How do I learn and not just memorize???

HarleyGrandma, RN, EMT-B · May 7, 2017

A & P has a lot of straight up memorizing, and you'll need to know it for every class going forward. So learn it, review it often, and then apply it into case studies and such. I found handling the bones in lab, and our library had full sets too, really allowed me to see how they interacted with the rest of the skeleton. Do some research into Blooms Taxonomy and critical thinking.

Nursing school is all about asking: how? why? what could be next? how do I prevent it? etc.

Good luck!

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · May 7, 2017

IMO, you memorize first, then make the connections on the physiology level (learn). In my classes we did the anatomy, which was pretty much straight memorization, then a week or two later, we'd start the physiology of the system we'd memorized previously. It's all built on previous things, too. Like, we learned tissues and cell types in our first unit of A&P I, but we didn't learn the importance of these until late in A&P II. It's a lot of making connections and being able to apply knowledge.

You'll do fine if you just form good study habits (for me, that's studying in 20 minute sections, with breaks, writing then rewriting notes, making flash cards, etc). I let a lot of people psych me out about the difficultly of A&P I and II, but in the end I did well in both classes without any tears

Cate1987 · May 8, 2017

Kahn academy is great for physiology. Anatomy unfortunately just requires memorization. I made flashcards with photos on the front and name, origin insertion etc on the back and that really helped me.

Also I wish I had read this book while I was in physiology. It helped me a ton when I was in patho, but I wish I had learned about what can go wrong with the body while I was learning how it normally functions. Amazon.com Page Not Found

Raven1994 · May 9, 2017

Study it every single day, especially A&P. I had an anatomy course in university (not in a BSN program yet... just a regular science program) a couple semesters ago. We had 2 lab exams and 2 written exams. The lab exams were EXTREMELY difficult. Most people failed the first one and the class average for the lab exams was about 48%. They were HARD... no other way to say it (and unfair but that's a different story!). On the first lab exam, I got 68% which was the second highest in the class. I forget what I got on the second exam. But on the written midterm I got 92% and on the final written exam I got 97% (the exams were fairer than the lab exams). Anyways, how did I achieve this? I studied every single day of the semester. For each lab, we learned about 50 additional anatomical structures. We had hundreds to memorize over the course of the semester. If I tried to cram this a couple days before the exams, I would fail miserably. A&P IS memoization, but if you work on memoizing it every single day, it can end up in your long-term memory! It's really cool. Now as I watch all these medical shows, I know exactly what they are talking about because it's still in my long-term memory! I spent the week after each lab reviewing the diagrams for that week's lab so I was always caught up. I didn't spend hours a day on it, usually just about 20-30 minutes. But if you do it everyday, it ends up in your long-term memory so you actually KNOW the stuff instead of just have it sitting in your mind and then disappearing after the exam. This is why you should NEVER leave studying to a few days before a test. When you are stressed, the stuff you just learned is the first to go. But if you actually KNOW it, you can develop conclusions in your mind and reason your way through the question.

I will tell you what my piano teacher once told me. I can read music and have been playing piano since I was 9. I play multiple instruments so reading music comes naturally to me. But still, when I play piano I have a tendency to not sight read (I HATE sight reading on the piano.. it is so hard for me). So instead of sight reading, I memorize the song as I learn it. I memorize where my hands go so I don't actually need to use the sheet music as I play the song. Sounds great, right? Well, it's not the ideal way to play the piano. My piano teacher termed this to be "muscle memory" and it is the first to fail when I perform. If/when I get nervous, my muscle memory fails me and I am more prone to making mistakes and even forgetting sections of the song. This "muscle memory" is equivalent to when you cram for a test or flip through your notes a few days before an exam. Understress, you will forget. Now, think of the ability to sight read sheet music very well as equivalent to long-term memory. When you write an exam and are very stressed, you will be less prone to forgetting what you learned because everything is right there infront of you in your mind. You KNOW the stuff so you can develop your own reasoning to come to conclusions. Everything is right there infront of you because you spent the entire semester RETAINING the information and not just cramming it in there so it spills out when you're stressed.

caliotter3 · May 9, 2017

I think you get some of that "learn" component down if you make it a habit of teaching or explaining or showing the material to another. If you don't have a person to teach to, try using a teddy bear or a mirror. Just a suggestion.

RNGummy40 · May 10, 2017

Hi lebelesprit.

To know what you study is to live what you have learned. Memorization will be part of your foundation and learning ways to hold onto the information you have learned for long term use is a practical goal. When I studied A&P I always asked myself: who, what, when, where, how, and why. I would have conversations with my family and try to use my A&P daily to retain the info. Part of learning a subject involves immersion. Just like when you learn a language people usually say, "You need to take a trip or go to that country to really understand that language." When you are cooking thinking about how sodium will affect your food or why is potassium in Gatorade with sodium? How do the two work with or against each other. Using the index in your text books to get the answers to your questions helps because you can see the whole picture before you cover the material in class.

For your math class consider writing only in pen. Pencils hide your mistakes and in nursing when you make a mistake you can only put a line through your work, and date, time, and initial. If you write with a pen you will see your errors faster.

Good luck and have fun!

Lane Therrell FNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 13, 2017

Congratulations on getting accepted into an RN program and beginning your new educational adventure. You mentioned that you don't know how to learn,â€ and to that I will respond: Guess what you now get to discover?!?

There will be some memorization required, but over the long haul, your commitment to really learn it instead of memorize itâ€ will serve you very well. Never give up on that, and stay persistent. Remember that anything you have to just memorizeâ€ for the sake of passing a test and getting to the next level, is a topic you can flag for further investigation via continuing education once you graduate.

As far as study tips go, the first thing is to identify what is your preferred learning style. In other words, are you a visual learner, a hands-on learner, or is listening all you need? I discovered that I personally needed to read it, write it down (not type it, but hand-write it), and then hear it multiple times in order to truly learn, not just memorize. One study strategy I used with great success while in nursing school was to write out a study guide before every test, and then record myself reading the study guide out loud. I would then listen to the recording over and over again while taking long walks, working out at the gym, or driving to and from school. And it always helps to teach someone else what you've learned. Form study groups with your classmates so you can talk through complex concepts with others who are in the same boat. The power of studying with a study-buddy cannot be underestimated.

I began my nursing education in my 40's, and these techniques served me well through my prerequisites, my classroom and clinical training, passing the NCLEX, and completing my MSN and FNP board certification. If I can do it, you can, too!

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · May 27, 2017

I think you get some of that "learn" component down if you make it a habit of teaching or explaining or showing the material to another. If you don't have a person to teach to, try using a teddy bear or a mirror. Just a suggestion.

Yes to CaliOtters suggestion! If you can reword, or explain, a concept then you likely haven't simply memorized it, you've understood it. I used to rewrite my notes in different words. I'd also explain concepts in a manner so simple that my children could understand it (the baby was in kindergarten when I started prereqs)

He could explain things back to me like virus shapes, DNA pair matching, oxygenated vs non oxygenated blood.

RNfaster · May 27, 2017

Study every day (take a break once in awhile --but try to hit the books every day when you can, especially subjects that are harder for you). Read the textbooks and other material. Make flashcards and use them. Use the study guides and testing books. Start practicing NCLEX questions now.

The prior posters have some great suggestions... Good luck!

lebelesprit_ · May 27, 2017

Thank you so much. That was vert helpful!

Kotylynne · Jun 1, 2017

I also HIGHLY recommend Kahn Academy for the math. I was TERRIBLE at math and used Kahn to study for my college placement test and I scored WAY higher than I needed to or imagined I would because of it â¤ï¸