700 pages of reading, per week, for one class

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How do you do it?

Specializes in post-op.

Does your school give you learning objectives? Mine did and I only read the information needed to answer the objectives. They only tested us on those objectives, there were quite a few, but it was easier than reading the whole assigned pages.

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I'd get together with a group of other students. Pick ones that you know do good work. Then divide up the text, each of you to take notes on the material and then share notes.

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Skim it and back it up with Saunders.

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you can do it first semester is the hardest between clinical,skill checkoffs ,lecture and not to mention nursing pappers.Do not let the reading get you down read and take notes on things you do and dont understand fyi if you can not explain it throughly that mean you review that part .A good tip i learned is to take the chater quizes befrore you read the chapter to see what you know based on your own knowledge then read the chapter,this has helped

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That is sooooooo funny, because I am very ADHD as well. So with that in mind, let me share with you a few other things I do to help me get through the struggles of school.

Meds: I recommend you go see a doc and try some Adderal or similar meds. Meds help me concentrate and stay on task, but they also help me stay motivated to do things I normally do not find interesting. One of the problems with many ADHD people is not so much that we can't concentrate on something, but that we have a VERY hard time even doing things that are not interesting. Our minds need constant stimulation and excitement, and homework is the worst! It is so boring to sit down and read or study, especially if it something I'm not that interested in. However, by taking Adderal when needed, I'm able to put in the required study time.

Start a study group: I find that I am able to learn so much better when I'm around other people. Granted there are subjects are material that must be studied individually, but for the rest I find study groups absolutely critical. I also try and get those really smart people to be part of my group.

Play to your strengths: Like I said before, I never read the books. It is just way to hard for me to sit down and read a chapter straight through. Plus, I don't learn much this way. So I do things a little differently, like making flash cards or drawing things out over and over on a dry erase board. You need to study to your strengths.

Lastly, learn about your ADHD, it will help so much. For example, one of the reasons you are probably depressed is because it is so hard to do the important things you need to do, such as study, or balance your checkbook, or quietly sit and read a book with your child. All these things are so hard for us to do. And so we beat ourselves up over it, thinking we are bad people or that we are stupid. Another big trait of ADHD people is that no matter how well we do on things, we always feel like we could have done better, but then we take it further by beating ourselves up over it. For example, even though I've done so many awesome and great things in my life, I am often very self conscious that I'm now going back to school at age 36. I have to stop myself from getting depressed over it. After re-reading that last part I make it sound like everyone else. But for ADHD people, it's different. It's like we subconsciously keep telling ourselves "you can't concentrate, you could do better if you could just get motivated, you'd be so much further if you weren't so whimsical or obnoxious."

I don't know if any of that makes sense or is helpful at all. I wish you the best of luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

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that is ridiculous! if its something that has to be done, a study group would be best.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Mag this is me to a T! I have ADHD and also struggle with depression and anxiety due to a few things in my past. Most of it, I would say, is genetic, however...and most people have NO idea that I struggle with these things. Depression and ADHD are the WORST. I think that anxiety, depression, and adhd tie into each other somehow..because my anxiety and depression has gotten awful since starting school..so I am really trying hard to force myself to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep (yes I would love more..but that's hard enough as it is) and to stay away from junk food. One day, I would like to quit the coffee habit. It is AWFUL. I'm an addict..I live for that 1 hour high..and then I sometimes crash from it. It's the 1 hour high that makes me feel "happy" and "attentive" again..if only that could last all day long.

I made a 3.7 GPA last semester (really wish I could have done better..but again..the ADHD & depression get in the way SO much, you have no idea)...I tested nationally in the 93rd percentile for the nursing entrance exams, in the 99th percentile for my program..but people have no idea how crippling depression, anxiety, and depression can be. That's another reason I really freaked when I saw the amount of pages. I'm not like a "normal" person. It's VERY hard for me to focus THAT long. So yes, I resort to flashcards and the interactive guides that come with it..so I can at least pull some key points, if anything. Didn't mean to go on a ramble..but I am the same way! I wish I could sit still that long...I remember I took Paxil as a teen and somehow it did wonders for my attention span.....but I gained soooo much weight and have not been able to lose it. I also don't have health insurance..so I'm glad I have this forum to ask for suggestions, as I find everyone really helpful.

Thanks a lot everyone! I'm so thrilled to see the amount of replies...you understand my pain.

Inbox--I personally do not do very well with stimulants (but I do drink gobs of coffee like many ADHDers), but Wellbutrin is really a wonderful drug for me with much of my "bad" ADHD symptoms and the associated depression. Actually, I take buproprion, which is dirt cheap. Have you considered that drug?

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The best way to study I found is to tape the class. I would listen to the class and use that as a guide for my readings. I never read before the class because it was like your class with 5-7 chapters to be read. What our teachers lectured on was what was on the tests. Also typing out the lectures helped. I would also listen to the tapes when I would go for walks. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in NICU.

I never read for class...but I knew those powerpoints and lectures like the back of my hand.

Reading 700 pages a week of nursing sciences is WAY TOO MUCH to even think about retaining.

Holy crap, you know?

My cohort freaked out during our first quarter of nursing classes, but soon learned that most of it was bs. I used the textbook only if I didn't understand something in lecture. Good luck to the OP!

edit: Oh, and I finished the NCLEX in 55 minutes at 75 questions...

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I think there are a lot of great ideas in this thread. I am probably one of the worst studiers out there...because I have never done it very it effectively. I am tactile and audio so I learned most everything I needed from the classes, which generally left me in little black holes on tests when there were things in the reading that weren't mentioned in class.

Anyway that being said, I would skim and note things you think might come up in the lecture. I think the main reason for early reading is so that you have a gist of what is going on before you come to class. Saves time I would assume if everyone is on the same page..badum ching!

So skim, take a few outline notes, listen well in class and then go back and read more throughly the points made in class and then anything else you have time for.

One of the best things I found in nursing school was to have the mindset of application:

How does this information apply to my future patients.

How would I explain this to my if it was happening to her?

Best of luck! You can do it!

Tait

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

I'd be curious to hear what feedback you get from your instructor.

Looking at this problem logically, I looked up a few different nursing fundamentals textbooks. They were all 1200-1500 pages. The entire textbook. So I'm very curious what materials are adding up to 700 pages per week for an entire semester of 14-15 weeks.

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its actually between diff texts...& it seems that the average is more around 300 a week.

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