Do you study from your text books ?

[NurseLoveJoy88]

At my cc the instructors gives us powerpoints every lecture. We are currently using three required text books as well for our readings. I do skim over the text books, however most of the exams are from the powerpoints which come from the three text books. I also use the text book as a reference, however all the readings are very time consuming. Do you use your text book to study ? If you use the powerpoints do you throw them away after the course ? I'm just looking for a way to minimize my readings. Thanks for reading

[HCC_Nurse]

We get pp also and unit objective. I rarely crack the book. Mostly use it as a reference and supplement to the lectures. All our test are NCLEX format so reading the book really dosen't help for the test.

[e-dice]

It depended on the class for me. We received ppt for every class, but some classes such as community or research didn't require as much reading so we were able to stick to the ppt. But for med surg I would read the book and use the ppt. For maternity and peds, I would read the text for concepts I wasn't completely understanding and use reviews and rationales types of books to study with instead of the required text. I did know some people who were able to use the ppt for most of their studying though. I guess it depends on the person. I ended up saving all of my notes and ppt from classes, i have gone back to some of them.

[kat von b]

I did all the readings before my first test and got a B, for the second test I focused on the notes and a NCLEX book and got an A. We get power points and I take great notes. If there is something I don't understand then I will go back and read.

Different things work for different people. You need to find what works best for you.

[ktstato]

My instructor uses slides as well, and the readings are mandatory. Our exams are based on content from both areas, so we could never get away with skimming. Right now, we're refrencing from two texts for the content, but it is still a time consuming amount of text.

[CoffeeGeekRN]

At my school there is a saying that "if it is in the books it is fair game for the test". So, yes, I read all the assigned readings. There have been times where there were test questions that were not covered in out lecture notes but it was covered in the assigned readings.

[CCIlovePinkCC]

I use almost every resource I can get my hands on...textbooks, pp, notes...whatever!

[missjennmb]

we had a test once where we discussed in class that Florence Nightingale volunteered during the Crimean War. The pp slide was starred, which means this is something that will be on the test. What was on the test? "What did Florence Nightingale do during the Crimean War?" that was not on the pp AT ALL. It was the last time I made that mistake.

We also have a LOT of pop quizzes. Atleast one a week, and they are on anything up to and including the chapters we are scheduled to do in class that day. SO it could be on something our teacher has not even gone over AT ALL yet, but it was in the text (generally quizzes tend to come in part from our workbook unless its something the teacher specifically wants us to learn and went out of her way to explain to us or make sure we would know... like how to read ABGs)

I cannot imagine not doing the reading, to be honest. Its the minute details that make the answer sometimes, and when its not, its a concept so generalized or vague that only reading the entire chapter will give me the gist of it. But then, our teachers do a lot of reading out of the book for our "lecture" as opposed to actual lectures, and this quarter's teacher just skips huge sections and says "but make sure you know that because there is nothing in this chapter that is not important"

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

I skim the chapters before I go to my class. During lecture, our instructor will indicate what is important by saying, “this is something I would understand”. After lecture, any part of it that I need clarification; I go over that section in the book. To read every page isn’t feasible. We will cover about 700 pages in a week (this is all of my courses). Between going to school, working very part-time, and trying to read that number of pages…there just isn’t enough time in the day. I have solid A’s in my courses. Most importantly, I am able to retain the information.

[JMDRN09]

I do skim over my text as well as focus on my PP. I actually feel guilty if I don't do the reading. PP are great but what about really, really knowing the material. Are we going to be good nurses by just studying PP's? I don't think so. I think that in an attemp to remain sane and have a life outside of school we just(as well as our teachers) follow the PP and say we will pick up the rest on the job. Honestly to me I am slacking and really need to focus on reading and doing the PP and reading from other sources. Is it just me or has getting a nursing degree turned into years of mesmerizing NCLEX like questions, cramming PP down out throats and hope for the best. Really don't we really want to be good at our job because of the knowledge and experiences we have gained through our schooling not by questions we have memorzed? Does real life really happen like they do in a question? I don't think so. I agree it is hard, really hard but I want to know why things are the way they are not just an overview. Too many students want the easy way out and the teachers are actually encouraging us to just follow the PP. Is that really teaching and preparing us for our future as nurses?

[JenniG48]

Word of advice from a new RN, know what is in your text. PP are great for quick reviews, but you really do need to know what is in your text. Getting a strong base of knowledge now will make it much easier as you go. I know many students that were able to get through school without ever opening their books, but had problems when it came to NCLEX. NCLEX questions can be anything and I can tell you that at least half of my questions were never discussed in class or just lightly touched on.

Good luck to you.

[JMDRN09]

JENNIFER THANK YOU!!!!!! I have been having that debate with students in my classes for weeks! I work at one of WI major metro hospitals and you need to know what is what in the nursing world if you don't want to look like a blubbering idiot in the real world. Thank you a million times over. Getting by is not what I want and I hope that the students surrounding me and coming up want the same or we are in for a lot of trouble. (Or should I say our future pts are in for trouble).

[paxphish]

I think if you are confused on a point or subject and really don't understand it, then refer to the books. I think I comprehend rather than memorize info for a test when I look in the book. Sometimes it has a certain example, picture, case study that sticks in my brain to help me remember that info! Also some texts have practice question (NCLEX) at the end of a chapter..do those also.. Good luck studying!