Do you feel like nursing school exams are trying to break you? During my time in nursing school, I often found myself in the library, staring at a pile of textbooks with no idea where to start. I remember asking myself, "How am I going to pass these exams?"
The Weight of Nursing School Exams...
Let's admit it, nursing school exams are way tougher than those in other courses for a few reasons:
- Application of Theory to Real-Life Scenarios: Nursing exams test your ability to apply theory to real-life scenarios. It's not just about memorizing facts; you need to think critically and make clinical decisions, making these exams more demanding.
- NCLEX-Style Questions: Like I've mentioned in my previous blog, nursing exams often feature NCLEX-style questions, which are not straightforward multiple-choice. These questions assess your critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills, putting you in real situations asking, "What will you do?" and "What is the right approach?"
- High Stakes: You're going to be a real nurse someday, and real lives are at stake. This makes the pressure higher in nursing programs. Your exam performance directly affects your progress in the program and your ability to get your nursing license, adding an extra layer of difficulty compared to typical college exams.
- Comprehensive Content: As a nursing student, you must master tons of detailed information, from anatomy and physiology to pharmacology, and patient care. The comprehensive nature of the content means you need to understand and apply knowledge across various subjects.
- Frequent Assessments: In addition to regular exams, nursing programs often have frequent assessments, including quizzes, midterms, finals, and practical exams. This continuous testing means you must consistently keep up with your studies, leaving little room to fall behind.
All these factors combined make nursing school exams particularly challenging. To succeed, you'll need effective study strategies. That's why I created this blog—to share the different strategies I learned and applied to get through those heavy exams.
Key Takeaways
- Identifying Your Learning Style: Discover how to determine your dominant learning style and tailor your study techniques accordingly.
- Creating a Study Schedule: Learn how to create an effective study schedule that maximizes your productivity and balances your workload.
- Active vs. Passive Studying: Understand the difference between active and passive studying and how to engage more effectively with your study materials.
Study Tip #1: Identifying Your Learning Style
Trust me, this is a very underrated study tip, but it's a game changer. Determining whether you're a visual, auditory, reading/writing, or kinesthetic learner can make a huge difference. Personally, I am a visual learner. To prep for exams, I usually use visual aids, create diagrams, charts, and mind maps to visualize complex concepts and their relationships. This approach was especially helpful when I was studying for pharmacology and pathology. You can even check out the templates I used when I was studying for exams. Here are a few ways to figure out your learning style:
- Reflect on Past Learning: Think about subjects or skills you've learned easily in the past. Were there specific ways information was presented that made it easier to grasp? Did you enjoy reading textbooks, listening to lectures, or working on hands-on projects?
- Experiment with Techniques: Try out various techniques and see what works best for you. This could involve using flashcards (visual), listening to audiobooks (auditory), rewriting concepts in your own words (reading/writing), or building models (kinesthetic).
- Take Online Assessments: Use online quizzes or self-assessment questionnaires designed to identify your learning style. Websites like Learning Styles Online provide FREE detailed assessments to help determine your dominant learning style.
To make things simple:
- If you prefer charts, graphs, pictures, diagrams, and other visual aids, you might be a visual learner.
- If you learn best by listening to lectures, discussions, or audiobooks, you could be an auditory learner.
- Reading or writing learners benefit from written materials, taking notes, and summarizing information.
- If you grasp concepts best through hands-on activities, experiments, and movement, you might be a kinesthetic learner.
Study Tip #2: Creating the Killer Study Schedule
Trust me, creating a study schedule will help you effectively prepare for your nursing school exams. People might give you tips on how to create a study schedule, but as I've mentioned, I am a visual learner. That's why I created my own study schedule when I knew my exams were approaching. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create your very own study schedule:
Step 1: Gather Intel
- List Your Exams: Write down all the exams you have approaching, including the dates and any specific content areas mentioned by your instructors.
- Gather Your Resources: Collect your textbooks, class notes, online resources, and any practice question banks you'll be using. You can also check out my All in one nursing bundle to help you out with your studies, this bundle contains high yield content that is perfect for visual learner like myself. Here’s a FREE sneak peak of the bundle if you’re interested
Step 2: Conquer the Content
- Break It Down: For each exam, list all the topics you need to cover. Divide these topics into smaller, more manageable chunks. Aim for sections you can realistically tackle in a single study session (think chapters or subtopics).
- Plan Your Attack: Distribute these topics across your available study days leading up to the exam. Assign specific sections to each day, ensuring you cover everything by exam time.
Step 3: Set SMART Goals
Instead of just "studying," set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for each session. For instance:
- "Review Chapters 5 and 6 in [Textbook name] and complete 50 practice questions related to those chapters."
- "Create a mind map summarizing the key points of [Topic name]."
Step 4: Time Blocking is Your Friend
- Grab Your Calendar (Digital or Paper): Use time-blocking to schedule dedicated study sessions for each topic throughout your day. Block out focused study time, including short breaks to avoid burnout. Aim for 2-3 hour sessions with 10-minute breaks in between.
- Schedule Strategically: Consider your energy levels. Are you a morning person? Block intense study sessions earlier in the day. Night owl? Schedule them for later when you're most focused.
Step 5: Level Up Your Learning
Ditch passive studying! Integrate active learning techniques to boost information retention:
- Summarize Information: Rewrite complex concepts in your own words.
- Teach Someone (or Pretend To!): Explain the material to a friend, family member, or even a stuffed animal.
- Mind Map It Out: Create visual representations of topics using mind maps or flashcards.
Step 6: Resource Roundup
Don't limit yourself to textbooks! Utilize a variety of resources to keep things engaging:
- Online Lectures and Tutorials: Check out my Nursing Mastery Course that has helped many nursing students prepare for their exams. It includes practice questions to test your knowledge with NCLEX-style practice questions.
- Study Groups: Connect with classmates to discuss concepts, quiz each other, and share study tips.
Step 7: Review, Review, Review
Don't cram everything the night before! Schedule regular review sessions throughout your study plan. Revisiting previously covered material helps solidify your understanding and improve long-term memory.
Step 8: Be Flexible but Focused
Life happens! While having a structured schedule is key, be flexible and adjust your plan as needed. If you find a topic trickier than expected, allocate extra time to conquer it.
Step 9: Self-Care is Crucial
Studying is important, but so is taking care of yourself! Make sure you add breaks to your schedule or maybe even a day off from studying. Get enough sleep and eat healthy foods. Include time for relaxation and activities you enjoy to prevent burnout and maintain focus. Your brain needs enough time to rest; it's just as important as studying.
By following these steps and tips, you can create a personalized study schedule that sets you up for success in your nursing school exams!
Study Tip #3: Choose ACTIVE over PASSIVE
There are two ways of learning complex concepts: active learning and passive learning. Passive learning puts the instructor at the center of knowledge transfer. Examples include:
- Attending lectures and taking notes
- Reading textbooks
- Watching video lessons
While passive learning can be useful for initial exposure to information, it might not lead to deep understanding or strong knowledge retention, which is what most nursing students need when studying for exams. Active learning, on the other hand, encourages critical thinking and a deeper understanding of complex concepts, which is crucial for future nurses. Active learning strategies include:
- Discussions and Group Work: Debating concepts, explaining ideas to peers, and working on problems collaboratively.
- Practice Exercises: Completing practice questions, case studies, and simulations that mimic real-life nursing scenarios.
- Creating Study Materials: Developing mind maps, flashcards, or teaching guides that summarize key information.
- Self-Reflection: Journaling about learning experiences, analyzing strengths and weaknesses in knowledge.
When I was preparing for exams in nursing school, one of the most important things I did was to use effective study methods that really helped me retain information. Here are some strategies I have used to study for exams together with its pros and cons so you have an idea:
| Technique | Pros | Cons |
| Highlighting Textbooks (Passive Learning Technique) |
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| Summarizing Key Points (Active Learning Technique) |
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| Creating Flashcards (Active Learning Technique) |
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I personally believe that active learning is particularly beneficial, especially for nursing students, because it allows you to apply theory to real-world situations, develop problem-solving skills, and improve communication and collaboration abilities—all essential qualities for success in the field.
FAQs
What is the most effective way to create a study schedule for nursing school exams?
Creating a study schedule for nursing school exams involves listing your exams, gathering your resources, and breaking down the content into manageable chunks. Set SMART goals, use time-blocking, and integrate active learning techniques. This structured approach ensures comprehensive coverage and effective preparation.
How can I determine my learning style for better exam preparation?
Determining your learning style involves reflecting on past learning experiences, experimenting with different techniques, and taking online assessments. Identifying whether you're a visual, auditory, reading/writing, or kinesthetic learner can help tailor your study methods for more effective exam preparation.
Why is active learning better than passive learning for nursing students?
Active learning is better than passive learning for nursing students because it encourages critical thinking and a deeper understanding of complex concepts. Techniques like discussions, practice exercises, and creating study materials help apply theory to real-world situations, essential for future nurses.
How can I manage the overwhelming amount of content in nursing school?
Managing the overwhelming amount of content in nursing school involves creating a structured study schedule, breaking down content into smaller chunks, and using active learning techniques. Regular review sessions and flexibility in your study plan can also help you stay on top of your studies.
What are some self-care tips for nursing students preparing for exams?
Self-care tips for nursing students include scheduling regular breaks, getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and incorporating relaxation activities into your routine. Balancing study with self-care helps prevent burnout and maintains focus, essential for effective exam preparation.
It’s Gonna’ be Challenging…
Nursing school exams are undoubtedly challenging, but by identifying your learning style, creating a killer study schedule, and choosing active over passive learning, you can significantly improve your chances of success. Implementing these strategies will help you manage the heavy workload and retain information more effectively.
For more valuable study tips, follow us on social media @AmazingNursing, or check out previous blog about How to Survive Nursing School. Let's make your nursing school journey as smooth and successful as possible!
