I was so excited this morning when I got up and was getting ready for school. It felt like xmas :) . I was in the best mood all the way to school and was so anxious when I walked into my classroom and sat down. Then our teacher passed out our study guides, schedules, and the syllabus. Well as I was looking over them I thought I was going to faint. We have almost 3 weeks until our first exam. BUT in that 3 weeks time we cover chapter's 1,2,4,6,14,15,16,17,18,19...plus 2 or 3 more that I can't even remember right now. I just thought to myself "they don't actually expect us to read ALL of it right?" Well I asked my instructor after class and she said yes, we are expected to do ALL of the reading. Plus fill out the questions on our study guides from what we read. How in the world am I going to do all of this reading everyday (which I might add I'm not exactly a "speed reader" so sometimes it takes me a little while to finish a chapter) and have time to have a life too? I have a 6 month old daughter that needs me also. Is it really possible to do all that reading and have it all sink in at the same time. I mean that ALOT of material for just one test and alot to cover in less than 3 weeks. I knew this was going to be hard and everything but I never imagined it would be like this. Through all of my pre-reqs I got straight A's and I'm proudly maintaining a 4.0 GPA so I'm a good, serious student but this is just very overwhelming. PLEASE PLEASE I need advice, tips, whatever you've got to help me keep my sanity and remain focused and determined! I want this so bad...more than anything and I believe in myself. But I know I'll get burnt out really quick if I'm couped up inside reading all day long. Any advice on how to read faster and still sink in all the info?? That's my biggest problem is I have trouble concentrating when I read and I have to go back and reread and reread things just to sink them in. What can I do to comprehend things the very first time I read them and just move on? Also it takes twice as long when you highlight or underline is that really necessary? I figure if I'm filling out my study guide questions I really don't need to highlight or underline in my book. Ugh....I'm so stressed all ready after the first day! I need some words of encouragement! I also have problems with anxiety and stress anyway and am seeing my doctor on Thursday to ask about possibly getting back on zoloft which I used to take awhile back and it did help me. I feel I really need it again...especially now. I didn't expect to feel this way after my first day. Did this happen to anyone else after the first day??
Yes, you have to do all of that reading (that's a normal amount). Well, I do. We get enough of the information in our lectures to pass. But there is also enough that isn't covered in the lecture, that you couldn't pull an A without reading. You'll catch on pretty quickly, though. Then you can create a system for your program.
I was so excited this morning when I got up and was getting ready for school. It felt like xmas :) . I was in the best mood all the way to school and was so anxious when I walked into my classroom and sat down. Then our teacher passed out our study guides, schedules, and the syllabus. Well as I was looking over them I thought I was going to faint. We have almost 3 weeks until our first exam. BUT in that 3 weeks time we cover chapter's 1,2,4,6,14,15,16,17,18,19...plus 2 or 3 more that I can't even remember right now. I just thought to myself "they don't actually expect us to read ALL of it right?" Well I asked my instructor after class and she said yes, we are expected to do ALL of the reading. Plus fill out the questions on our study guides from what we read. How in the world am I going to do all of this reading everyday (which I might add I'm not exactly a "speed reader" so sometimes it takes me a little while to finish a chapter) and have time to have a life too? I have a 6 month old daughter that needs me also. Is it really possible to do all that reading and have it all sink in at the same time. I mean that ALOT of material for just one test and alot to cover in less than 3 weeks. I knew this was going to be hard and everything but I never imagined it would be like this. Through all of my pre-reqs I got straight A's and I'm proudly maintaining a 4.0 GPA so I'm a good, serious student but this is just very overwhelming. PLEASE PLEASE I need advice, tips, whatever you've got to help me keep my sanity and remain focused and determined! I want this so bad...more than anything and I believe in myself. But I know I'll get burnt out really quick if I'm couped up inside reading all day long. Any advice on how to read faster and still sink in all the info?? That's my biggest problem is I have trouble concentrating when I read and I have to go back and reread and reread things just to sink them in. What can I do to comprehend things the very first time I read them and just move on? Also it takes twice as long when you highlight or underline is that really necessary? I figure if I'm filling out my study guide questions I really don't need to highlight or underline in my book. Ugh....I'm so stressed all ready after the first day! I need some words of encouragement! I also have problems with anxiety and stress anyway and am seeing my doctor on Thursday to ask about possibly getting back on zoloft which I used to take awhile back and it did help me. I feel I really need it again...especially now. I didn't expect to feel this way after my first day. Did this happen to anyone else after the first day??
Ok...first of all just calm down. Take it from one who has been there and done that nursing school is no joke and it does take a lot of time, but also other students in your class can freak you out as well. Honestly I did not read everything. Not everyone learns that way. Just really listen well in your lectures and take good notes. After the lecture go back and look at them again and if there is something that they really focused on take a second look at it and read it in the book. You have a 6month old and she and your husband are your #1 and don't forget that. Your husband also has to understand how important this is to you and help out a lot more than he probably planned! So don't stress so much. I honestly did not read hardly anything after my first semester. Just go and look at it quickly, fill out your study guide (which I wish I would have had) and look at those little boxes in the margins of your pages...they like to pull questions from those.
Don't be discouraged if you get a C or D on your first test. You will see a testing style like you have never seen before. You will hate it, but when you go to take your boards you will be thankful for it and your grades will improve as you get used to the new style. Good luck. Don't be too nervous. Just try to go with the flow. I wish someone would have told me all this when i was starting. Good LUck
I had a study group during nursing school and the 5 of us consistently scored highest in the class. And the dirty little secret we never let out.. not a single one of us read the assigned material!
I did not miss a single lecture in all of nursing school. I took good notes and when something didn't make sense, I looked it up. I never sat down and did three hours of reading at a time. I suppose for some that might work but for me I wouldn't retain a single word.
Don't let the volume of reading overwhelm you. I can assure you that you can be successful in nursing school without doing all the required reading. (Just don't tell everyone.. they may hate you).
I have to admit that I'm the same way. I don't have a study group, but I can't retain all the text book material. I do read some from the text book, but mostly I study from the lecture notes. [Please don't flame me!!]
In our program you must read. Not all the material that is tested is in the notes or covered in lecture, just not enough time. I always start with the study guide that comes with the text. If there are questions I have problems answering this is the information I focus on in the reading. I have also split up the reading with fellow classmates in a study group format. This was a BIG help in phamacology as we would then teach each other the material. Take it one day at a time and focus on what needs accomplished today. I sit down and write out my study schedule, focusing on the items that need my attention first.
I think the only thing overwhelled right now is my checking account after buying my first semester books and supplies....thank god I had all of the other pre-reqs out of the way and only have to buy nursing books.
You guys are even making ME feel better. I got through Fundamentals last semester, even made the Dean's List, but am just so overwhelmed since starting on Tuesday, that I've really been thinking about if this is what I want. I know I'm overwhelmed, and having to take A&P 2 this semester also, and my long commute and 2 days a week at the hospital, plus extra out-of-hospital projects we're required to do. And a divorce. It's all getting to me.
I like the advice of taking one hour at a time. I'm going to hold off on any hasty decisions for a few weeks, getting my bearings, and seeing if things fall into place.
Hey OB, I am right there with you! I am in my 2nd week and I felt the same way in the 1st week. On the 3rd day I had to just come home and lay in my bed in the dark...I felt like I was about to have an anxiety attack! Then I took a long bath and read my bible. I had to regain my composure b/c I felt like I had made the wrong decision. Then, I remembered how hard I worked to get into my program and how blessed I was to have the opportunity. I know that God would not have given me the blessing for me to fail. Not sure if u are spiritual, but that is what calmed me down. I read the posts on here, and the majority of them have said to take it one day at a time, and to try not to get behind. I have tried my best to do both. Personally, I read everything b/c this is new to me and I am not sure how to feel it out. These classes seem to be a lot different from prereqs., so I have to tackle them differently.
I read the chapters and have the course objectives along side while I am reading. If I come to something that is in the course objectives, I put that in my notes. That way, I won't be writing un-needed info.
I also make a study/to-do-list everyday, and cross out tasks as I complete them. It makes me feel good to see items crossed out b/c I feel like I have gotten somewhere:) .
I have 4 tests next week: Mon- Basics/Fund (3 chapters), Weds- Drug Calcuation that we have to make a 94%, Thurs- Health Assessement (8 chaps.) and Mon- PATHO (3 chaps).
So I will let u know if my methods have worked AFTER all of the above battles are won!
Good luck and keep in touch! Let us know how it goes...going to go study now..BYE
Fraggle
125 Posts
Yes, you have to do all of that reading (that's a normal amount). Well, I do. We get enough of the information in our lectures to pass. But there is also enough that isn't covered in the lecture, that you couldn't pull an A without reading. You'll catch on pretty quickly, though. Then you can create a system for your program.