Some Pathophysiology help please

[kimmyp]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this site and so far looove it!!! I am taking pathophysiology and haven't had a test yet but I'm beg. to freak out because everyone is telling me it is soooo hard & my teacher is so laid back he tells us not to worry and go crazy?? :angryfire easy for him to say, he already graduated!! I would greatly appreciate any study/comprehension tips for pathophysiology and/or some test taking tips!!

Tx

[SusanKathleen, RN]

Hi Kimmy,

I just finished my patho course in June. Got a 93.5%. Here is what I did:

Spend time everyday studying. Don't underestimate study time.

You need to take notes on everything you read.

You should have a good medical dictionary. I use Mosby's.

You should have a Merck manual.

Every single time you come across a word/term you don't understand, look it up thoroughly. Include the definitions in your notes.

Having chem knowledge beforehand helps quite a bit.

You may think this is overkill, but after I wrote from 15-30 pages of notes per chapter, I then re-wrote the notes, summarizing in just a few pages.

If there are any questions in the text, do them.

If there is a study guide to the text, get it and use it.

If you feel you can work well with a group, try that. I didn't do that, but I know people who did, and felt it helped.

The readings will get easier after a couple weeks, and you will acclimate to the reading level and degree of difficulty.

Do not give up, or let yourself get discouraged. When you do not understand something in the text, take a short break, and RE-READ it until you do understand it. Make sure to do the studying everyday, and never let yourself get behind.

You will get through it if you commit to doing the work.

One more thing- I enjoyed this course more than most other courses I've taken. If you decide that you will make the best of it, and really decide to love the work - you will get more out of it. It really is satisfying to learn this material.

You can also always ask questions on this message board - there will be lots of help here!

Best wishes. Regards, Susan

[Cursed Irishman]

Hi Kimmy,

Every single time you come across a word/term you don't understand, look it up thoroughly.

This is probably the best advice anyone can give a person in school and its useful in the real world as well...why guess what a word means when a few seconds of work can tell you for sure?

[kimmyp]

Thanks for the tips!!! I really appreciate it

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

studying

• http://www.studygs.net/ - study guides and strategies
  
• memory techniques:
  
  • http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/ssmt.htm
    
  • http://www.psywww.com/mtsite/memory.html
    
  • http://www.mindtools.com/memory.html
    
  • http://www.academictips.org/memory/index.html

  [*]http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/ssindex.htm - strategies for success, an online primer and tutorial on how to study for students from the alamo community college.

  [*]http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/checklis.html - this is a study skill checklist for you to go through and inventory your study habits from virginia polytechnic institute and state university. at the bottom of the form is the link to "study skills self-help information" which is all kinds of information to help you with areas you were weak on in the checklist. if you want to bypass the checklist and just go into the information section, go to this link http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html

  [*]http://www.howtostudy.org/

test taking tips

• http://www.glendale.edu/new/services/counseling/tests.htm - strategies for test taking from glendale community college.
  
• http://www.ulc.psu.edu/studyskills/test_taking.html - test taking and anxiety from penn state university learning centers.
  
• http://www.academictips.org/acad/
  
• http://student.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/goshp.html - click on the link at the left side of the page for "study tips" advice from a microbiology professor
  
• http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/sourcebook/tests.pdf - check out page 3 of this document on how instructors should construct multiple choice questions

[kimmyp]

Got an A in patho!! yayyyy!! thanks again

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Got an A in patho!! yayyyy!! thanks again

Good for you!

[SusanKathleen, RN]

Great job! Be very proud of yourself.

[madascanbeRNtobe]

congrats!!

Im taking second half of A+P and Patho this semester at the same time lol

Average in A+P I was an A-. I dunno...wish me luck

[evonne32]

Hello guys, just registered to this site because I was in search of information on effective ways for studying pathophysiology.

Part two ? I haven't taken patho. yet; in fact, everyone signed up with an easy instructor for patho. I was one of those

individuals who tried to sign up with that particular instructor but I didn't succeed. I got stuck with an instructor that everyone

tried to avoid taking because he's hard and he belittles his students...."are you an idiot? no stupid!!!!......etc. Someone

please tell me...how is his methods of teaching conducive for anyone to learn? What do you think? Has anyone

experience anything like this?

[EarthhAngel2013]

I a, taking patho, at CC, and the only time course they offered was a online course. I am SOOOOOOO Scared. I have a test this Wednesday and I am terrified. I am planning on using these study tips for the next test. Also would an NCLEX book help?

[mancrna]

I just found out I am accepted into Fairleigh Dickinson University and Drexel University for their one year accelerated BSN degree for second degree students. Can someone tell me what their thoughts are on which program is good and also what subjects in nursing school is the most difficult so that I can focus on studying them now? I heard pathophysiology and pharmacology are difficult. Thank YOU