Organization Help

[kalley]

With my summer courses behind me and all of my pre-reqs finished, I am officially a nursing student. Classes start in about 3 1/2 weeks. I am a decent student. I was able to keep a 4.0 through A&P 1&2 and Micro. I know nursing school will be hard work, especially with a part time job and 2 kids. My biggest concern is organization, not of my time, but of all of the stuff. I know that nursing school is a whole different beast than the other classes I have taken. I am curious how some of you have successfully organized yourself. Did you use a PDA or planner? Did you keep your clinical stuff separate from your class stuff? Did you buy something that helped you keep everything straight? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any help.

[sproeber89]

Here's the system I use.

I have a desk in my room so it's off limits to anyone else, it's all mine. I have a 3 shelf book case, the top shelf holds all my current books, my second shelf holds all my current binders for my classes, I use a 1.5 in. binder and put my module and powerpoints in there, then for my actual clinical classes I take the graded papers out and put them into a smaller binder (I know my CI collects all our graded homework at the end of the class). The bottom bookshelf is for books that are from past semesters but are still useful enough to have handy just in case I need it.

Then I have a 3 shelf cabinet filled with all my supplies. and organized based on use. Pens/pencils, highlights/sharpies and a big bin of post its and note cards.

My computer is also organized based on subject, everything has its own folder. I'm taking 4 nursing classes and two online classes in fall so I need it.

The major thing with me is I have a blackberry but don't use my calander on there, instead I have a larger planner and it has a date section and then a to-do section on it. I color code everything and write all my assignments in for the semester ASAP! I also then write it on my dry erase calendar. Thats just how I stay organized.

I also have a bag for lecture with all the regular books packed in there and then a bag for clinical tht I have to order yet, tons of pockets and places to keep things.

Also, be sure to invest in a good hole punch, it has saved my life!

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

i had a clinical bookbag that I put together at the start of EVERY week, no excuses.

I had shelves in my bookcase with the books I need for each clinical day, I had seperate binders for each class, each semester...(it's amazing how much the 1st semester stuff would help you understand 2nd stuff)

I made computer lists of each assignment, when it was due, and taped it on my hard drive(tower one next to the monitor)....you can do it! Just figure out what works for you!

[gillytook]

I had all my reference books on PDA. It was alot easier to carry to class, lab and clinicals. Plus I had it right at my patients bedside to look up any questions. All my reading, assignments, exams, projects, etc were scheduled into the calendar and/or the To Do list that way I could check them off as I finished. I also had a NCLEX review on my PDA so I could do practise questions in those spare moments. Most of my texts were available online so I read and took notes directly from my computer (handy at work when they wouldn't let me read a book but would let me go online, go figure.) I had a rolling backpack (small suitcase actually) for my lecture/lab supplies and a tote for clinical. I used a 3-ring binder for lecture, one for pharm and smaller 3-hole folders for lab and clinicals.