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Specializes in Neurology.

hey on my 4th week of nursing school just wondering from all the reading thats assigned .. there seems to be alot of fluff around the important points

do you future/current nurses read entire chapters or skim and read only what you feel is import( bold pointed words and surrounding paragraphs, information boxes, diagrams)?

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

For me, knowing the powerpoints forward/backward was key plus my notes from class. There was no way I was going to read 200-300 pgs in multiple books. I also already had a bit of a healthcare background which helped. So usually the reading I did do was focused on the areas in lecture, especially things I was less familiar with.

Also helps to learn how each instructor likes to do their tests; I had one who did like to cover info included in the boxes & diagrams of the text so for her tests, I did pay more attention to those parts of assigned reading.

Generally though (for me), testing was pretty consistent with lecture although there was often a random question that would have been picked up in the reading; still not enough points to warrant hours of reading.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

some instructors will lecture on what they think is important, but then use standardized tests that may be on topics you did not cover. At the very least I think you should compare lecture notes to chapter text. If there are questions in your textbook, study those.

Depends on the instructor. Now I skim chapters but focus on power points. Other instructors test on material they do not cover so I read those chapters multiple times.

Specializes in LAD.

Right now I'm reading everything I'm assigned. I guess it all depends on how many courses you have and how busy you are.

Specializes in Neurology.
Right now I'm reading everything I'm assigned. I guess it all depends on how many courses you have and how busy you are.

Yea I read all the text too...but most recently started to just scan I have my first exam Tuesday well see how it goes

Specializes in LAD.

I read all the chapters because we don't get notes/power points/handouts or anything like that.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I skim - there just aren't enough hours in the day to read as closely as I'm used to doing for other classes. All of my instructors provide powerpoint lecture outlines so I take notes on those and use them as the basis for my exam preparation. Beyond that I just skim tbe assigned reading with an eye toward the learning objectives listed in the syllabus and any key items emphasized in lecture.

Something I do is I grab the course objectives (these should be in your syllabus) and I specifically read those parts in great detail in the book. I also go over power points and cross-reference the two. I find following the course objectives to be extremely useful with tests because those objectives are what the school goes by to stay accredited, so they need to prove they are teaching those items.

I think over-reading can actually confuse people or overwhelm them. I was like that my first semester, I spent more time reading than anything else. Than I was so nervous for a test that I was going to forget a tiny little bit in the book or miss a piece of information somewhere. I still read a considerable amount, but nowhere near the 2 hours a day thing like I used to. Saves time for more important things - like preclinical work, or homework, or eating an actual meal with my family ;)

Specializes in Neurology.

awesome thanks !! figured i couldnt be the only one

Specializes in Neurology.
I read all the chapters because we don't get notes/power points/handouts or anything like that.

OUCH! that must be rough! good luck !

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