Is 50+ pages of reading a week "normal?"

[Spikey9001]

My nursing program is just starting to pick up and this week, I have to literally read almost a 100 pages between my textbooks.

How do people do this AND work? Are your nursing programs heavily based on reading too? I haven't had my first test yet, so until then I basically have to read all the material until I can see how the tests are and adjust my study strategy according to that.

[ruaalien2]

For our first DAY of nursing classes we had 7 chapters assigned. 50 pages a week sounds super easy right now.

I'm trying to do as much as the reading as I can but I'm studying for our first test (Monday) based off of power points, lecture notes, our exam blueprint (how many questions per topic) and then if I need the book.

[homenurse12]

Actually...that sounds like a pretty light reading week in nursing school. Just do the best you can.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Read some. Skim others. Figure out what's relevant and what isn't. We cover chapters longer than fifty pages in one class sitting sometimes. I like the pace personally.

[pattyweb]

50 pages? 100 pages? I wish. I remember reading 10 chapters for an exam, 50-100 page chapters. I worked 20 hrs a week as a CNA, and spent all my free time during the week studying. Every other weekend was my own to relax, unless I had a huge paper, but even then my fiance (husband now) would try to get me to relax. My BSN program required several lengthy papers for each course, as well as case studies, huge care plans, and reflections. It was never ending, until it did. Now I'm an RN going for my family nurse practitioner, and read much more than 25-50 pages a day of intensive material. Just remember you are preparing yourself to take care of someone, to save their lives, or to help them through death. It seems like a lot now, but it is worth it, and it does get more specific and easier to apply to patients and patient care as you go on. You just have to get through the "boring" stuff.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

When I was in university (I am a recent grad) between all of the courses, we might have had 300 pages of reading per week. But you make some sort of a schedule, and read the main points and headings. Knowing how and where to access future resources is really the key. And going to class...because the instructors focus on the key areas usually.

Still, I probably spent at least 4 hours a week reading, and you have to sometimes scale back with working. In the long run, doing your best in school is the most important, not working a ton of hours and failing to get the work done. Mainly, whatever works for you...although organization, time management, and self care will help you be successful in the program.

[Tonya75]

50 pages a week sounds like a breeze to me too-nursing school does take a lot of time and dedication. I'm in my second semester, and we have a lot of reading as well. It is possible to have a family, a part time job, and go to school-it just takes a lot of organization and prioritizing. Oh, and NEVER procrastinate!!!!!

[rjt027]

I'm in my final semester of an ASN. I have worked full time all throughout school, have 4 kids, and am due to deliver my 5th at home (due date = last final date ).

Prioritize, focus, Limit TV to 1/2 or 1 hour a day AT most, study flash cards 15-30 minutes a morning when you wake up, at lunch time, at supper, and before you go to bed. Go over prior weeks notes (skim) prior to reading new material. Don't cram the few days prior to tests, slowly build your knowledge AS they teach it. Continually review previous slides/notes to keep them in your memory.

Make flash cards for

1) S/E of drug classficiations

2) Teachings for each drug classifications

3) Mechanisms of Actions for each drug classification

4) Diseases & Processes hit

5) Separate Signs & Symptoms for each process detailed in #4.

6) Lab values, hypo/hyper etc

7) Signs / symptoms for each abnormal lab value

Study them 3 times a day until you know them. Then, study them once a week regardless.

Tests: Remember

1) What is going to help or harm the patient FIRST

2) What are you going to do FIRST

3) Maslow's.... learn Maslow

4) Assess

5) Delegation

6) Multiple choice, 2 answers are WRONG, 2 are right, 1 you do first or kills first.

7) If 2 are equally right, wrong, reread the question, one of the other two is it.

Get and read the Nursing made easy books (amazon.com has plenty used), they explain better, more succinct, and usually with better NCLEX orientation in mind.

Lastly,

Whatever semester you are in, maintain the "review previous slides" every week to keep it in your memory.

Lastly, relax :) You CAN do it, stress is what will make you fail.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Part of Critical Thinking in nursing school is know what is important to read. Even if you can read it all you are not going to retain it all. I had a teach tell us once to read the boxes, that they have the main points, and if you do not get enough from reading the boxed areas then to read the full version in the text of that particular subjection.

[inspired01]

Nursing professors advise not to work while attending nursing school, but they can say that in the eyes of their good pay checks. In this economy, I wish that nursing professors would not say that, some have to work to feed their children. I think it is kind of unethical to say, you can't work and do nursing school at the same time, especially for a BA in nursing, children would starve. Is nursing just for the young ones who are still living at home, depending on their parents?

Any comments would be appreciated.

[inspired01]

The hardest part for a few of us to get over, was, one nursing professor walking into the classroom and yelling. We thought there was something wrong with her, I mean seriously. Finally, we went to the dean and requested that our psychology professor sit in on the meeting. Something went down, because she never displayed that maladaptive behavior again. I mean she would make sure students would get into some sort of yelling match. We really seen a difference in her this semester. She is still mean though, she had to stop the demeaning, degrading and yelling.

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

50 pages is really a low number considering the sheer volume of information you have to assimilate during nursing school. I read the assignments and take notes at the same time, then read my notes to a digital voice recorder so that instead of reading them again I can just "listen" to myself...it helps me learn faster. That may be an option that might work for you, give it a try. I've sat up and read 200 pages of Fundamentals in one sitting, I understand it's a lot, but it is necessary.

Best of luck to you.

vamedic4

[MissJulie]

50 pages is nothing! We started on August 16 and at the current date of September 27, we've covered 32 chapters and had two exams. A few of those chapters were 75+ pages on their own. Oh, and that's not counting the studying for lab, clinical paperwork, and working at a doctor's office doing insuance billing. I don't know what a weekend is anymore... I can't even get on facebook for a few minutes to take a little break without winding up talking about class (we've got a group through the college for our class)!

So, no, 50 pages in a week is nothing, nothing at all...