I need help with note taking

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I am about to begin summer nursing classes this June and just this past year I have been trying so many different studying methods that seemed to work for me. I like doing flashcards but they are time consuming. I'm a visual learner and feel like I must write everything down from textbooks and power points in order for me to comprehend what I am reading. I'm getting use to it though as I am finally am caring about school (I realize that freshmen year I slacked off too much). I was looking over some nursing students notes off Youtube and such to see how they do it, but people highlight in books/notes in so many colors and was just curious to what any of you all do note taking wise. Do you use multiple colors when highlighting? Do you highlight everything or small parts? I never know when to stop, it all always seems so important! Thank you for any note taking/highlighting input!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I take all of my course notes on my laptop. I keep things very abbreviated in a way that I understand. I still do a lot of note cards, and yes, they're time consuming, but they work for me. I can't do them on everything, and don't even always have time to review them all, but for me, the process of making them is a big part of learning.

I rarely use highlighters, except to maybe differentiate one or two key words here and there, or even just underline words with the highlighter. I never understood the point of highlighting entire pages or even paragraphs. Too much!!! I will color code things, which just helps me to stay organized. I'll get multi colored note cards, and assign each class or text a color for the semester.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

]Here are some links that may be useful in terms of improving overall study skills, taking notes, reading text books, etc.

Note Taking Systems - Academic Skills Center: Study Skills Library - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Cornell Notetaking System Explained--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

Google Image Result for http://kenpitts.net/images/cornell_note_how_to.jpg

The SQ3R Reading Method

Time management

Reading University Level Materials--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Read Effectively in the Sciences--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Read and Study Medical Texts--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

More About Effective Textbook Study--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

An Effective Textbook Study Strategy--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Mark a Section of a Textbook Chapter--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

Thank you.

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When I was in the nursing program normally I would bring my laptop to type up the power points and paper/pencil for diagrams. Writing out flashcards can be consuming so I would type those out too and print them out.

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I am one of those people who would never, ever remember what I typed...I have to write it all out. I do highlight my texts and I use yellow for key vocab terms, green for meds, pink for labs, orange for other important stuff, and blue for the holy-cow-make-sure-you-never-ever-forget-this stuff. I transfer those same colors to my written notes. I read a chunk, then go back and do notes on it. Disease processes I use concept maps (I know people hate them but I adore concept maps lol). That way on one page I have the A&P involved, the s/sx, risk factors/causes, labs, diagnostics, and treatments (including meds). If there are a bunch of disease processes within a big process (like leukemia types) I do a chart so I can see the differences/similarities. It took me a while to find the right way for me to study and get the info together, and this is what works for me...it doesn't work for everyone. I was a big flash card person before, but I found out that I'd make the cards and never get back to them, so I quit doing that. It was a waste of time for me. Flash cards work for a lot of people, I'm not one of them. The other advantage to my note taking is that I can fold them in half and stuff them in my purse and if I have a few minutes here or there to review them, I have all the info there. Good luck finding your "style"!! :)

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I love flashcards and will often keep a stack of notecards on my desk while taking notes amd make them as I take notes in lecture. Its a little frenetic, but it's efficient. If there's a term or concept I don't know, or need to remember, ill make a quick card and then go back to taking notes. I take notes in several colors, and partition thjngs into boxes, or draw doodles, whatever is giong to help me link to that info. I never hilite my books. Mom said never write in a book! I can't bring myself to do it.

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thank you so much for all your tips and advice!

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