Best way to take notes and study

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.

Ok so I am just now starting in my nursing program in March and I am seriously thinking about changing the way I take notes and study. And I would really like to see how other people use their notes to study.

So right now I have either one 5 subject notebook for all classes or multiple 1 subject notebooks for each class. I take notes while in class and then sometimes rewrite them later as well as typing up a study guide to study from. This has worked for me in the past but those were just general classes. I know many other people like to have 3 ring binders with paper in it to take their notes but I have always wondered if I would like it.

So how does everyone else take their notes to study from, and how do you use them to study? I don't want to get into the program and study for my first test and realize then I needed help in the note taking department.

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There is no right way to take notes in nursing school....its whats best for you.

In my nursing program we have pp slides for all classes, so i write notes on those, some people rewrite their notes, some record the lecture and go back and add to their notes after class, whatever works best for you. good luck

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I bought a Livescribe Pulse pen. I use it to take notes and record the lecture at the same time. I can go back and complete my notes and rewrite them if I wish, knowing that I have access to the entire lecture. I highly recommend the Pulse pen. It is worth the price the first time you improve your grade on a test.

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Specializes in NICU.

I agree about power point slides - many of my teachers post them online and I always have them printed and I take side notes right on them (I usually print 3 or 6 per page) and it's really helpful to have the information/pictures right next to the notes.

Honestly, I tried the binder thing and it's great to keep everything in order and to be able to move things around, but it didn't work for me. I couldn't write in them, so I had to take the paper out to write and in lecture halls they don't fit on the little desk so I'd have to put it away and bring it out again to find handouts and stuff. Next semester I'd like to try it again, but keep the binders at home and organize them then, just to keep everything together.

Personally I love to write in notebooks and keep folders for class. It's just easier. I take all of my class notes in notebooks (1 notebook -1 subject or 3 subject- for each class, depending on the amount of notes). I also write my book notes in there too so I label the pages as "lecture 12 notes" or "book notes - ch 10", etc.

When it gets closer to test time, I start a study guide. I think making study guides is the key to my success so far. I use plain computer paper so I can write as big as I want and draw pictures. I go through all of the lecture notes first and "trim the fat", picking out important details and add them to the guide. Then I go through all of the book notes and do the same thing. While I'm doing this I try to make up possible test questions so I make sure I pick the right information. After making the study guide I'll either start reviewing or I'll take it a step further and make flashcards of questions and answers.

Everyone tells me I do too much, but I can't stop it now because it's really helped me retain the information.

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. I'm def. going to have to try out some of what you said.

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In my program, teachers use power point slides as well. Only YOU know how to study best, so try diff variations. For me personally, I re-write everything down and then memorize from there. Writing things down help me remember everything better. Oh, and don't forget.. use different colors when taking down notes.. I know it may seem stupid, but trust me. The different colors will help trigger parts of your brain in the studying/memorization that you did.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

just thought this is a good thread to bump to the top :)

I hate using binders. so bulky. I like to write and draw things on my own. i also like to record and go back later. i also label my notes as lecture or book notes. depending on the class, i'll actually have two note books. one for lecture and one for the book or other sources. i know, not very eco-friendly, but thats how i like to keep organized.

i like the livescribe idea. i see that you can actually upload them easily on to the computer, make them into PDFs and send them to friends via email. LOVE the idea of not having to scan and edit my notes to send them out to classmates. wish it were cheaper though lol.

i don't like printing PPs because a lot of my teachers skip whole PPs so I feel like I am wasting ink :( but it was useful for my other classmates.

highlighting the cheese out of my book in class also works for me. i hate having to write what the prof is saying word for word. i find that i am too busy writing to actually pay attention. so i only write the most important stuff, highlight in the book and listen to the lecture/organize/rewrite the notes at home.

HTH :D

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Specializes in ER, Med-Surg.

I like some of these ideas. I personally use binders for each class. Our teachers also post ppts so I write my notes on those. It may sound weird but I rarely go back to the ppts to study unless I'm looking for something specific a teacher said and I wrote down bc most of the stuff is straight from the book. I tried the whole reading and taking notes thing but that took way too long so now I highlight my book like a trooper and then go back later and make notecards on what I have highlighted as "important". What I have found to help TREMENDOUSLY is making my own study guide. This helps to gather my thoughts and drill it into my brain one more time! Then you have a study guide to take around and go over instead of 2ton books! By the time it is test time I always have a chuckle because it is wrinkled up, folded in 3 different ways, and looks like it has had a hard life :)

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

I like the study guide idea. It would be neat if anyone could give format ideas for this. Do you just put everything together, separate into sections, bullets, questions&answers, etc?

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I never take class notes. Those in my class, which seem to be everyone but me, print out the PowerPoint slides provided by the instructor and use them to write on. Rarely ever will our instructional staff deviate from the PowerPoint presentation.

Once again, nursing school is death by PowerPoint, lol.

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No notes or printed PPTs for me. I read the material and research what I do not know. Repetition works for me.

You just have to find your groove.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.
I never take class notes. Those in my class, which seem to be everyone but me, print out the PowerPoint slides provided by the instructor and use them to write on. Rarely ever will our instructional staff deviate from the PowerPoint presentation.

Once again, nursing school is death by PowerPoint, lol.

I know, they bug me.

When I was in HS, I had this teacher that would seriously just lecture through the whole class time. He was excellent. He was detailed, organized, and knew his stuff. I barely passed HS and didn't learn anything in those 4 years except in his class.

He never touched a Powerpoint. He rarely wrote something on the board. Only hard words or drew diagrams for us to copy in our notes. Before a test he would write a simple outline for us to copy to guide our studying.

I wish college profs did that, because it engages you to listen and to really ask relevant questions. Powerpoints are nice to study from but I hate having em in class. -.- Oh boy and when they get technical difficulties, we get soooo behind schedule. blah

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