Do’s and Don’ts in Nursing School (LPN)

00:01 So in nursing school, it's not advisable to cram the night or the day before your exam.

00:08 Tempting, I'm not saying we haven't done it, we all do it, but I assure you, it will not work.

00:13 I repeat, it will not work.

00:17 Not even three days, if you're talking about lots of chapters of content, before the exam.

00:23 It's not enough time. Here's why this doesn't work anymore.

00:27 I know many of us have done it, but not a great idea especially in nursing.

00:32 Now, in nursing, in exams, you're typically being tested over different concepts, multiple concepts, or maybe even one really large complicated concept, which, this is common in LPN school.

00:44 So we're asking you to apply those concepts to patient situations.

00:49 So not memorization, you're having to use critical thinking skills to make clinical judgment.

00:57 So, again, just memorizing facts really isn't going to help you much.

01:02 So to understand the concept, it's ideal you spend time in the content.

01:07 So you really should be studying for at least short times every day.

01:12 Yeah, I said, every day. So schedule out a timeframe, maybe, two-hour timeframe, and then review in the evening.

01:21 So do short intervals that your brain can handle, take small breaks and go about it again.

01:27 So plan out what content you were covering for each class and on what days and what times.

01:34 So what I mean by this is maybe your upcoming test is about cardiac issues.

01:39 So say Monday, maybe, if you're looking at cardiac, you'll look at the cause of heart attacks, if this is your topic.

01:45 Then maybe Tuesday you start looking over risk factors.

01:48 Basically, spread out the content and make a plan.

01:52 This will help to insure you're covering the content adequately without cramming.

01:58 What I like to do and suggest to students is leave at least two days before the exam to just start briefly reviewing your notes.

02:06 Maybe taking practice questions and start clarifying any other content that's a little fuzzy for you before the exam, or asking your faculty.

02:16 So planners are important so you can write these study times down.

02:20 And this is nice because you're going to have to do this around sim, around lab, around clinical, this is really gonna help you organized and it just kinda leaves a little stress.

02:31 Now if you're having trouble with making a plan or using your planner, your faculty or school counselor can help you with this.