Organizing Class Work, Handouts, and Binders

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I am trying to figure out a way to organize all of my stuff for nursing school. A lot of people say only use one binder but then a lot of people say to use more than one. Can anyone help? What has worked best for you all. I need some ideas.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I'll be interested to read these ideas too. I have read some ideas on older posts. Today I got my planner. That's as far as I've gotten in buying supplies! But we haven't had orientation yet so I guess we will learn what we are supposed to buy then.

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Different binders depending on your schedule. Why carry everything when you might only have two classes that day? I also saw an awesome idea where a student took the binding off her huge annoyingly heavy books and removed the sections she needed and three hole punched then to put into her binder. So much easier than lugging aroung those heavy books! It will be great when everything is online. Also, get yourself a rolling backback - save your back. There are some great ideas on here, you will have to search around.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

I'll find out starting tomorrow if my thought process for organization will work.

I intend to use Amazon.com: Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder, 1.5-Inch, Orange (72871): Office Products (Flex Binders) with one per class.

For human biology, I have it divided in several parts using the plastic dividers. One part for my own type written notes and study aids, one for lab material, and the other for paper I will use for hand written notes.

Thank you.

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Good day:

I'll find out starting tomorrow if my thought process for organization will work.

I intend to use Amazon.com: Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder, 1.5-Inch, Orange (72871): Office Products (Flex Binders) with one per class.

For human biology, I have it divided in several parts using the plastic dividers. One part for my own type written notes and study aids, one for lab material, and the other for paper I will use for hand written notes.

Thank you.

Let me know how it works. I need help bad.

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I use a separate binder for each class, they aren't big though. I bought dividers from staples that are numbered up to 20 or so. I placed 1-16 in my binder and put each weeks outlines, notes, case studies, etc. in under each week. We have tests every 2 weeks for each class on the previous two weeks content. It's easy for me to go back and look week by week. I place the course calendar in front clear pocket on the outside of the binder. I label the bindings with the course number, 100C, etc. I printed our 3 column outline for the course that the school uses in the binder. And I have a folder for loose papers. I also keep some loose leaf paper in there. This has helped me tremendously. We have e books so I fortunately just have to carry my iPad and the binders I need. I also have a planner to write down exams and try to organize myself for the week.

Hopes this helps! Staying organized is tough but definitely helps!

Good luck!

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I use a separate binder for each class, they aren't big though. I bought dividers from staples that are numbered up to 20 or so. I placed 1-16 in my binder and put each weeks outlines, notes, case studies, etc. in under each week. We have tests every 2 weeks for each class on the previous two weeks content. It's easy for me to go back and look week by week. I place the course calendar in front clear pocket on the outside of the binder. I label the bindings with the course number, 100C, etc. I printed our 3 column outline for the course that the school uses in the binder. And I have a folder for loose papers. I also keep some loose leaf paper in there. This has helped me tremendously. We have e books so I fortunately just have to carry my iPad and the binders I need. I also have a planner to write down exams and try to organize myself for the week.

Hopes this helps! Staying organized is tough but definitely helps!

Good luck!

I do almost exactly this as well... It's as if you are me... :cautious: The only things I do differently are instead of having dividers for every week, I have the dividers for each test in each binder. Usually I only have 4-6 tests per class so I don't have as many tabs. Also, come test time, I know exactly was section of information I need to study. But like BeansMama said, she has tests every 2 weeks, so dividing the way she does probably works out better for her.

Also, I use to use a physical planner where I would write everything due and what needed to be read, ext., however, since I got my iPad, I find the factory calendar app is very useful. I can change things around if need be, glance at what my day, week, or month looks like at a flick of a finger, and since I sometimes read my textbooks on it, I can go back and forth to see what I have left to read with one device.

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Also, I use one binder per class. That way, I don't forget anything if I get mixed up.

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Specializes in PEDS.

Me too! I also categorize my highlights haha. I have a color for principles, terms of importance, homeostatic imbalances and things mentioned specifically by prof for tests/clinicals!

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I broke my binders by test when they go too big to carry. Kept the class schedule and syllabus in the front. Also used galaxy a lot. Used it to record classes, take videos of skills, drug guide, skills processes recommended by school, and what ever reference I needed for clinicals. I like the galaxy since I was not limited in storage space. Also, it fit right in my pocket so when I was in clinicals I had a reference whenever I needed it. If you also get a pdf file with your books, you can load them right up also for references.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I think it's one of those personal-preference, trial and error things. Most of my friends have tried at least 3 different organizational methods during NS before settling on one.

Personally, I keep all my stuff in one giant binder (per class), separated by test. It fits in my rolling backpack fine, so size isn't really any issue. However, next semester our class is in a lecture hall with those tiny fold out lap desks? I don't think my giant binder will work there, so I'll probably go back to doing what I did originally - keeping my current power points in a plastic pocket folder and them transferring them to the binder after the test. We rarely get class work or handouts, but when we do I either file them in the notebook or trash them.

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more tips please :)

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