Okay, now I'm nervous :)

[SpecFuz]

Well, I started nursing classes last week. I'm taking:

Pathophysiology (3)

Nursing Seminar (1)

Intro to Nursing (5)

Health Assessment (3)

and an online english lit course...

I am excited, nervous, and petrified all at the same time. I want to know I can do something - anything. I want to know I can make an occupied bed (I'm sure that sounds ridiculous to some)! Basically, my fear is based on the amount of reading. I am a slow learner and it takes me time. One glance doesn't do it for me. I don't see how it is humanly possible to read everything that is required. Is it? Some people have told me no, and some have told me yes. In actuality, I think if I stayed awake 24 hrs/day I still wouldn't get all the reading done so there's gotta be some kind of plan of attack.

I hope to figure it out soon! If anyone has any advice. One thing I realized is that I wish the nursing program had seniors talk to everyone who is starting out. I think this would really show us that it can be done and make us feel like, "hey, everybody had to start somewhere". Also, my school requires a 76 average on all tests to "pass" and continue in the program. So a 76 is just considered passing!!!!

Best of luck to everyone who just started and who is continuing :)

Spec:uhoh3:

[RNIAM, BSN, RN]

I haven't had one college level course yet that doesn't follow the text outline; oops change that I had one class that did that. For those types of classes I would still refrain from taking tons of notes. If your frantically writing stuff down are you really listening to what is being said? In that case I would listen to the lecture and record it only if I felt I didn't understand the concepts. I know, I know writing notes is touted as very important and it does have it's place. Remember to use what works for you. You might like to try more than one thing to see what type of learner you are and then tailor your study aids to that. I know my method works for me. A-, an A and a B last semester. I think it worked pretty well.

[vaughanmk]

I find that reading the textbooks is too overwhelming. I try to skim the information the night before. Also a lot a textbooks provide CD-ROMs with them. They help a lot. The quizes really help (especially when they provide the answers). It saves a lot of time and you still get the points they are trying to get across.

[Momto2Boys]

Spec,

Best of luck to you. I wish I had some advise to offer but I still doing pre-reqs. It does seem very hard and you are starting to get me nervous

I like your suggestion about having the seniors come in and talk and reassure that it is going to be okay. Great motivation.