I was looking over the first semester thread and noticed that a ton of people were talking about all the reading they had to do. Are most people actually reading?? In my class (just finishing 1st semester) just about everyone admits to not reading the texts but merely using them as a reference. I'm in that boat as well and have all As so far. There are a few that read and study ALL THE TIME and get worse grades.... It's almost like if you know just barely too little your critical thinking is improved.
So I got off subject but I'd love to know what the norms are regarding reading and studying in your programs.
We aren't assigned so much reading that it's impossible. Usually 2-3 chapters per week. I find it beneficial because on the tests they really will pull some random information out of the book that wasn't covered in the lecture. For example (and I got this one wrong) there was a question about senior citizens - the answers were (something like): Mostly live alone, mostly live in nursing homes, most are active in the community . . . I can't remember the 4th option. But sometimes they put odd random things like that on the test and maybe if I had read it I would've remembered.
Me, I'm a reader -- over and over and over. I'd far rather spend an hour with a text book than an hour in a lecture. I want there to be no holes in my knowledge at all.
My critical thinking skills are fine, I just need the information to plug into the thought processes and that information comes from reading the books and doing problems (for analytical courses like math, physics, and chemistry).
If I score anything less than 100% then I have not worked hard enough.
My goal is to master the material, not to simply get a given grade. When I learn the material, the grades take care of themselves. I am preparing for a career and I do not want to limit myself by not working as hard as I'm able and learning just as much as I possibly can.
I personally do not read alot. I just use this as a reference. My instructor made it clear from the begining that she is not big on tests. She uses your clinical performance as more of a basis for what you know. Although I am only a b student. It does seem to me that most of the people who study hard do not do as well on tests. I think they may cloud there mind with knowledge that will not be on the test.
it does seem to me that most of the people who study hard do not do as well on tests. i think they may cloud there mind with knowledge that will not be on the test.
i totally agree. they seem to memorize so much pointless info and lose the ability to process through a question.
if i score anything less than 100% then i have not worked hard enough.
my goal is to master the material, not to simply get a given grade. when i learn the material, the grades take care of themselves. i am preparing for a career and i do not want to limit myself by not working as hard as i'm able and learning just as much as i possibly can.
what semester are you in? i know i was the same way as far as score standards (expecting i had to get over 100% and upset it i didn't get all the extra credit) before i entered the program. but, at least in my program, the questions are subjective and reading and studying doesn't have the same effect. you have to know how to prioritize and also read the mind of your professors!! what do you do first? a) make sure the patient is not agitated or b) make sure the patient is restful. hmm i was thinking that was the same thing but i guess agitated sounds worse than unrestful. can't study for that kind of annoying question.
Hello, I just finished two pre-requisites for LPN. I studied and read the chapters. More so because I had the time to do so. Next semester I'm going full time, I have a family to take care of, and I am the sole provider of my household. How possible is it to work 25 hours a week and be in the LPN program?
I was the same way before nursing school. I was maintaining a GPA near perfect and even the first part of my first semester was spent with me reading everything and trying to "ace" the exams.
I have since changed my ways. I now focus on learning concepts and learning as much as possible during clinicals. I also took on a nurse apprentice job so I can learn that way. I will be honest and say I barely study anymore. I only really study is the night before an exam I will look over my notes and the morning of my exams i will look over my notes. And I manage decent grades (this semester I received an A-, B+, & B.. good enough for me!). Classmates always ask me, "how are maintaining those kind of grades and not studying that often?". It is because everything has started "clicking" when I stopped focusing on trying to "ace" everything. I have started putting 2 and 2 together and started "critically thinking" about situations and applying all of the knowledge I have to that scenario. And so far it is working out great for me! :)
You raise some very valid points. I'm coming in (start January) with a strong GPA and though I would like to keep up this trend, it is more important that I learn the concepts and understand them versus just trying to study for tests.
Honestly, I don't suggest looking for too many shortcuts initially. It is true you need to understand concepts, but I find that reading the book helps to enhance comprehension of the pathophysiology, and perhaps more importantly WHY certain treatments and interventions work. Besides, as many people have pointed out, the instructors are known to pull test questions directly from the book, word for word.
Sometimes the reading we have been assigned is repetitive (especially in Pharmacology), in which case I just read from a single source.
I am learning with pre-req's that if I skim, I do well, but if I read, read and read, I flunk everything. As long as I have outlines and take good notes, that is all I need. It took me some time to figure that out, but I have got the hang of things now!!
I think it will REALLY depend on your instructor. I've had some where their questions come out of the book and they only lecture on broad concepts. I've had some where their questions come directly out of their lecture notes and if you read the book you get confused. I've had a few where their questions come from the study guide they "recommend" you get at the beginning of the semester.
My advice...if your instructor goes so far as to as to mention a specific NCLEX guide BY NAME...go get it. Chances are they also use it as a guide and it will be helpful. I've gotten half of my (rather large) collection that way.
My advice...if your instructor goes so far as to as to mention a specific NCLEX guide BY NAME...go get it. Chances are they also use it as a guide and it will be helpful. I've gotten half of my (rather large) collection that way.
Good luck!
VERY TRUE!! When I was taking fundamentals, our instructor recommended Fundamentals Success: A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking. I went ahead and bought it...and by the end of the semester it looked like it had been drug through hell and back...with every color of PostIt note coming out of every nook and cranny. I tend to skim through a lot of the reading material in the textbook....then take that sections quiz in the study guide. The answer section of the guide illustrated why a particular answer was right and why the other answers were wrong. It didn't take long with the quiz to realize whether I understood the subject matter...or if I better go back and read the text section. By the time you get to an exam in class...you will know how well you will do on it.
That along with good note reviews the morning before an exam....led to a 98% overall in the course.
The textbooks are better now I guess!
krenee
517 Posts
We aren't assigned so much reading that it's impossible. Usually 2-3 chapters per week. I find it beneficial because on the tests they really will pull some random information out of the book that wasn't covered in the lecture. For example (and I got this one wrong) there was a question about senior citizens - the answers were (something like): Mostly live alone, mostly live in nursing homes, most are active in the community . . . I can't remember the 4th option. But sometimes they put odd random things like that on the test and maybe if I had read it I would've remembered.
Kelly