shapes to separate / categorize and " create " a peaceful and happy view that is simply my own!
- Ashley Gipson, nursing student, University of Central Arkansas,
Conway, AR
Use a white board and active recall. When I study and I am struggling with a topic, it helps me to find out what I don’ t know first and then work on remembering what I missed. I do this by putting the topic I am studying in the middle of the white board in one color and then writing everything I remember next to it. After I have finished writing everything I can remember, I go back to my notes and write what I was not able to remember in a different color.
- Kyra Gaskill Iannuzzi, nursing student, Cecil College, North East, MD
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