How Do You Do It?

Nurses General Nursing

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i have a question for everyone, but first let me begin by saying i'm not in school yet. i'm just waiting for my fafsa and then the fun will begin i'm sure.

my question is, how in the world do you memorize everything? i've been doing some studying on my own for a & p and i have to say i'm a bit overwhelmed! i started watching a webcast from berkeley taking notes and really getting into it and then it occurred to me..... i need help! (lol)

how did you or how are you, memorizing everything? let alone trying to remember how to spell all these bones, cells and muscles? yikes!!!

anyway, i was hoping someone had an idea of how to take all this in....

thanks!

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Specializes in Registered Nurse/Cert.Medical Instructor.

First of all , don't forget to breath. Put one foot in front of the other and walk slowly into it. Nursing is a gift, I believe that some of us were just born with this gift, as some are born to be artists or musicians. Try not to get yourself overwhelmed. It will all come, and I am sure if this is your passion it will all be fine. There are great classes that teach you how to remember some of the medical terminology. One of the keys is learning the medical terminology, if you do well with this course , most of your other medical courses will be much more easy to learn/understand. You'll do wonderful, keep confident.

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

If you have never heard this before, it answers all of the questions the universe has for overwhelming situations.

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time......:rolleyes:

I felt the same way when I opened up my first A&P book, it was alien, and impossible! Now it's old hat.....don't worry, it will come. Each subject builds on the other.

Maisy:wink2:

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Thanks you guys for the information and help. :redpinkhe I guess I tend to forget we all have to start somewhere and we're not just 'born' with all there is to know about nursing.

Maybe it's because the nurses I've encountered over the years have made it just seem so easy and maybe I put it out of my mind or didn't stop to think they too had to learn all of this.

I guess I should think back to when I began as a CNA, it was all new to me then too, just not as complicated! (LOL) I still remember how to do all the deeds of a CNA. It really never leaves you and becomes a part of who you are.

Plus, the fact I used to work at a Plasma center, so I know a little bit about palpating and I was pretty good on all my sticks. I never hit the wall of a vein, so that's something good to keep in the back of my mind as well.

I guess I'm looking into this a little more than I should. I just need to relax and take it one step at a time.

I just want to do the best job possible in school and I think that's what bugs me the most. You hear all these horror stories and it really does begin to take root inside of you. :eek:

Anyway, thanks again for the helpful advice! I love this site so much! :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

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I LOVE Maisy's "one bite at a time" analogy! It pretty much sums up the whole school thing, really: whether you're studying nursing or mechanical engineering or dentistry, all of it is really "one bite at a time".

If it helps any, when you get past the rote memorization of A&P (and you will, you WILL!), you'll be studying a bit differently for nursing lectures and labs: it's really not memorization so much as taking what you've already memorized and applying it. No one cares if a nurse can rattle off a bunch of lab values--what is she going to DO about them?

And all that comes in time. One bite at a time .

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Also, there are easier books that are more reader friendly to purchase in case the textbooks are too loaded with information. The Human Body in Health and Illness by Barbara Herlishy is an excellent anatomy text that sort of brings together the medications, diseases, trivia, pathophysiology all in one (at least it did for me). It does not lose the medical terminology, but it gets to the point. If I had that textbook on the side while I was taking those horrible anatomy courses, I would have been better off, because I would have been interested in what there was to read. This may not be your experience, though. But, what has to happen is you have to define where you are having trouble early in the game and come with a quick solution before you drown under in nursing school.

Good luck!

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There will continue to be so much to know and remember and eventually implement. As a new grad orienting to my unit, I am most frustrated by things that I miss and KNEW I should know. There is just SO much to know and remember and often it is one little thing that should tip you off to ask a certain question or take a certain action. You do your best and learn and remember from every opportunity. You can do it, but don't expect that overwhelmed feeling to go away!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

memorizing is a study skill like any other skill you learn in life. like any skill it takes practice to master. here are some helpful web links. also, i am listing sticky threads in the student forums with study information and advice for you.

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Hold on tight and tolerate the ride !

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hold on tight and tolerate the ride !

lol....ok, i'll do just that! :eek::eek: thanks everyone!! :heartbeat

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memorizing is a study skill like any other skill you learn in life. like any skill it takes practice to master. here are some helpful web links. also, i am listing sticky threads in the student forums with study information and advice for you.

:bow::bow::bow: thank you sooooo much! i'll have a look at these and i'm sure it will help. thanks to all of you for your help and comments.....:redpinkhe

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Yes the memorization can be daunting...it always helped me to think of all the people that had done it before me.....therefore if they can do it so can I! And remember, you never stop learning.:redbeathe

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