How do nurses retain the information they've learned?

[Coco Rosie]

I have the passion and the drive to become a nurse. I know I do. Not to sound like a cliche, but I've wanted to be a nurse since I was pretty small (I used to practice giving my dad shots with a twig, ha ha.) But I really need some advice on actually retaining the information you've learned, something that I've had quite a bit of trouble with.

Let me explain: In high school and my college classes, I've learned a lot of things. Some have stuck, some have not. Sure, I can learn it long enough to pass the test, heck, even make an A on the test, and pass the course with flying colors. Next semester, I'm out of said classes. Do I remember a majority of the information? Eh, not really. Not really the specifics.

I don't really understand what my problem is! I know it sounds stupid, but what's the difference between memorizing and actually retaining the information you are taught? I'm terrified of passing pre-reqs and nursing school with great grades, only to be clueless when it's time to actually get my RN license and get down to nursing.

I tried to explain this the best I could, so I'm sorry if it makes little sense. Is the secret reviewing? Memorization? Just sheer determination?

Thank you in advanced for replies! :)

[AllThingsPink]

I think a lot of it has to do with what you do on a daily basis. Right now, we're leaning a bunch of new, different things we've most likely never done before. We may have heard of them, seem them done or had them done on us but it's completely different when you're the one who's in charge of doing whatever.

I'm a tech in a hospital and when I started, I had no idea how I'd ever catch on and learn the things I was expected. Now, in no way am I comparing a tech's job to a nurse's job (though a tech is very important), I just think it becomes second nature through experience. Once we graduate and start doing some of the same things all of the time, we'll (hopefully) wonder why we ever thought this was impossible.

Nurses in the real world are also allowed to look up things in books and on the internet to help with their understanding. They don't need to bring their #2 pencils with them to work and be prepared to answer nursing question tests for a grade. ;-)

[jrsmrs]

In a word: repetition. When you cover topics over and over, it becomes familiar. When you see a new patient, take a moment to think about what you have learned in theory about body systems, pathology, skills, etc, and you will start to put things together and understand the whys and hows. Seeing meds regularly means you start to become familiar with their uses, dosages, etc.

I thought the same thing... how will I ever remember this all? But all these little things come up again and I may look back into one of my books to refresh my memory and the picture becomes a little clearer and a little broader each time. I'm only 2nd year (out of 4) in a BScN program and I can see this happening regularly myself. I have really started to feel smarter lol! Seeing a real person that you can apply textbook knowledge to really helps drive things home, for me anyway.

[CorpsmanRN, BSN, RN]

I know exactly what you mean!! Just today at clinical I had this overwhelming feeling of "I should know this stuff, why can't I remember?". I too am struggling with keeping all the info in my brain (systems, diseases/conditions, meds, etc). Thankfully my husband reminded me that when I started job as a military medic/corpsman I didn't remember everything I learned in my 4month course either. As the days went by and I saw similar issues come through the clinic (outpatient/acute care), I began to remember the questions to ask, assessments to do, labs to draw, meds to prescribe, etc. I'm a 'hands on' type of learner so doing it repeatedly makes it stick in my mind. I'm trying to keep this in mind when I study or at clinical. I write down little bits of info or tips/tricks that are new to me. And I also asked my PA friends how they do it, one said discussion with a study group helps him (the repetition of talking about it & reviewing it).

Funny that even though I know time & experience will make it stick, I still wonder how I'll ever remember it all :)

[aei631]

It also helps because literally every new piece of information builds onto the basics so you can't really forget the important stuff because you will always be using it!

[lidleanjel]

Best thing to do is read review and read some more. work nclex study guide. the more you see it the better it is retained. remember when studying only study for 45 minutes and take a short breather. there are great books out there that simply things. the Prentice Hall Nursing books are wonderful and simplify the information. write out pathos or make a concept map for each disease process for quick reference.

[gpatry]

How to retain it? Apply it.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the others. If it's information that you actually use, you'll remember it. If you don't use it, you will lose it.

I have forgotten most of what learned in school many years ago -- but that's OK. I remember the stuff I need for my job -- and can refresh my memory fairly easily when I need information that I have forgotten. You just stay diligent, keep looking things up when you need to, ask for help when you need it, and don't pretend you remember stuff when you don't. That's part of what "integrity" is all about.

And forgetting is part of being human.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

if you don't use it, you lose it! a lot of my med-surg information (and some critical care stuff) I have retained because I use it on a regular basis. OB & Peds, however...all of that stuff went out of the window (except now, because I'm reviewing for boards but even OB/Peds/Psych are considered "speciality" areas and you shouldn't get many questions on the NCLEX pertaining to those areas)...but anyway, it's because I don't use that information! and I don't really have an interest in it.

this also explains why nurses who work with adults lose all of their pediatric information (unless they work in the ER or hospice or something that deals with both kids and adults) and pediatric nurses who lose all of their adult information because they work primarily with kids.

[OpenHeartLPN]

If you can't apply your nursing skills yet, get a good all-in-one book and read a chapter for fun every now and then.

[frankyfern22]

Repetion, experience, and mistakes will help you retain info, mistakes will make you retain it faster! Not to scare you,we all make them... I guess I'm not being funny, sorry! But seriously, repetition and the more time you spend with patients. You will start to get that "nurses sense", like when you can tell something's "just not right" for some reason. Things will mesh together. Just remember, safe and competent. That doesn't say, remember everything you ever learned in Nursing School, right!? You'll retain it, it just takes time. Cheers.

[BamaBeachbound78]

I have the worst short-term memory, so I feel your pain. I am now in my 3rd semester (Out of 5) and remember the confusion of Patho during my 1st. Theory is all repetitive and each semester/term builds upon the last with a lot of repetition. It also becomes second nature once you are exposed to it regularly in a clinical setting. I can imagine it will take years for it to become fluent. As the addage goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day!"