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I just started my 2nd semster of a 4 semster program. I am soooooo tired already and it is only the 2nd week!!
I only go to school/clinicals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday is my long day. I get home at 5pm on Tuesadys. Anyway, I studied nonstop from 10.30 am Thursday. [Typing up drug cards] To 11pm that night. I got up at 630 Friday and got the kids off to school, then it was back to the drug cards. I worked on them the entire time the kids were in school. I finally finished them at 8:30 Friday night.
Saturday, I was up by 9.30 and started typing up my lecture notes. I also typed the important stuff from my book. I stopped for the night at 8.30pm. Sunday and Monday were the same thing. I had a test Tuesday and thought that I had studied for it. However, I only got 50 out of 55 right. That is an A-!!
I came home after school yesterday, and had to cut my drug info up, so I could put it on 5x8 index cards. I got it done just in time to leave for clinical [OB]. I get there and find out that they aren't due until today. Then, she told us to do a report on Hepatitis B that was due today. I forgot about it until after I was in bed last night.
I got up and did the report. I also had a major care plan that was due today. I get to clinical today only to find out that the Hep-B isn't due until NEXT week!!
Then today I was in the NBN and we only had 2 babies. The one I got was Chinese and soooo cute, but the mother is formula feeding and she took care of her most of the time I was there. I got a chance to try and feed the baby but I could NOT get her to wake up!!. I tried everything. I changed her diaper; I undressed her; I bounced her; I even unwrapped her. NOTHING worked.
So I sat in the NBN and twiddled my thumbs! I am soooooo tired right now but need to start on my next content section 'words to know'.
Sorry this is so long, but I needed to vent!!
I rewrote my lecture notes to help cement it in my brain then what I started to do was tape myself reading my lecture notes and I would add in stories or examples that the instructor had used in class. I would put my headphones on and put that recorder in a a little fanny pack and clean house, do laundry ..it really helped PLUS I had a clean house!! Now how is that for multi tasking! Erin
First off, I am NOT trying to memorize facts. That will not work in Nursing. I had to type my drug cards because I didn't have the $ to photocopy them. I use Davis Drug Guide w/CD. Of the nine cards I had to do only 4 were on the CD. I found out today that the bookstore sells drug cards, but again, right now I can't afford to buy them.
Second, I retype my lecture notes and add stuff from the book to reinforce what I am learning. I am not a perfectionist, but I am determined to become a nurse. I went over my test today, and one of the things I missed just really p***** me off. We had to fill in the blank on a transposition of the heart. I KNEW that it was Right ventricle and then left ventrical, but is that what I put? NO!! I put right ventricle, left ATRIA!!!!! Why in the world I put that is beyond me. I KNOW that the pulmonary vein arises from the right ventricle and that the aorta arises from the left ventricle. In a transposition they are reversed. GRRRRRRRR!!
The other four questions, I really didn't know the answers to. One was what causes the baby to take its first breath? I said the pO2 increases as pCO2 decreases. NO! Its because the baby enters a cooler enviroment!! DUH!! I tried to over answer the questions.
So I guess my next question for y'all is how do you keep yourself from over answering questions?
Thanks for reading and TIA for your wonderful advice!
nyapa, RN
995 Posts
...reduce your time constructively. I could add to the suggestions but it would basically be repeating what they all say. But if you can, try to find some time for YOU; going for a walk, or a bike ride, or visiting a friend. Doesnt have to be for long. But it will help you concentrate better on your studies. Also, make sure you have a five minute break from your studies every hour; or else you become fatigued.
Look after yourself