How do I read a nursing textbook?

OrthoFNP · Dec 13, 2009

You will know after the first test. In my Fundamentals class there was no way to take notes. My instructors went through material so fast. Once you started writing one fact down, you lost the next fact. It was a nightmare and the outlines were very bare bones. So, we had to focus BIG time on reading the text book. My instructors were big on asking specific questions details that were hidden deep within the text that you would not be able to answer correctly unless you had read and reread. I can actually say that I read all 41 chapters 3 times before taking the final exam! I would read the chapter the first time before the lecture. Then I would read the chater again and make my own notes before the test (very time consuming). Then I would study the notes I made and re-read the chapters once again for the final/ATI. I came out well in the class so, I guess my method worked. If you have instructors who are willing to actually guide you on what may be on the exams, you are lucky. That is wonderful, but just know that is not always the case.

Isitpossible, LPN, LVN · Dec 14, 2009

i too have to read the book...our test will have 2 or 3 questions in the text that is NOT on the power points slides whatsoever....

PaperPencil · Dec 14, 2009

I actually find classes where the tests come from the book to be more fair. I read my books at least twice (sometimes a 3rd time). Unless I have a good recorder and am in a good spot I can't always "reread" the lecture, but I can always reread my book if I don't get it.

It can be done... I have 2 kids (4 & 6) and a husband who works out of town Mon-Fri.

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Dec 14, 2009

I'm not in NS yet, but I am taking my pre-reqs online so it's only the textbook and me. In AP 1&2, for example, what I did was read every word and highlight the important information. I have a book on studying (Effective Study Skills: Semones) which says you should not be highlighting more than 15% of the total text. I found the further along in the textbook I got, the better I got at picking the important info to highlight. Reading a textbook is an active process, you should be figuring out what is core material such as concepts, principles and theories or important people. If you fall asleep (except for exhaustion!) while reading it, then you are doing it wrong.

Since we have access to the textbook websites which have their own practice exams, I would quickly print them out (not even do them) to get the answers, then go back over my text and underline information that was on the exams. If I couldn't find it exactly, I would write the exam question in the text right next to the answer drawing a line to it. I took notes for about two weeks when I started school then realized using my text as my notes was the way to go for me. I have done the same with every science course and its worked great.

NS school will be different and I'll have to adjust my techniques to the teacher and the environment. I tend to retain lectures by writing and highlighting because I tend to see the layout of the handwritten page in my head, and can even 'see' the answer on the page (it's weird, I know). I will print out any PP slides and use them as a guide always adding and highlighting info.

Good luck, remember that your method of studying, including the use of the textbook will evolve and improve as you go along. Find out what works for you and then keep trying to do something a little different to get better results. You can do it!

Good luck!!

BTW - I HIGHLY recommend that Semones book, I bought it for my daughter and ended up claiming it for myself. It's the book I attributed much of my 4.0 success to.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 14, 2009

My trick has always been to read one section and highlight important terms and concepts that I could imagine as test questions. Then, I would write notes on what I highlighted before moving onto the next section of reading/highlighting. By focusing on one section at a time rather than whole chapters, it's a little easier to absorb the information.

I also focus on one section at a time. That helps to organize the information in my mind by topic, which helps me get a sense of the big picture ... which in turn helps me to see how the information relates to each other ... which helps me make good judgments when I go to use the information for tests and/or practice.

If you don't "clump" the information into managable bits, it becomes hard (impossible?) to organize it. It becomes the mere act of shoving unorganized facts into your brain. To really learn and use information well, you have to have the information organized. Anything you can do to help your organize the information will help to learn it and use it later.

EarthhAngel2013 · Jan 13, 2011

I read the chapters for the first 2 weeks. Then it got to where we had 20-25 chapters a week. I stopped. I bring my laptop with me to class, and type my notes. I can type faster than write. I highlight on the comp. If they mention the text in any way, I typed that chapter and title and made sure I read it. Then by the time skills lecture came around at 2pm, I was so tired of typing my notes, and even taking notes that I just didn't. Sadly, I failed my skills course by one point and have to do it over again Next Semester. I passed my Fundamentals course with a B though. I think the only thing I may do differently is try and read and do NCLEX ?'s out the whazooo! Then before exams I gathered all materials, portions of the syllabus, and notes. Put it all together, and studied it. It worked. But for skills next time I am actually going to take the damn notes!!!!! Moron!

CuriousMe · Jan 13, 2011

thanks everyone. unfortunately it was made very clear to us at orientation that the books would be our best friend, that lecture is supposed to supplement the readings and not vice-versa. the goal this semester is to adapt nurs 101 into an online lecture. part-timers are stuck with it this semester and by the end of the program, we'll have all lectures online. great.....
its just overwhelming to consider $1300 in books that we're expected to know every word from and be tested!

my program also assumes that students will read any and all assignments. anything in the assigned chapters is fair game from the day assigned to the end of the program. the chances of someone doing well in the program without reading the texts isn't high...there was just to much information that we were tested on that was in the reading, but not covered at all in class.

as others had mentioned, i took notes on what i read. i would then combine my reading notes with my lecture notes to form a more complete picture.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2011

I read the chapters that interest me and skim the others. I don't write anything. Nursing school is quite literally death by PowerPoint, and I find most of our teachers don't test much that's not printed on a slide. Often the information is conflicting anyway. It works for me and I pull A's with it but go with what you know. I got my first bachelors back when and never read either. A big part of nursing school for me was to learn more about pathophysiology and treatments so the chapters that address that interest me and I read those since that's why I'm here.

Public Health Nurse · Apr 8, 2011

If your like me then you read a whole page before you realize that your mind has wandered far away. To help, I read about one paragraph at a time and then sum up the paragraph by writing a short note (in your own words) in the margin (example: CHD=pulmonary edema/fluid, swollen legs, seeping pores, pain). It really helps when studying too. This method helped me become one of the top in my class even though I was the only one without prior medical experience. Now I use the method for everything. I actually think it helped me to think faster in general. They say that doing this helps to connect neurons in the brain and may make the pathway faster. Seemed to work for me!

prime11214 · Apr 8, 2011

When I took Nutrition, there was just WAY TO MUCH to read and I really don't think anyone read all the chapters assigned. Maybe in the beginning but later on, no way. Sometimes my teacher would ask us to remember a bunch of things that doesn't end up on the test! It's hard to disregard what the teacher wants us to focus on so we end up studying whatever he wants us to study........ even if it never shows up on the exam.

Darkpk55 · Apr 8, 2011

i am beginning rn school in january, and i've never been one to read the book. obviously, this is going to change next semester! my question is, how do i read the book and retain the information? i know that its unrealistic to plan on re-reading the same chapters over and over again to study. the only idea i had is to transfer key points in outline form into notes as i read. any advice on how you read your textbooks would be appreciated! thank you!

geez, im scared ********! i have severe reading problem, and it takes me 3 times as long as a normal student, to retain and read...

i also cant put things in my own words, and stutter alot, when asked questions!!

i tend to just memorize the definition, instead of putting in own words

TCASII, ADN · Apr 10, 2011

Yeah they expect us to read the advanced med-surg book in no time and understand every concept. I am very irritated this time around. No idea what will happen. Were were assigned 11 chapters for test one and given no direction on what to study. PPs have no information on them but we've received PP packets with 50 pages of slides. Ridiculous. We get 5 exams and it makes up 50% of our grade. The lecture is useless. Very mad.