I start my BSN this fall. For my fundamentals class, they assigned 9 chapters to read from our textbook (Kozier & Erb's).
I am trying to space out these 9 chapters because I am taking a summer chemistry course that ends in late July. So I don't want to cram in all that reading during my 3 weeks off in August.
My question is: when you read, what do you do? Highlight, take notes, make an outline, stab your eyes out? How do you remember the information, or at least understand it, & what is your "method"? I am looking for any sort of tips, advice & tricks of the trade.
I would like to add that each chapter has objectives (ie: "upon completing this chapter...). It will be something to consider the further you go into nursing studies to continue to set up studying in objectives, focus on figures and charts, and organize your studying based on the nursing process.
I used chapter objectives, as well as setting up the nursing process to know the subject; ie data collection to know about commonly used assessments, labs, processes, and identified nursing diagnoses, interventions, and evaluations. It helped me grasp the content and be able to organize my practice as a student and as a nurse.
I finally had a chance to rewrite my notes from the workshops.
Here are my notes for effective note taking:
Write down hat the professor focuses on in class
Based on tone of speech, body language, and inflection, take notes.
If you don't understand something, take notes so you can then ask the professor, a tutor, or otherwise do more research to gain understanding.
Look up vocabulary that is unfamiliar or you don't understand / know.
Pay special attention to dates, names, facts & explanations, examples, theories and definitions, arguments and debates, images and class exercises, any information that is repeated, if it is written on the board by the professor.
Scan / Review notes for review / accuracy
Consider using a 3-ring binder as you can remove pages for study, put multiple pages side by side or up on a board to study.
Techniques include outlining and mind mapping.
Consider using the Cornell note taking system or others like it.
After each class, review and edit notes.
Learn to use abbreviations and symbols for faster, easier note taking.
Start a new page for each class
Leave spaces between ideas in case you need to further expound upon an idea.
Learn to use diagrams and pictures.
If you miss a statement, write down key words you've heard, skip a few spaces that you can fill in later when you find out the information from a class mate, the professor, etc.
In case it helps, I also took a workshop on developing good study habits. Here are my notes as well as the hand out from the class:
Plan goals for each class
Be organized -> create a master schedule using the class syllabus for each class. Then create a weekly schedule that is very structured, step-by-step, including study time, review time, work on assignment time, breaks, etc.
Try to get to class early to review notes, reading assignment, and to organize your thoughts.
If there's time after class, use that time to reflect, rewrite notes in your own words.
When working on assignments, work on the most difficult first and treat yourself with the easiest or most favorite ones towards the end.
Study in chunks, 30 minutes a day for five days is better than 3 hours on a single day.
When studying for tests, try to review three to five times before the test in 30 minute intervals.
Use index cards to create your own flash cards. Color coding works best if it is applicable.
Create the cards with definition / question and potentially color code by category.
Use technology like recording devices where appropriate.
Study works based on review, repetition, write, recite.
The closer I get to the start of school, the more nervous I get. So I'm trying to burn up that nervous energy by studying how to study in college, how to read college text books, etc.
I might skim a little before class, but I do most of my reading after the material has been lectured on. I find myself really bored in class if I read everything already.
When I'm reading, I'm a highlighter freak. I have a color code I use for different info, and it keeps me engaged and organized. One color for definitions, one color for things the teacher said in class, one for nursing interventions (or anything the book tells me to do as a nurse), etc.
Then when I go back and write notes (which I do maybe 30% of the time) I transfer my highlights o paper, but in my own words. I skip note taking for the most part because I'm very type A and my notes are ridiculously detailed and long and I never look at them ever again thanks to their inefficiency.
What I do now is nothing like what I started out doing a year ago. People learn differently and work differently and sometimes seemingly great ideas end up being a waste of time. I just collect ideas and try them out. If one doesn't work...on to the next!
I tried PMing you a response to the PM you sent me but it says your inbox is full so here it is!
This goes for ANY class: My main piece of advice is to not leave anything for the last minute. Always try to get things done in advance. The last thing you want to do is fall behind because the class material will progress with or without you!
I e-mail my professors a few weeks before the semester starts to see if they can tell me what books/things I need or to see if they can e-mail me a copy of the syllabus before class starts so I can get my books ahead of time and so I can be prepared.
If there is something in class that you don't understand, ASK. Don't be afraid to ask questions in class. Odds are if you do not know something than someone else in the class may not either. It doesn't hurt to ask, only helps!
Google is a great tool also! If you leave class not understanding something you can google the topic to get a better understanding of it.
LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN
8,429 Posts
I would like to add that each chapter has objectives (ie: "upon completing this chapter...). It will be something to consider the further you go into nursing studies to continue to set up studying in objectives, focus on figures and charts, and organize your studying based on the nursing process.
I used chapter objectives, as well as setting up the nursing process to know the subject; ie data collection to know about commonly used assessments, labs, processes, and identified nursing diagnoses, interventions, and evaluations. It helped me grasp the content and be able to organize my practice as a student and as a nurse.