Cornell notes

[gaajr1, RN]

I will be starting nursing school in a week and I made Cornell notes for the first 4 chapters. So far with my other classes it was very useful when combined with lecture notes. It was also helpful in understanding the lecture as I would make the Cornell notes in advance.

But I'm wondering how useful they are in nursing school? I understand each have their own style of studying, but is there anyone who makes these notes and if so, did it work for you? It will be great to hear from other senior students and any advice you can give.

[LMRN10]

Sorry, maybe I'm way behind the times here, but I'm not sure what Cornell Notes are...

[lilhev333, BSN, RN]

I hadn't heard of them either so this is what I found....

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

[LMRN10]

Hmmmm...looks like an interesting way to take notes! It might be a good way to take notes!

[NatashaFromOregon]

I'm not a nursing student, but I LOVE Cornell notes; been a straight A student for years.

[gaajr1, RN]

I'm sorry, I just assumed all knew what Cornell notes are:) Well, it's just another way of taking notes. In this, you draw a margin on the left, after the red line about 1-2" wide. In that margin you right the key word and on the right you write the corresponding details. At the end of the paper you summarize in about 2 lines.

For instance, you could write MI on the left and on the right you write what MI is. Next you could write the results of MIs and on the right you write rupture of plaque, thrombosis etc etc.

Also, you could draw pictures, mnemonics what ever it takes to let the info stick in your brain.

It is a good idea to write the page # of the text from which you got the info. That way, you can easily refer.

[rdnkmommy]

That is how I have always taken notes too. When I started nursing school last year they suggested a different way and it has worked well. Each piece of paper is a disease process.

We divide the paper in 3 columns. I pasted below what are in the three columns.

First Column is Signs & Symptoms (Clinical Manifestations)

Second Column is Medical (Dx eval & Medical mgmt)

List the diagnostic tests

Medications

Diets

Surgeries

Treatments that require a doctor's order

Third column is Nursing Interventions

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHY YOU ARE DOING EACH INTERVENTION.

♦ Use legal size paper since it gives more room.

♦ Bring this to lecture completed with information coming from the

textbook.

♦ Use blue/black ink.

♦ In class, highlight anything on this paper that is on a transparency or

something the instructor says.

♦ Write additional information in pencil or another color ink so that

you will know where the information came from.

[gaajr1, RN]

rdnkmommy, thanks a lot for the info. I will surely try this method. I was really hoping someone will reply:)

[AtomicWoman]

I have a tough time doing Cornell notes on the fly during lecture. They wind up looking very chaotic. But it is a VERY effective way to write-up and review your notes after class.

Here's a link for printing out your own Cornell template:

http://www.incompetech.com/graphpaper/cornelllined/

Here's a more sophisticated generator that will let you print out unlined pages, pages with your class name on it, etc.:

http://www.eleven21.com/notetaker/

And here's a podcast about Cornell Notes, plus a transcript with all the links:

http://www.gsnyder.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=147544&comments=on

[maliat]

I did it and my own version at times. The problem I've found is that in nursing school, things seem to go way to fast to do this. Most of my lecturers give us their powerpoint lecture notes. So I just go off of this. Add my own notes. It depends on the the lecturer how much room I need for my notes. Some will just read straight off the PP and some will have their thing to say.

Two tips I do have when dealing with nursing lectures. Anytime someone says it's important, ie will be on test, NCLEX question, etc. Highlight and star. Also, when I'm organized, I reorganize my notes into a word doc before tests.

Malia

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

I'm a second year and love cornell method, though not for nursing classes.

We mostly get handed power points for which honestly, they're enough to study from!

The few instructors that have us take old fashioned notes, still have power point presentations with outline forms and for their info this is best.

However I now am taking a co-req this semester for sociology and found that I prefer the cornell method, he barely puts anything on the blackboard, he just speaks.

Good luck

[gaajr1, RN]

kittyhawk thanks for your input. I think the time factor is what concerns me. I guess I will know it soon:)