How to/How I studied for Fundamentals in an Accelerated nursing program:
When I first started Fundamentals (my first official class in the nursing program), I wasn’t sure at all how to study, but I knew that there would be lots of studying. For the first exam, I read the chapters assigned before the next day’s class, and took handwritten notes. Then in class for lecture we would have PowerPoints put together by the professors that we would go over and anyone could ask questions. Our professors provided a study guide for us but I chose to not do it- thinking I would just study everything and know everything instead!
=INFORMATION OVERLAOD
Then I got an 84 on my first test, whereas my peers all got high 90’s or even 100. I knew I had to re-evaluate how I was studying. I stopped making my own notes- there wasn’t a single question on the test that my notes would have helped me answer (my notes went into too much detail I think). The questions were all very much application style, which I was not used to. I was used to cut and dry questions like..
“the third step in the nursing process is… plan” when really it was more like “the nursing is setting a goal for the patient to ambulate across the hall 50 ft w/o pain by discharge. What step of the nursing process is the nurse doing?...planning” (just an example, not an actual question from our test)
Completely makes sense- but for me it only did in hindsight! At the time I’m not sure what I was thinking, but I’m sure I was overthinking a lot!
So let's break it down.
STUDY GUIDES:
I immediately started doing the study guides- figuratively and literally, because our next test was in a week! I know that not all programs have study guides but if yours does you have to take advantage of it. If yours doesn’t maybe your professors would be open to giving you one or at least give you study tips to narrow down what you should know.
Our study guides would be like: “1. What is sensory deprivation and sensory overload; how are they different? What are some potential causes of each? What does each look like? What interventions would help each?” and “2. What are some safety precautions for patients with sensory alterations (consider each of the senses)?” so the answers were pretty long and some required a little bit of critical thinking.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Another big aspect I started to incorporate is the use of study questions available online through the book’s website. There was usually 15-25 practice questions for each chapter-- all which broke down the rationale on why one was correct vs. the others incorrect. This helped me to think critically about the answers I chose and why (either why they were right or why they were wrong). Learning why something was wrong is where I have gleaned so much. Originally I thought asking a patient “why do you feel like your life is falling apart?” was a totally fine answer to a question. But from getting a similar question wrong I now know that you shouldn’t ask “why” questions-- and the best part is, it was only a practice question!
See what resources you have. There are usually study guide books made specifically for books and/or a code that comes with your book (both my books had codes on the inside cover- and my books were used!)
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
One: read the chapter before class. bring your books to class and highlight along with important things the professor says while at the same time adding notes into the PowerPoint based on what your professor says is important (it’s also nice to have one color for info from the book, and a different color for what the professor said). This is helpful so that you can go back and look at the PowerPoint for reference instead of having to flash back through your book. Start on the study guide ASAP.
Two: find a study method that works for you to help everything sink in. For me during Fundamentals this was concept maps. But for others it’s flash cards, watching videos, re-listening to recorded lectures, or reading the textbook again.
Three: find out what you know by doing practice questions- without looking at anything! Go back and review the things you didn’t know.
Four: Ace your test. (cheesy I know.)
THINGS THAT ARE GOOD TO KNOW:
The nursing process. Apply it to every question! Has your patient even been assessed? Like in the case of walking into a patients room, of course you’re going to need to do an assessment before administering oxygen/meds/anything!
*note: I noticed (compared to being in MedSurg) that in Fundamentals it seems like answers which said “administer _____” or “change the drip rate from ___ to ___” were never the answer. It was always about assessment first.
Scope of practice. Like when do you need to report it to the health care provider vs. do something on your own? If a patient is short of breath when you come in, and you’ve already done your assessment, yes this is something you may want to let the doctor know, but what can you do first while you’re there? Raise the head of bed or apply oxygen would be options of nursing interventions to do first.
Pay attention to the words. Like “first, always, never, avoid” either in the question or in the answer. Rarely do “always, never, avoid” come up in the correct answer. (in my experience of course)
Know what your professors are looking for. Get your mindset shaped to who is making the questions. If you’re studying questions from your book they are going to look different from the questions your professors give you. Your professors have specific guidelines for what you needed to learn so keep that in mind! Odds are if you didn’t hear about it EVER in lecture then it’s probably not the answer. (for example sometimes our questions would be able adjusting drip rates on IVs which is something we hadn’t learned anything about. So through elimination that answer is out.)
After studying like this I was able to get a 96% in the class!
Example of study guide book available from Barnes and Noble
Nclex-style review questions that go with the book
All the resources available!
