Do you use your TEXT BOOK?

[bioniclewoman]

I feel sick when I think about the money I spent on my text books when I have hardly had to opened them. I have so many handouts, notes I take in class, notes others took, online component, computer CDs, and reference books that I haven't needed my text book much at all. I'm getting good grades too. I was told (by a student further in the program) that some students in her classes swear they never did crack the text all semester. They just did online quizes and study guides and got A's on the test. Anyone else not using their very expensive text books?

[Propranolol]

I use my textbooks all the time. Sometimes they put down a certain additional books needed and they never touch the thing, they stick the main books. ugh. I use the attitude, "Its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it." oh well.

[gabass]

I read my textbooks and use them as references. Our powerpoints reinforce the textbook. Our instructors also add additional info (real world scenarios, etc.) Our instructors give us partially completed powerpoint slides via the web. Then, they display more detailed slides during lecture. They like for us to read the chapter, review skills book, discs, etc. before class and complete the checklists.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Read 95% every textbook and have repeatedly referenced them again over the past 30+ yrs.

[allthemadmen]

I have to say that a major pet peeve of mine was having to listen to questions from other students who obviously had not read the material, and the instructor had to spend 3/4 of the lecture time covering what they should already have known. I felt it took time away from those of us who were prepared, and did not allow for further in-depth discussion of the subject or the ability to apply the information to real-life scenarios.

This drives me nuts and we are only in our second month of nursing school. It also makes the lectures terribly, terribly boring, because of all the interruptions - and people even asking the instructor to leave a slide up so they can copy every word, when they should realize it's in the book!

I don't always do my reading on time, but I am trying to think of a way to ask the instructors to remind students that a lot of the info they need is in the texts, and that the reason we're given a syllabus is so we can be prepared *before* class.

At any rate, our profs all made clear there are questions on the tests that come directly from the textbooks which were not discussed in class, so in my program at least, you kind of have to do the reading.

[jjjoy, LPN]

I always read the textbooks. The first time - I read the chapters as if they were a really boring novel... lol. I don't try to memorize or even to understand completely. I read them to get some sort of understanding for when I sit in lecture. And, believe it or not - it helps. Then on... I concentrate on the lectures and power-points - but, I always go back to the text before the exams to brush up. You'd be surprised how much more sense it makes the second time around.

I think that's a good strategy - that is, not trying to memorize everything or understand everything completely. When I first started nursing school, I tried studying it the way I had for science classes... trying to understand every last bit of info and memorize lists and numbers (memorization based on understood rationale, not just rote). Not only is there too much content for that to work, but that won't help do better on tests either. Instead of knowing 50 diseases inside and out, become familiar with commonalities in pathophys & interventions and notice key points (a particularly dangerous complication to avoid, a particularly severe side effect to look out for, etc).

[Adams_Mommy_07]

I understand everyone's point about reading the text beforehand to prevent silly questions BUT...it's all about people's learning styles. I can NOT read the chapter before class because I learn through instruction. My learning style is to sit through lecture and gain understanding through instruction and explanation and then read the text to reinforce the information. This is how I have been successful in undergraduate school. Of course, I generally do not ask questions in lecture and will star unclear material and really read up on it BEFORE I ask questions. My point is not everyone learns best by reading the chapter beforehand. I have always found myself MORE confused and having had wasted time by doing so.

[cmille10]

i barely used the text books in nursing... most of the time a waste of money. i honestly was spending upwards of 1000 a semester on books.. i went to a pretty good school and got good grades

[moncj66]

not really, I know I have wasted alot of money on all these books. I probably only use the drug book and med surg

[JaxiaKiley]

I should read my book more often than I do. I find I use the electronic version when I do want to consult consult a textbook.

[lorie101]

fundamentals yes the rest no

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

fundamentals yes the rest no

So, NOTHING in the rest of those textbooks is relevant to your nursing education or tested on the State Boards?