How do you organize??

RNBSNGRADUATE · Jul 13, 2007

Hey Maya~!

CONGRATS!!!

I'm a Senior this year -- and I actually think I'm going to do something differently, lol...after all this time:)...this being -- b/c I'm about to embark on the hardest class of the 4.5 yr curriculum...one that even the highest in our class do not make it thru the 1st time....

I just happened to come into extra binders recently...and I'm going to separate my units....Unit I in one binder w/the notes, etc that go w/that...Unit II another binder. There's just going to be WAYYY too much for one binder this time around.

AT the very least - one binder per subject:) Have a bookbag w/enough compartments in it..mine has many and I still wish I had more, lol.

BEST OF LUCK:)

DAMomma · Jul 13, 2007

Can I share something with you NOBODY shared with me...........Buy BLACK pens!!! OMG! I bought a ton of blue pens. It is fine for class, but not for clinicals!! You need to document in black.

Also, I agree with the other poster. I have a binder for each subject. Rather then buy new binders for each semester, I simply purge all of my old notes, and put them in a lightweight report cover binder, and label it. I buy the chepo .50 cent report covers and write M/S I or foundations, etc. This way I have my handy reference tool to refer back on. You will build on every class. I never try to learn just to pass an exam, I am learning for a career.

Okay, let me go and study these cardiac drugs for my career...(exam tomorrow)

amyk_ncsu · Jul 13, 2007

I have a binder for each subject. In them, I use dividers to separate material for each exam. That way I know exactly what to study for the upcoming test and how much material we have left to cover, etc.

Also, in my calendar, I use a different colored highlighter for each class. So for example, A&P would be blue, Fundamentals red, etc. So when looking at the montly view, you can see exactly when you have everything due and upcoming tests. You will no doubt have multiple tests/things due for different classes on the same day, and it helps to prioritize and differentiate between them.

Good luck!!!

madampomfrey · Jul 14, 2007

I have one giant binder that I separate each class with dividers. After I take the test I put all the notes into another giant binder. This way during the semester I only have the notes for that test and at the end of the semester I have all my notes for every class in one binder so that studying for cumulative finals is a little easier because I only have to have one binder to study for all my finals. Sounds odd but another nursing student recommended this to me and it really worked. Good luck!

jemommyRN · Jul 14, 2007

I have a huge binder and a one inch. I take all of test one material and put it in the one inch and carry/study from that. Once test one is over, I put test two material in the one inch and put test one back into the huge binder. I also have a monthly planner which allows to look and see all that I have to do for that week "at-a-glance". This way I can see ALL that's going on to know what to prepare for.

I want to be a nurse · Jul 14, 2007

Thank y'all for the great suggestions!!! I'm so excited, I already started buying stuff!!! Do you think it's too early. I mean school starts in about a month. So far I bought 2 Three inch binders, a pack of dividers with folders for each one. A planner that has the whole month as well as weekly sections. About 5 packs of college ruled paper. I think I will get 2 smaller binders so I can put the stuff up until Test 1 in it, then transfer to the 3 inch binders. I will have to save space as much as possible, I got my book list and I have a whopping 14 books that I need to buy which will cost 1185.00 if I buy new ones. :uhoh21: Hopefully there are some used ones. :uhoh3: I heard though that you use some of the books for more than one semester, so that would be good. Anyway,I couldn't think of anything else to buy.

Thanks so much everyone!!!

I can't wait for school to start :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

MB37 · Jul 14, 2007

Every class is different too - my patho professor doesn't believe in powerpoint, so we don't have handouts. Instead I go home, replay my lecture, and type up my notes. My patho binder is still full, but it's all my notes. Each exam has it's own section, with all the lecture notes as well as a study guide for each exam and a separate list of "pearls" - that's what my professor calls his main points. My main pharm professor (it's team-taught) is the opposite. Our powerpoints for her class are thousands of pages - thank god for free printing at the medical library. I print them all out, go to class, and take notes. Since the handouts are way too detailed, I again go home and type up my own notes from class. After each exam, I get rid of the powerpoints. I'm sure our class has killed an entire forest...

momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jul 15, 2007

I am a crazy organizer of all things nursing. Which is funny b/c I am pretty unorganized and messy otherwise. I am teased all the time by my classmates for all my dividers and the way I organize by different colors.. I tried to use a notebook but the teachers give out lectures by powerpoint so that didnt really work.

This is what I buy/do each semester:

1. one 2" binder with the syllabus and notes from for the upcoming test

2. one 4 inch binder that I keep all the notes for the entire semester (i.e I empty my 2" binder out after each test)

3. I debinded my Med-Surg book and carry the pages around from the chapers we are studying.

4. 1 pack of colored pens and 1 pack of colored highlighters

5. one clipboard that opens up to hold papers for clinical

6. a one subject notebook for clinical to write down assignments each week.

7. Lots of page dividers that divide up the big 4 inch binder between subjects and tests.

Hope that helps some!

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Jul 16, 2007

I have 2 binders, one that goes to class and has all the printed notes and such for that specific section, once tested I go back and highlight what areas we were tested on then put it one big binder, then I take it all in and sit down with each exam to make sure I know what areas we were tested on so I know what to focus on for the final, for more than one class I used a seperate bag, altho come August I won't quite know what to do with myself only have 1 class & an assessment lab lol

je_da · Jul 16, 2007

hi there! my organization helped me during my school days. i have 4 different binders. 1st small binder has all my index cards for my notes. 2nd binder has all my exam papers and rationales. 3rd binder has all my health related articles in copies and online prints.4th binder has all my case management during my clinical rotations. i have a black pen for exams and blue pens for my notes. i have 2 highlighters: yellow for the important points and orange for read-more-points. :)

Cinqly, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2007

Hey Maya~!
CONGRATS!!!
I'm a Senior this year -- and I actually think I'm going to do something differently, lol...after all this time:)...this being -- b/c I'm about to embark on the hardest class of the 4.5 yr curriculum...one that even the highest in our class do not make it thru the 1st time....
:)

Do you mind my asking what class this is??? Just curious...

Also, to the person that "debinds" their books....how do you do this?!? I've heard other people mention this, but I'm not really sure how to do this. Also, after you spend all that money on the book is it really that helpful to debind it and carry the chapters around? Or is it better to just keep the book whole for reference. (I guess what I mean is do you carry all your books to every class?!?)