Just starting nursing prereq's but I can't even remember what I had for dinner last night so I am really worried about how I am going to retain information when I go back to school. . . been out 15+ years now.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get your brain going again????? I've been a stay at home mom for 8 years and you know what they say if you don't use it you loose it. Sometimes I read something and can't even remember what I have just read. Did anyone have to overcome something like this? As much as I want to be a nurse I wonder how I will remember all the necessary information.
Honest advise please, if my memory sucks should I really try to become a nurse?
I agree with the others about creating flash cards and looking up other tips esp on this site. This site has been invaluable for creating ideas and or study tools.
I also like the index cards but I like the color coded ones, that I can group similar things into one color group. (basically I condense notes, and important pieces of info onto to the cards so I can take the cards anywhere and drill myself)
Darn if I can recite right now all that I've learned, but I maintained straight A's with my tricks.
I also agree that you will probably overstudy to compensate, but that's good. I had a summer psych class that I had to self teach myself, only going into the school for the exams and I ended up not only with an A...but a perfect score on each test simply because I overstudied it...my point is I never could have done that with my previous high school track record...I got 100 percent better in my study habits because this now means something to me (to put in perspective I was lucky if I got a 2.0 in high school simply b/c I didn't apply myself and/or care...plus some lousy guidance counslers but that's a whole 'nother story
You will make this a priority and that will make all the difference in the world. I too don't think I have a "great" memory...but when when the time arises it just kicks into gear.
:uhoh3:hey star....thank u so very much for bringing up the memory issues...perimenopausal for me.....i will be starting a 10-month intense nursing program and i have to work 21 hours...study, cook, clean....how am i gonna do it? well..just pray and exercise/meditate/power walk and don't listen to the naysayers.....
take care
quote=starbabyfive;2315981]glad you brought it up. being a 'nontraditional student' myself & menopausal to boot. now i don't even retain water, let alone facts,
dates etc, (trying to add more omega 3 to my diet). i too, worry that i won't be able to cut it. have been reading different study skill books. still worry about the memory thing, though. you're not alone.
I started back at age 45. Index cards rewrittng the notes. and I have found the Memory Notebook of nursing gives Pictures with the things you need to kniw ,,, I think there are 2 or 3 volumes. I even use it now after i have graduated. I have them with me in my office.
Um, you don't have to cook or clean. I quit cleaning altogether when NS started - if my husband wants a clean house, he can do it himself. I still cooked, but I assigned him at least one night a week to play with his grill, and otherwise we got pizza or I sent him for takeout the night before exams. Do you have kids/spouse you can assign chores to? Do it. For studying, be adaptable. I have changed methods several times already. Listen to your professors. They may recommend that you read every page of material, if so, do. My pharm profs suggested that we make drug cards, so I did. My patho prof recommended not wasting time making flash cards and memorizing, so I didn't for his class. Studying is a skill, and if you're rusty you just need to relearn.
Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN
541 Posts
Non traditional student chiming in here as well.
I agree with the others about creating flash cards and looking up other tips esp on this site. This site has been invaluable for creating ideas and or study tools.
I also like the index cards but I like the color coded ones, that I can group similar things into one color group. (basically I condense notes, and important pieces of info onto to the cards so I can take the cards anywhere and drill myself)
Darn if I can recite right now all that I've learned, but I maintained straight A's with my tricks.
I also agree that you will probably overstudy to compensate, but that's good. I had a summer psych class that I had to self teach myself, only going into the school for the exams and I ended up not only with an A...but a perfect score on each test simply because I overstudied it...my point is I never could have done that with my previous high school track record...I got 100 percent better in my study habits because this now means something to me (to put in perspective I was lucky if I got a 2.0 in high school simply b/c I didn't apply myself and/or care...plus some lousy guidance counslers
but that's a whole 'nother story 
You will make this a priority and that will make all the difference in the world. I too don't think I have a "great" memory...but when when the time arises it just kicks into gear.
You'll do great...good luck!