Nursing School Study Group Do’s:

• Make practice exams and share with each other.  Each person will find different pieces of information important.  Everyone benefits from getting input outside independent reading.
• Teach and discuss concepts to each other. Nothing tests your own knowledge of a topic quite like trying to explain it to someone else. Taking turns “teaching” one another either confirms your proficiency or highlights areas you need to focus on more…either way you benefit from the exercise!
• Share resources like youtube videos, visuals/graphics, and mnemonics that you found helpful. A group chat or email thread can be useful to keep all these resources in one place.
• Come prepared! Do your reading, review the powerpoints, and be familiar with the information.  This way, you can give as much to the group as you’re getting back.
• Set a schedule and stick to it. The more “cooks in the kitchen”, the easier it is to get off track. An unstructured set up usually causes a lack of focus and efficiency. Have a start and end time and a group goal of keeping motivation the full time.
• Ask questions, ask for help, and ask for clarification. Classmates often explain concepts to each other in a more understandable way because they have the same level of understanding.

Nursing School Study Group Don’ts:

• Waste valuable time complaining about things you can’t control. This includes things like the volume of information, how brutal the last exam was, or the quality of your teacher’s lectures.
• Feed each others’ negativity. There’s a time and a place for venting frustrations, but the group study session is not it! If you notice someone getting off on a tangent, gently guide them back on topic so they don’t drag everyone down with them.
• Put yourself down just to be humble. Sure, nobody likes a know-it-all. But it’s okay to be an asset to the group by stepping up!  Don’t be afraid to take on a leader role when there’s something you feel you have a good grasp on.
• Just quiz each other on flashcards. Try to avoid any activity that you could truly do on your own (or with the help of a non-classmate like your roommate or your mom).
• Make it a cram session at the last minute. Instead, try to arrange meeting at least a few days prior to the test so there’s time to let any new ideas or additional information fully sink in.
• Expect this to be your main study time. As valuable as group study sessions can be, they should always be only a supplement to your independent studying.