Elle16

At the top of the AN page, there is a place to do a search. I put in the search, "I don't know how to study" and many good comments came up. For example, there is this one: https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/i-dont-know-773153.html Look for a comment from "AnAppleGirl," who gives good tips. I am just finishing my first semester of NS and I still haven't found a tried and true method. Honestly? I think I need to somehow concentrate and focus my time even more and do something similar to what "AnAppleGirl" writes. Also, try a search for yourself--you may find something that speaks more to you & your style of learning. Good luck! Elle

Hi futureRN, per your advice, I'm going to try to find some people who want to quiz/study together. I think it will take my learning/understanding to the next level; I need to learn to think more critically, like a nurse. I still freeze and my knee jerk is DITH--deer in the headlights!

TLizS, I like your idea about making a thorough outline and closing the books to study with. I'm going to get the Saunders book--thanks! Elle

Thank you, cocoa puff for replying, I'm going to give your techniques a try!

Hello fellow nursing students, I'm a first semester nursing student and am studying fundamentals. I love school and everything I'm learning, (I'm so honored to be studying to become a RN!) but I do not feel as though I'm studying effectively. It takes me hours to study one chapter--I want to read every word, but what's happening is I'm falling far behind in my studies. I'm not trying to not do the reading, but I'm running out of time until the next test and I'm concerned I won't have all of my reading done. I'm not concerned with getting As, but I want to pass and I really want to learn. How have you gotten through all of the reading? Hoping for input/feedback. Elle

I have huge issues with sugar, especially when stressed (I am!), I just don't know how to help myself. It's late, I will come back tomorrow to read all of the wonderful posts here. So glad I found this thread.

I am not able to PM just yet. I am learning about the nervous system. I could use explanations (simplified, at first!) about membrane potential, -70 mV concept), Na+/K+ pumps, action potentials and more! Once the concepts are explained, I am able to understand, but for some reason I am not able to conceptualize from my instructor's lectures.

Congratulations! Best wishes for a smooth ride through nursing school!

This was really helpful! Thank you so much.

I'm taking a Physiology class. It doesn't include Anatomy; I took Anatomy last semester. I have also taken Chemistry and Biology. I am having the absolute most difficult time with Physio! I am amazed at how unable to grasp concepts I am! I have never had this much difficulty with a class. Is there anyone out there who found Physio to be a challenge? Anyone have any insights on how to get through this class? I would like to get through it by learning and understanding the material--I don't just want to skate through and pretend it never happened. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Regarding "balance." For those of us with children, I find that it has gotten easier as my children have gotten older. My youngest is 10 and there is so much that they can do on their own. They can put together a salad for dinner or vacuum. I have to let go of wanting the things I ask them to do to be done the way I would do them and when I am able to let go of a preconceived outcome, I'm truly grateful for their help! I feel that the more I ask of them, the more I teach them to do, the more prepared they will be when they leave home. It also helps that I'm now able to leave them home for an hour or so, if I need to. On to studying: do any of you ever feel that you can't study enough when it comes to the science classes? My anatomy instructor gives questions on the tests that require a thorough understanding of the material, which is good because I want to know this stuff, but I just can't seem to spend enough time, even though the majority of my free time is spent studying. I enjoy taking tests, but I always have the anxiety beforehand that I didn't put in enough time. I wonder if it's the same for any of you? I'm enjoying everyone's support and input on this thread, it's great!

I get a chuckle from people who make statements about what is true from their point of view and serve it up as THE truth. While I do appreciate "both sides of the coin," I also appreciate when the person who makes the statements backs them up with reliable sources as to where they have gotten their information. For all of us who are following a dream, I think it is wisest to learn what we are up against from reliable sources and make our decisions from there. It is up to us to decide how to spend our precious time, it is not for a stranger to advise.

I was surprised to see how many of us "fifty-ish" pre-nursing and nursing students along with RNs there are out there! Your responses have made my day. I am buried under a mountain of anatomy that I need to have penetrate and stick in my brain along with another class I take where there are pages and pages of reading to do. Thanks so much for all of your responses; I can't wait to hear more. I question myself about whether my choice is a good one, especially with all classes/adn programs being so impacted in my area, more than is useful so when I begin to do that I am going to read all of your responses that I printed out, hole punched and put into my binder. Back to my studies .... Elle

I take one science and another non-science class and it keeps me very busy. My memory is different now and I find I have to spend much more time with my studies, especially the science classes.

Good luck in finding your answers. Deciding to become a nurse was a process and I knew I needed to be certain about what I was doing because the road was going to be a long one. I am going to begin a course of volunteer work at a local hospital to find even more certainty. I can't wait!

Hi Kind2all, My DH used to be a chef. He has the best knife skills; I call him a human Cuisineart! Initially, I questioned my studying to be a nurse because I also try to use a more wholistic approach when it comes to health care. In talking with a friend who feels the same, we realized that we won't be diagnosing people and that they are still going to need care and that is where we come in as nurses. Once I got this sorted out in my mind, I felt that I was truly on the right path. Nice to meet you! Elle

Congratulations to you!! I wish you all the best.

Hi again, Elle here. It's nice to know there are others out there who are going for their goals at a more, uh, "advanced" age! The thing that helps me through is the perspective I have that I didn't have when I was in my 20s and first considering a nursing career. I volunteered for one shift at a local hospital and I was done! Simply put, I was immature. I wonder if any of you ever struggle with balance. I suspect there are many who do. Sometimes, I feel as though I lose days because I am so engrossed in my studies. Then, I realize I've only managed to get a day of exercise in! I'd love to hear about how all of you manage to find balance. Just taking a break tonight from my studies about blood and the heart to see how others are doing. :)

Hi Everyone, I am new to posting here. I do read posts on occasion although Anatomy keeps me pretty busy! I was hoping to meet others near my age and hear your stories. I am 51 and have another year of pre-requisites and I will apply to the local JC's ADN program. It's on a lottery system which has its pros and cons. I take one science class per semester and am fairly well challenged, but am holding my own with Bs. I never finished college and once I finish the ADN program, I'd like to get my BS, hopefully the hospital I work for will pay! I have 3 kids and a very supportive DH. Sometimes I get feeling like I'm too old for this and then I learn something new and it gives me the resolve to keep going. I love all that I'm learning!! Looking forward to meeting you! Elle