First, you need to understand the language of nursing (refer to my article on that Or buy a book for nursing terminologies)to understand your lectures in class. DO not miss lectures
If the instructor writes anything on the board write it down it may be on your exam. Take notes during lecture on things that are not on your powerpoint
Buy a review book, there is a good one from prentice hall. Read it before and after the lecture, do the nclex style questions and be sure to read the rationales for the right answers.
Buy a Nclex style question and answer book, the one from the success series by Fa Davis is good. Do the questions for the chapters you have done in class. Be sure to read the rationales for both the right and wrong answers. Do this way before your test so you can do a few questions a day.
Read your text book, dont try to jump ahead or skip things because you still have to take nclex and hesi and know those things
Do Nclex style questions from books mentioned above or ones you like, this helps you get used to the type of questions asked in nursing so you are not shocked by your first few exams. It also prepares you for nclex which you have to pass to be a nurse.Plus you prepare for the hesi exit exam as well.