Nursing school takes time, effort, and some sweat. The students within your class are seen every day and bonds are made. All the students in your class are going through the same lectures, clinical, and simulations. Study groups are created and formed in several ways. A study group can be a beneficial way to gain the knowledge and the confidence of the material. A study group can also be a complete waste of time if you are not in the right group.
#1 The Right Personalities
Some people are able to get along and click better than others. The people you surround yourself and study with will depend on the personalities of the other people in the group. Much like finding the right friends, disposition will be a significant consideration in the group. If the right chemistry exists within the group, a considerable amount of studying will be accomplished. If a wrong personality exists in the group, one or more members of the group will not be able to gain everything out of the experience. Clicks can form within the group causing issues, like favoritism and resentment.
#2 The Right Goals
An accomplished study group will have similar goals to work precisely and productive. The lecture material of each session will directly be correlated to the goals placed before the group. Are the individuals of the group focused on studying and bringing an open mind and ability to work or do they see this as a type of social time? I have noticed study groups that go to restaurants or meet at someone’s house order in open food book and use this as a social experience. The study group that is utilized as a social outlet for the student is excellent as long as all members have the same understanding. If one or two people who sought out a group because they are genuinely struggling with the material, this will be a waste of time for them. Be honest and upfront about the goals of the session and the group. Don’t waste your time or the time someone else who needs to focus.
#3 The Right Study Methodology
You the student, have found the right type of personalities that all get along, the group’s goals match your own, now it’s time to study. There are some ways to review within a group, parallel studying, split and share, teaching one another, quizzing and understanding. The parallel studying is a group that meets at the same time same place and individual studies. At any time where a question or a misunderstanding of the work comes into play that is then brought up to the group. The individuals then help each other in the concept until the correct understanding is acknowledged. The split and share are when a group delegates the material of the exam and either outline of the readings or study guides are made and then distributed to the other members of the group. This eases the necessary text to only a fraction, and the information is still absorbed for the members. Teaching one another, a topic is brought up, and each member of the group works out and articulates the concept to other members. This will not only teach or bring a different view than that of the lecture but also enhances understanding of the person teaching. If you are able to explain and talk out the concepts beyond reading directly from a book the knowledge is cemented in long-term better. The similar questions of the nursing exam can be found online, in books and computer software. Quizzing one another will identify the strengths and the weakness of the material. If someone has answered the question wrong or doesn’t understand the answer as a group, the solution and understanding will be made. Some methods will work better for some groups more than others. The use of multiple ways will help in understanding the material. There is so much information in nursing school, at times it can feel overwhelming, but the group will also be there as an additional support system.
The best thing to keep in mind is the study group will only be as good as the commitment of all the members. If you find yourself in a group that’s not a great fit for you, finding another group or studying alone might be more beneficial. Remember, that nursing school is not easy, some programs will allow you to repeat a class, f you have to then that’s what you do, but don’t depend on that because you couldn’t get serious about the material.