advice for new student to get organized

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I am in my 2nd week of block 1 and I am already overwhelmed. Does anyone have any advice on how to get organized? Some students are suggesting we skim the reading and then take the powerpoints given in class and form notes and flash cards off of the powerpoint slides. We are getting 300+ pages a week to read and all of it just seems to melt together. I really need advice on what I should be focusing on.

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Study to your strengths. If you're a flashcard making ninja, make flashcards; if you write fast, take notes on your reading.

Personally, I remember a good portion of what I've read. After reading a chapter I make notes from memory and check them against the book. When a test approaches I study from my notes. My advice is to avoid flashcards, unless its for vocab or you find them useful. Making flashcards can be a huge time-sink.

Good Luck!

-B

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I will pass along this tidbit of advice...

Worry about what is due tomorrow, don't start to stress about what is due next tuesday, or two weeks from now. Take it day by day, and try to make through without stressing out about what may be due in the future. Focus on the present.

Good Luck

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It IS overwhelming BUT, you WILL get through this...I promise! Take it one day at a time and sometimes, one moment at a time. Take a deep breath and keep just keep moving forward.

For me, I stayed organized by buying a planner from Staples. It was the size of a notebook (with small metal bindings), each page was 8x11 with 3 days on on side and the other days on the other side. The days were organized in columns with TIME slots (7am-8:45pm). I knew what my entire week looked like. I plugged in class times, what was due, study times, etc. Staples item#769864. If you know you have something due in two weeks, by planning, you plan a little time towards the goal, instead of waiting until the last minute. Planning my time kept me focused and gave me a realistic view of what little time there really is.

Reading and powerpoints....I WISHED I could have read every chapter but it is unrealistic. Take a look at the objectives in your syllabus. Maintain your focus on those objectives. If you have a laptop, take it to class and type your notes onto the slides. Do whatever method makes sense to YOU. If flashcards work, use them. If taking a voice recorder to class and listening to it again works, then do it. Everyone has different methods of learning. Figure out what works best for you.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

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Specializes in Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

For me, reading all the chapters is extremely unrealistic. I have to work part time (24 hours-ish a week) and if I read one page, I will read the entire thing and not remember it at all! I always study from the power points we receive from the teacher, because normally that is the key points that they want you to focus on. Then, you could match up those points from the power points in the book and read those exerpts from the book and make additional notes.

Also, I keep a binder for each class. I three-hole punch each set of notes from classs and keep them in order. This can help you keep everything in order for your tests :)

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