Being a slow reader in nursing school

tbeasley4 · Sep 2, 2014

I am also still in pre-reqs and I would consider myself a slow reader. I am not slow because I don't know the words but because I take my time to fully understand what I am reading. Sometimes I even go back and read the sentences over to fully grasp the concept. I also give myself plenty of time to read the chapters and not wait until the last minute to try and cram all of it the last minute. From friends and family who have been through the nursing program..yes, lots of reading! Hope someone already in the nursing program will give you more insight on the reading section.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

There is an awful lot of reading. It's not necessary to read word for word but we had 8 chapters last week alone we went over. We did 5 chapters in class today. Plus our first exam. So I was studying and trying to read and be prepared for lecture in class today. I would say practice reading. The more you read the faster you will get. I have no idea what slow to you is. But in my prereqs, we maybe did a chapter or 2 a week in a book. Nursing school is much faster than that.

RunBabyRN · Sep 3, 2014

I'm a slow reader, but I managed to make it work. I would scan through the chapters and do the best I could (really, even for most people, the reading is just not going to get done 100%). I carried a book with me EVERYWHERE, and I even read on my treadmill. Managing your time will help you greatly. Figure out what works best for you for eliminating distractions and allowing you to absorb the most material. Also, see what your instructor feels is most important- sometimes you'll have study guides, power points, etc., and those may help guide you some.

There was a speed reading class I found but couldn't afford before I started the program. It might be worth your time to find one in your area.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

Good day:

This was shared on a Facebook group I'm in:

"1. First, find either the chapter preview (in the beginning) or the chapter summary (at the end) and read it. The author is telling you right there how they’ve organized the big bullets and even thrown in some clues to “must know” lower level bullets.]

2. Next, go back and read nothing but the ALL CAPS, the bold faced, or the italicized terms. Be disciplined; don’t get sucked in, read nothing else.

3. Next, go back and read anything in a box or table. Be disciplined; don’t get sucked in, read nothing else.

4. Next, go back and read only the first and last sentences in each paragraph. Be disciplined; don’t get sucked in, read nothing else.

5. Next, go back and fully read any paragraphs that didn’t register.

Next, repeat #’s 1-5.

Only as a last resort, if you still feel like you need it, read every word.

I suspect you can accomplish several cycles of steps 1-6 in less time than you could have read the chapter word for word, start to finish.

]

]What this does is repetitively repeat your exposure to the information in a stepwise manner according to the way the information is organized. Not only is this more efficient as far as storing the information, but it tends to store it in an organized pattern that facilitates recall as well as understanding. Going through a chapter this way is far easier to endure, is far more productive, and leaves you far more receptive (OK, not excited, but at least more receptive) to doing it over again."

Thank you.

i♥words · Sep 3, 2014

1. First, find either the chapter preview (in the beginning) or the chapter summary (at the end) and read it. The author is telling you right there how they’ve organized the big bullets and even thrown in some clues to “must know” lower level bullets.]
2. Next, go back and read nothing but the ALL CAPS, the bold faced, or the italicized terms. Be disciplined; don’t get sucked in, read nothing else.
3. Next, go back and read anything in a box or table. Be disciplined; don’t get sucked in, read nothing else.
4. Next, go back and read only the first and last sentences in each paragraph. Be disciplined; don’t get sucked in, read nothing else.
5. Next, go back and fully read any paragraphs that didn’t register.]

I have started doing this and it is so helpful. Much quicker than reading word for word, and I'm going over and over what's important.

dedicated_2b_RN · Sep 3, 2014

Thank all of you who have responded here today all of this info is great and a real confidence boost for me

this is ALLNURSES WORKING AT ITS BEST Whew and big smiles here

msmama0509 · Sep 3, 2014

I'm a nursing student with one year left....Sometimes watching videos can help you skip some of the reading. For instance watching a video about the pathophysiology means I don't have to read it in the chapter. Then pick out the sections that matter the most charts boxes clinical alerts...for instance in fundamentals the nursing process and patient teaching is what I read and I can watch the skills techniques. I'm a visual learner and videos help me a lot! YouTube is my best friend and I have a photographic memory.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

Here's some tricks I've learned so far that work for me. While going through the book, I first skim through the bolded headings of the chapter you intend to read: it will give you an idea as to what the chapter covers. After that, I go through the objectives at the beginning of the chapter: it keeps me alert as I go through the text that is thought to be important for the chapter. Pay attention to the sections that are large - they tend to cover a lot of content because they are IMPORTANT (usually true, with few exceptions). I then will scan through the "fluff" of the chapter, the stuff that is common sense to me (don't discriminate care, make sure you do skills you're prepared to do) and focus on key terms and key concepts/models that are mentioned. When going over the chapter during lecture, I like to have my computer with me so I can edit directly on the PowerPoint slides. I bold or highlight words/theories that the professor emphasizes and make sure to know those like the back of my hand. If it is emphasized in the book AND your professor thinks it's important enough to cover for a long period of time, it's probably going to be on the exam. Hope some of this helps! As I said, this is what works for ME, so you may need to make adjustments to find out what works best for you. Good luck.