How do you organize your school items?

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I usually end up with several binders, and I need a system to condense everything into manageable sections. How do you organize your NS papers? Do you use folders or binders? How do you divide the binders, folders/ Please give tips:heartbeat:nurse::heartbeat

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Another very helpful person on here told me that she normally has a 1" binder & a 3" binder for each class. She takes the 1" ones to class, and once she's finished a unit, moves the papers it to the corresponding 3" binder at home, that has unit dividers. That way all the material is organized and ready for studying for the final later on. I was unsure what size binders I'd need and didnt want to be lugging huge ones around school, so this system seems perfect. I'm off to buy my binders this weekend :) Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Postpartum/Nursery about to enter NICU I.

I have a different binder for clinical and lecture class. I divide the binders by units and use different colored tabs to note each I use corresponding taps to mark my book so that when I study I can go right to what I need. After each class ends I but all the material in seperate folders so that I can use it to refer to when I am studying for the HESI and NCLEX exams.

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Specializes in ICU.

I figured this method out after lugging a binder for each class around all semester...waaaaay too much stuff! I now take a 2-inch binder to school every day. This binder has dividers for each class, and I use little Post-It Note tabbies to distinguish topics within each section (I could not live without my tabbies!). This way I only need to take ONE binder to school, and if I find that I have a few extra minutes, I can study for any of my classes since I have it all there with me! After the unit ends, I put the notes into my HUGE master binder which also has dividers for each class.

I have a separate white binder for clinical where I keep my clinical syllabus, care plans, paperwork and whatnot.

Also, type your notes in a small-ish font (11 point at the largest, go with 10 pt if you can still read it) and print double-sided. Print EVERYTHING double-sided or you will die under a mound of paper and they won't find you for weeks. :-)

Good luck!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

I would definitely own a planner.. am must have!

I highlighted each class a different color.. when I had an assignment due/test/paper, etc, I highlighted the date and assignment the color of the class.

I used orange, yellow, pink, and green.

My planner was the most colorful one around :p

Best to you in your new journey!

Diane, RN

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Specializes in LTC and Home Health.

I have 9 classes this summer. 6 at any one time - don't ask. Anyway, I use an accordian file (small with 6 sections and it's the same size as one of my binders - 1 1/2") and move the sections out of my class binders so that each day I have the section we are working on as well as everything for each class until the next test. Once I have a test in a section I move the notes back into the original binder (Yeah right - but that's totally what I should do). Right now just trying to get through the next couple weeks of the summer and then I will put everything in their binders again.

This works well considering the amount of paper we go through and the number of classes there was no way I could keep up with which binder to carry when. I also know myself enough at this point to realize that a slot system I can drop thing into works better than hole punched binders because I never punch and add things. Only way to go - for me anyway.

Good Luck,

Diana

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