Nursing Exam Study Tips
Exams are a constant source of anxiety, not just for nursing students but for anyone in general. Imagine spending ample time studiously reviewing your materials and come exam day, you discover that you barely retained anything from reviewing lessons. Scholarly Nurse understands your plight. Here are a few nursing exam study tips to help you ace your next exam.
Recall What You Already Know About the Topic
Before you begin studying, remember key details regarding the topic. Think about what your professor reviewed and notes you made in class. Test your knowledge before each study session by trying to answer the learning objectives for that section.
Always Ask Why
As you are learning a new topic, ask yourself why you need to know this. Then keep asking why until you boil it down to very basic concepts. For example, if you were reviewing nursing interventions for inflammation then ask why you would perform certain interventions. Why do I need to monitor the patient’s temperature? Why do prostaglandins increase body temperature? And so on…
Visualize the Concepts
Trying to memorize the material by re-reading concepts repeatedly is not an efficient way of learning. Picture the components of the current body system you are studying. Then imagine one of those components performing its usual functions and participating in processes. Create a story out of your vision for even further increased retention.
Take Frequent, Short Breaks
Cramming or studying for large blocks of time is not an effective or efficient utilization of the brain. Furthermore, it does support retention of the subject matter. According to Jim Kwik, the famed author of Limitless, the Pomodoro technique is an excellent method to employ when studying or for productivity in general. This technique entails spending time on a task for 25 minutes then taking a 5-minute break. It improves productivity and focus.
Organize the Content
Understand the basic concepts of a topic or component first before moving onto more complex areas. Build on concepts that you already know. For example, it is better to learn boil eggs first before trying to make an egg salad sandwich!
Participate in Study Groups
Taking part in regular study groups can be very rewarding. You improve your retention of a topic when you teach others how to understand said topic and vice versa. Also, other study partners can reveal concepts that you might have missed.
Know Your Preferred Learning Style
Are you a visual, kinesthetic, or auditory learner? A mix? If you do not know, then it is worth taking one of the free online quizzes which will help you determine your preferred learning style(s). Most people tend to be a mix of two of the styles.
Visual learners do well with illustrations, images, videos, etc. Listening to podcasts and recorded lectures as well as discussing concepts themselves are recommended for auditory learners. Kinesthetic learning entails doing something such as performing a task rather than just reading or hearing how to do it or answering questions online/on paper.
Concept Mapping
When you are starting a new subject area, it is expedient to break down the subject into a hierarchy of the major concepts and their subsequent basic facts. You can easily create various types of concept maps using the SmartArt tool in Microsoft Word. This is also handy for creating process maps as well.
Leave a comment below if you use or plan on using these nursing exam study tips. Remember Scholarly Nurse is here to help you succeed in nursing!
References
Kwik, J. (2020). P. 48. In Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life. Hay House, Incorporated.