Best study habits of a successful SRNA

etherscreen · Sep 9, 2014

First off, congratulations on getting into school. Getting in was the easy part

At no other time in your professional career will you have the time to hone your craft that way that you will during your education. This means that you read before class, don't bolt out of the OR when the clock strikes a certain time, or skimp on your studies at home.

Study habits are a personal thing. Learn the times of day when you're at your peak and maximize your learning during these times. For me, this is in the afternoon and after dinner well into the night. When things aren't clicking, put the books down for a few minutes and refresh.

I recommend what I like to call "learning in layers." Learn the basic skeleton of the content you're trying to master. Then go back and fill in the gaps with key details, and after that go back and fill in the holes with minor details, and finally the minutia.

Let's say your learning about local anesthetics. First, I would become familiar with the chapters a basic book such at Basics of Anesthesia or Morgan and Mikhail's Anesthesiology. After I've digested this content, I'd go another layer beyond these texts. I love Stoelting's Pharmacology and Physiology as well as Pharmacology and Physiology for Anesthesia by Hemmings, particularly for the molecular basis of action. If you start with one of these books, it's very likely that you'll miss the big picture. It's easy to get lost in the minutia. If you feel you're getting buried in the minutia, back up and re-orient yourself.

Turn the content into a story. Learning the physiology of the neuromuscular junction isn't a collection of facts, but rather a fascinating story with some really cool characters.

Find a study group. Take turns teaching each other. If you can't teach it to someone else, you don't know it!

Learn to be an excellent test taker. There is an art form to this. To get better, you're going to need to practice with well-written practice questions backed by clear explanations. You have choices here. I'm clearly biased, but in the end, it's about picking something of high quality that meshes with your individual learning style.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, but you shouldn't be asking questions about things that you should already know. There is a fine line here. You will be judged by the questions you ask, because they usually parallel your understanding. On the flip side, you can hurt someone if you don't ask. Your number one priority is your patient - not your pride.

This is your job, your passion, and your life for the next several years. Make the most of it!

Angelrina,CCRN · Sep 10, 2014

That is extremely helpful. Thank you so much!