Do you actually read the assigned reading?

Clovery · Sep 20, 2011

I don't read all of it. Now that i'm in the 2nd semester even my teacher acknowledges that it's nearly impossible to do all the reading - she said to look at the key points, look at the pictures and read the captions and read the summaries. then do the review questions and look up anything you aren't sure about.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 20, 2011

Right now I do because it's not so bad, but I don't read before class like they want me to. PLEASE. I do NOT have *time* to pre-read while studying for an exam/lab skills tests, that are all happening in the same week. FORGET ABOUT IT!

SweetseRN · Sep 20, 2011

Flip through and get to the real nursing stuff in your books, and read that. The important assessments, interventions, priorities. Focus on that. I do not think anyone can read everything. I used a lot of the online resources from by books too, usually a lot more entertaining than the book itself. Good luck!

Lifeofanurse · Sep 20, 2011

I am a new grad LVN (got PASS on nclex today!)...

I hated the medsurg book, absolutely useless to me. It (both of the 5 lb huge volumes) literally held my closet door open the entire year. I never read it, not once. It was way to "chemistry" based. I did however, do lots and lots of internet searches and did look each section we were covering up in other books like my nclex review book (these are the ones that give the info not have actual questions). And I did well. Not all A's but mostly A's and b's....got like one C on a test the entire year.

I also think it depends on your base knowledge. I'm an older student. I have 3 kids and have experience w/ lots of medical issues due to my family so I knew where my weak areas were and concentrated on them when it came test time and I did pretty good.

I would tell you to do what they tell you but also know that it's impossible to read that much and still have time to shower and eat and do anything else.

so do what you can. don't read stuff you know. look up stuff you don't. you'll be fine.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

Well, I'm one of the dorks who does read everything. I try to have it all read before lecture, then I go through everything again after lecture w/ my pp notes and my own notes.

Of course, my kiddos are all grown and I'm a widow, so I don't have others competing for my attention.

Despareux · Sep 20, 2011

Depends. If there's something I don't understand during lecture, then I go back and read about it. I may skim the informational boxes, read the outcomes at the beginning of each chapter, and then the key points at the end of the chapter if I have time.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Sep 20, 2011

Depends. If there is something I don't understand well, I'll read EVERYTHING. I usually just skimmed the pages though, and focused on the assessments, interventions, rationales & priorities of nursing actions.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

I do, because some of my teachers test more from the book than the notes.

hopefulUS · Sep 20, 2011

If I would sit and read every chapter assigned from beginning to end ..well I wouldn't even have time to eat. So what I do is read up on whats on the powerpoints lectures, on what the professor emphasized and do review questions. LOTS of review questions. By doing questions I learn a lot more than If i were to just sit and read the chapters. Hope that helps :) But you just started so after a month or so you'll find you're own way of studying that works for you. GOOD LUCK :up:

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

i dont even own the book. :cool:

i just take notes, record lecture and read over my notes. rarely do they test on things they dont cover in lecture (in my program), and if they do, they mention it in lecture... hasnt happened yet this semester but if it does, ill just go to the library and read whatever were supposed to read.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

i read the powerpoint notes along with book, if theyre word for word i only read the notes. theres no way i can read ALL that stuff they require