My RN nursing program started this new thing with their program semester (also my 1st semester in Nursing School), where all classes like, Fundamentals, Med-Surg, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, are in the same class! Next semester it will be those, plus OB and pediatrics. I have 6 books for one nursing class that meets twice a week 2 hours each. I researched, YouTubed, and asked licensed RN's if they've ever heard of this before and their answer is no. I can not find information anywhere.
We have so many chapters out of each book to read before class on Monday. We do have a syllabus that have objectives for that week. I was answering just the objectives so I can at least participate in class. That is about it. It's hard to keep up with that reading let alone study each chapter in each book.
My question is, has anyone or is anyone going through this? how do I study? Stay organized? Take notes? When to make flash cards? No one has done this type of program before me so I can't ask anyone. I tried to take notes and separate them by books, didn't help and everything was scattered. I tried doing it by subject just recently. Didn't work. I even tried to just make flash cards on important things in each chapter of each book, didn't work and waaaaaay too many wasted cards because most of it wasn't on the test! The objectives for each week doesn't cover the details of the test. (Haha, I know, welcome to nursing school). Someone out there has to know something! I am desperate!
Yes. Our local community college refers to it as an "integrated" versus "blocked" program. Some refer to it as "horizontal" versus "vertical" learning. It's been around in one form or another for quite a while.
Specializes in progressive care, cardiac step-down.
My ADN program did this, and I actually liked it because it puts everything in context. Instead of learning pathophys, management, and pharm separately, we did it all together by disorder. Learning about beta blockers is much easier when you have a grasp of the sympathetic nervous system and its effect on your organ systems. ACE inhibitors make a lot more sense when you understand how the RAAS system modulates BP. It gets you away from just memorizing, and helps you learn to apply information. As for preparing, I would do it either by body system or disorder, whatever makes sense for you. Very few nursing students read every word of every chapter assigned. Skim chapters to get an idea of the content. Pay attention in class and take good notes, and use your textbooks as a reference for things you need more clarity on. I found that my instructors often pulled test questions directly from information found in tables and graphs.
Use any resources you have for nclex style questions. Nursing school is all about application and critical thinking. You don't need to know every detail about everything, you need to know how to practice safely as a nurse.
HeatheRND
5 Posts
Yes, this is accredited.