I am in the second semester of nursing school. I just got done spending 8 hours yesterday working on my reading for my med-surg class, for one week. The assignment was 2 chapters of the main book and one chapter of a pharmacology book. I finished the two chapters of the main text (60 pages) but haven't started on the pharm yet, (i estimate it will take another 3 hours to read) and I still have another class to go.
I was wondering if you all really read every word/page of your assigned reading, or if you just skim? If so, how long does it usually take to do reading for one week?
I am an A/B student and found that last semester, there was one book that I didn't have to read (just quickly skim, took 1/2 hour per week), but I read every page of my main text. Ah well, guess I just have to get into the rhythm again of what is expected, just frustrated at the amount of time it is taking.
The first day of classes in my ADN program, the instructors informed us that our test questions come from our class objectives (which we are given at the start of the semester for each unit). I never read any more in the book than what I needed to in order to answer each objective on the list. I made straight A's.
Several of my classmates who did not do very well on the first few tests decided that the key to their success was to read every word in the textbooks, thinking they would be more prepared. Strangely enough, their grades got worse until they began to just focus on the objectives.
My theory is that there is just too much information in the textbook that you will NOT be tested on. Focus on what the instructors deem as important. The problem with reading too much in the textbook is that you find situational issues that cause you to rethink some very straightforward ideas. When faced with a question on the test, the risk of overthinking it (based on your extra knowledge from the text) is very high. Essentially, you end up confusing yourself and doing very poorly.
Of course this won't hold true for everyone, but this is what I have observed. If you are genuinely interested in the material, read all you can, but keep in mind that most test questions are testing your BASIC understanding, not the in-depth stuff that you will have gleened from your extra reading.
:yeahthat:
During Micro and AP I found that when I read a lot of info past the objectives that we were learning I had half a book to study when test time came. I also ended up dumping most of the info after the test because it was just sooooooooo much. When I started really concentrating on learning the objectives we were going over I was able to really nail the info, I got straight A's and still remember the concepts that we went over. They can't teach you EVERYTHING in nursing school, so they will teach you the really important things you NEED to know. Remember you'll be learning everyday on the job too!
I'd agree that the notes are pretty much the focus of the tests, usually...so I focus on those. But reading kind of helps me to organize the thoughts a little more...and from the notes I can tell which parts to skim over, and what to look more into. I'm the type of person that has to understand every little thing, so the reading helps me to do that...sure, we'll only get tested on the basic info, but I can understand that basic info better by reading in the book and making more sense of it.
It really depends on how YOU are, and how you learn best. Different people are different.
I don't start NS until Fall, but I think I will read everything. During pre-reqs, I ALWAYS read everything even if the teacher hardly used the book. I wasn't going to class just to get an A. I was going to class to learn the information. I don't want to learn to ace exams and then be done with it. I am paying a lot to be a nurse, so I want to be the most well-rounded and informed one that I can be.
During pre-reqs, I went above and beyond what I needed to know the info and I always had one of the top grades in class. I guess it depends on how much it means to you to know the information.
The way nursing school tests are set up is much different than the ones in pre-req classes. Nursing school tests focus on application, not knowledge. You need the knowledge of course to apply the material.
I use my books to fine tune what is covered in lecture, there isn't enough time in a week to read what they want us to read. I frequently make the highest scores, not because I learned how to ace exams, but because I learned how to take the material out of the book and apply it to real world situations.
The way nursing school tests are set up is much different than the ones in pre-req classes. Nursing school tests focus on application, not knowledge. You need the knowledge of course to apply the material.
I use my books to fine tune what is covered in lecture, there isn't enough time in a week to read what they want us to read. I frequently make the highest scores, not because I learned how to ace exams, but because I learned how to take the material out of the book and apply it to real world situations.
Right, and I plan to read the book and do the same.
I have only completed Fundamentals but what I would do was read/skim over the whole chapter(s) before class. I took really good notes and we also could print out her powerpoints to add notes on. Then I would go back and just re-read in the book what she focused on in her lecture. I got B's and A's that way.
I agree, until you have taken a nursing class you really have no idea what it is like! The tests are sooooo different from pre-req's and you have to study for ns tests in a totally different way than pre-req's and it takes awhile to get used to them IMO. You just really have to know and be able to apply the material in various situations.
I'm going to read the book because I bought it, that's why it is there, and I like to read to gain knowledge!
So you guys can tell me over and over that it's pointless to read the book because you only need to think critically because of nursing school test questions, but I don't think it will benefit me to only go by notes when I have a perfectly good book in front of me with information that will help me think critically.
Also, I don't know about you guys, but my professors in pre-req classes knew we were nursing students, so they made all of their questions based on applying knowledge. I never had an exam where we just spewed facts or definitions onto a page--it was all critical thinking. And yes, I believe reading the book helped me a lot.
I'm going to read the book because I bought it, that's why it is there, and I like to read to gain knowledge!
So you guys can tell me over and over that it's pointless to read the book because you only need to think critically because of nursing school test questions, but I don't think it will benefit me to only go by notes when I have a perfectly good book in front of me with information that will help me think critically.
Also, I don't know about you guys, but my professors in pre-req classes knew we were nursing students, so they made all of their questions based on applying knowledge. I never had an exam where we just spewed facts or definitions onto a page--it was all critical thinking. And yes, I believe reading the book helped me a lot.
I don't think anyone is reffering to you. The question was do you read everything. We're all just saying what WE do. You do what's good for you and we'll do what's good for us.
I don't think anyone is reffering to you. The question was do you read everything. We're all just saying what WE do. You do what's good for you and we'll do what's good for us.
Well, actually someone quoted what I said, so they were sort of referring to what I said and I was replying. I didn't take out anyone elses quote and say what they do is wrong, I only answered the question with my own opinion like everyone else.
YESSS!! i read every little reading assignment that there was and i got 9 points away from an A! talk about total frustration. nursing school is pretty much reading, that is the majority of your time spent. oh except for those wonderful care-plans that one must write every single week. all i know is that i am not reading anymore of the assigned readings for next semester. i just want to take a break from reading.
I got to be really good at scanning for important info... there was so much reading that if I tried to read every word, my mind would shut down and stop taking it all in even though my eyes were open going through the motions!
TRINI_RN
608 Posts
:yeahthat:
During Micro and AP I found that when I read a lot of info past the objectives that we were learning I had half a book to study when test time came. I also ended up dumping most of the info after the test because it was just sooooooooo much. When I started really concentrating on learning the objectives we were going over I was able to really nail the info, I got straight A's and still remember the concepts that we went over. They can't teach you EVERYTHING in nursing school, so they will teach you the really important things you NEED to know. Remember you'll be learning everyday on the job too!