Help! "old" brain refuses to retain!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 9, 2018

Teach the material to someone.

bitter_betsy, BSN · Sep 11, 2018

Let me start by saying that I'm 45. I am also on a keto diet for medical reasons. When I eat carbs not only do I get sleepy - I get stupid. Maybe this is because I just don't eat carbs anymore, but maybe they really do affect my ability to think. It won't help you for your impending test, but maybe just keep a short mental list of your diet and how it makes you feel.

Things I do that help me... (keep in mind I'm not in nursing school yet - just still doing pre-reqs)

1) I listen to my text books in the car. Even if I can't actually think and listen - I listen and maybe space out. Sometimes Siri seeps into my brain and stays there even when I don't realize it. This doesn't take anything special really - I have e-text versions and my phone is set up so that I just triple click my home button and siri reads everything on the page. Sounds dreadful - it is helpful.

2) I try to go through my notes from the day lecture when I get home and re-write them. At a minimum I rewrite the major points on notecards that I can carry with me to flashcard study.

3) Whatever the topic is on - I google something interesting to me (related to the topic) and learn about it. Maybe I can't remember what I'm studying - for example Robert Wadlow grew up in a town near where I grew up. When I was doing the Endocrine system, I read about him. I applied what I was learning to his situation and it helped me think through questions related to that situation. I don't actually use "study time" to do the "research" - I use my "down time" and then when "study time" comes along - that's when I put everything together. For me if I can apply it to real life, I remember it a little easier.

4) I watch videos on the topic because sometimes watching makes things stick better.

5) Stop the other distractions in your life. I realize this is easier for some than others. If I have a distraction, its really easy for me to not be able to concentrate - like at all. Either accept that the situation must exist, or eradicate the situation.

6) Buy gun-muffs. I don't watch TV because I'm easily distracted. Right now the weather channel is on because of the impending hurricane - there isn't anything I can do about it, so the muffs are on and I can't hear anything. A $20 purchase has saved me SO MANY hours of potentially non-productive time!!!

Oh - and sleep. I feel that when I am not rested, I don't retain as much information. Someone once told me that "it doesn't stick if you don't sleep". I don't know if its really true or not, but I do know that I really do feel more on the ball when I have adequate sleep - to the tune of I have stopped studying for an exam and just prayed that sleeping would make everything I just studied stick. It hasn't let me down yet.

Good luck. It isn't an age thing - you can teach old dogs new tricks so we aren't out of the game. You've got this!!

Farrah 34 · Sep 11, 2018

I believe you are exhausted and your brain needs more rest. Lack of sleep kills the brain. Can you take a few days off from your job and get some sleep?

KrysyRN, BSN · Sep 11, 2018

I was around 43 when I was in a bridge program from LPN to RN. I remember that brain-on-strike feeling really well! I found a method of studying that really helped. I recorded every lecture, and within a day or two, listened to the lecture again and filled in the notes I took during class.

This next part was time-consuming but worked with helping to retain info. I went to the assigned textbook chapters and wrote down the first sentence of every paragraph...or the second sentence. Sometimes the first is a throw-a-way. I then wrote down the info in the paragraph that seemed pertinent to remember. After doing this, I'd read my notes. Reading my own writing helped me tremendously with retaining info.

Read all of the review questions/answers and case studies at the end of the chapters to help with understanding the material. That info is invaluable.

If you are also going to be tested on diabetic meds, I'd recommend getting some huge pieces of paper and making charts for the different types of insulin (long-acting, short acting, etc); generic names of the meds; their onset, peak, etc.

Do this as well with symptoms of hyper- and hypoglycemia.

Also, find and answer as many NCLEX style questions and answers w/rational on diabetes that you can.

Hope this helps.