Okay, now I'm nervous :)

delirium · Jan 14, 2003

That sounds a lot like my program, a 75 is passing.

You'll do fine. Just give yourself ample opportunity to read, especially if you read slower than most, believe in yourself, ask for help if you need it.

Relax.

At our school we do have a 'pin pal' program where the senior students are supposed to talk to the incoming students. My senior student never called me, and I opted not to participate in the program this year, as a senior, so I don't know what I'm missing out on.

Besides, if you need anything, we'll be happy to help ya.

deedee05 · Jan 15, 2003

A 75 is passing in my program also. Reading the material is a must!! If you can't read it before class, scan it, so your not completely lost. I have a 2 1/2 yr old son, who demands my attention when I'm not at school. I'm not sure how, but I manage to read. If you can, find a student ahead of you in the program to help you. Ask him/her what helps them and maybe it will help you too. I got lucky enough to get a great "big sister" -- a 2nd level student who "adopted" me. She has really helped me alot, by giving me study tips. I wish you lots of luck. Study hard, and if you do, Pray, alot!! It really helps me. And like delirium said, believe in yourself!!

essarge · Jan 15, 2003

I read the back of the chapter first (review), and answer the review questions so that I have to look up the answers. If the book has a study guide (required or not), I always purchase it and answer the questions out of that...again looking them up. If there is no study guide, when you go to the required chapter, read the first three/four paragraphs under main headings. Then I go to lecture, take notes and am happily surprized at how much I already know. Hope this helps.

RNFROG3, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2003

Specfuz- where are you going to school in TN? I graduated from Austin Peay. It is a lot of reading but you can do it. Take good notes. Read when ever you have the opportunity. I love fluff reading , all kinds of fiction. It is my escape, but I didn't read any fluff the last two years of school. You can do it and welcome!

colleen10 · Jan 15, 2003

Hi Fuz,

I guess I'm a lot like you in that when I'm reading something I don't necessarily grasp it all the first time or understand how it all relates together. I haven't started my nursing classes yet but I have found this problem in other classes like A&P. If I have the time to do so, I'll try to read the chapter before I head into class. Basically just to get an idea of the subject matter. Then, after class when I have sat through lecture and taken down my notes I'll go back and re-read the chapter, paying particularly close attention to the areas that my teacher covered, sometimes even taking down my own notes from the book.

This has worked out really well for me so far but I do worry about how I will handle it when I make it to Nursing and have so much reading to do.

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2003

I have the same trouble. What I do is a bit different. I never take notes,well note in the real sense. I read everything ahead of time, answer questions if I have time, then attend the lecture. I listen to the lecture with my text open to the area we are covering. I star everything that is being discussed during the lecture. I highlight whatever the instructor has gone over more than once. This has helped me to a degree. Note taking is great if you can listen while writing. I am not that coordinated.

Good luck to you.

nessa1982 · Jan 15, 2003

Having a focused study or study partner group might help you. It helps me fill in gaps in my notes or things that maybe I wasnt clear about. It also provides support. Our Micro class last semester had a study group formed and I really feel that it helped me achieve the A i wanted in the class:) A regularly scheduled group also makes sure you keep up with the lecture and forces you to study (I need to force my self Im a procarstinator).

SpecFuz · Jan 15, 2003

RNFROG3,

I just started in Belmont University's nursing program. My brother-in-law goes to Austin Peay though!

>

Thanks to EVERYONE for the tips! My teachers have actually surprised me in saying that if we're trying to read the textbooks from page-to-page, we've got the wrong approach! They say to read just the "headings" on each page and think about what it might mean, and then review the concepts on that page but don't read it line by line. I guess if I do it that way it is "humanly possible". The other way (reading everything line by line) just seemed unrealistic even if I spent every single minute outside of class reading. I think I will do as you all suggested.

I really wish the school paired the "newbies" up with some sophmores, junior, or senior nursing students. I think it would help A LOT.

Thanks for the encouragement,

SpecFuz

Love-A-Nurse · Jan 15, 2003

i am taking in some of your tips every one, thanks.

for me, it all depends on what i am studying and how much time i have to study for it. for the most part this is how:

i write information down in form of a question and answer it as i go, talk it out, re-read, and break down definitions where i can understand them and if i still don't quite get something, i ask in class, another student, or go directly to an instructor, during first semester of nursing school.

this semester i am going to stick with this and will keep your suggestions in mind that is different from mine.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Jan 16, 2003

Rhona....what if the instructor is teaching something that isn't in the book? My instructor adds in a lot of stuff that isn't in the book. I wouldn't survive without taking notes. :) I also tape the class just in case I miss anything.

Nurse Izzy · Jan 16, 2003

Does your school provide any sort of a study guide? Ours uses what they call a Course Learning Guide and it has a study guide for each section in it. It's wonderful. Very comprehensive and time-consuming, but at least that way you know what they expect you to know. It works for them - pass rate on the NCLEX last year was 97%!