How to study properly?

[ABDinelli]

Hi, I am in my second week of nursing school. I'm having difficulties on how exactly to study when I read a chapter. With it being nursing school, I already have jitters about my first upcoming exam. This causes me to try to make sure I'm studying correctly. I now notice that when I begin to read on my chapter, it takes me hours to finish. Not that I'm reading slowly, its my note taking process. In a way I'm now beginning to think I'm over doing it. I pay attention to the lecture and power points, but of course the teacher doesn't go over everything. So after taking notes from lecture, I go home, read the entire chapter, and make multiple notes on that. Am I over doing it? ADVICE PLEASE!

[nlitened]

There is no one right way to study. We all do it differently. You just have to figure out what works for you. Do you know your learning style? I would start there.

[ABDinelli]

I'm a visual learner, so I write down notes. My problem is that I think I'm writing down too much.

[TLynn89]

Do you print your PPTs? I've used mine as a study guide if the professor has them available. I just print them out and add to that during the lecture. Then, when you're reading the chapter, add notes from there that weren't in the lecture material to the corresponding slide. You could also add a few blank slides to the end of it before you print it.

[AspiringNurseMW]

I started outlining the whole chapter. But now I have power points and our nursing manual as guides. Our manual breaks down /includes learning outcomes for every subject. So unless it's on the power point or part of the learning outcomes, I don't outline it. I've skipped entire sections doing this way. Much more effective. After class, if there is something I missed, I go back and reread

[AspiringNurseMW]

I do have access to power points before class and our school gives us the entire manual for the whole semester so we can plan /study accordingly

[ABDinelli]

Ok thanks for the advice

[ABDinelli]

So basically my main focus should be on my power points? Lately I've been reading and taking notes off the entire chapter in the book. I realized it took up a lot of time so I was thinking I was over doing it.

[Shagce1]

Everyone is different. I personally study differently for different instructors. The first exam usually causes me anxiety, but then after that I get a feel for how they are going to test. Straight out of lecture and power points or more so from the book. Then I know where to focus my efforts. Pretty sure this hasn't helped you, but do know you are not alone in how you are feeling.

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

sounds like me before i started clinicals, like what others said, try focusing on the topics the powerpoint went over. i used to rewrite notes, i damn near rewrote my entire microbiology book, it worked but VERY inefficient with time. i adjusted and began to highlight instead, worked just as good and much faster. good luck.

[ABDinelli]

Lol I felt like I was rewriting my entire chapters as well. Thanks a lot! I got it now. Focus mostly on the topics in powerpoints! :)

[Xlorgguss]

I am also in my second week of nursing school. I was also trying to take notes while reading but I find that it was taking too much time. By the time I took my notes I had forgotten what I read! I think my best bet is reading the chapter first in its entirety while underlying key points. I then go back and write quick notes after doing all of the vocab words. I also read the chapter objectives and summary at the end. Then over the next couple of days I try to skim through the chapter. I find it takes less time doing this than trying to take notes while doing my first read through