Study hint PLEASE

[ladyarawin]

Well this past term I missed passing Med-Surg 2 by 1 point on the final so I just have only this class to deal with. I have flashcards, read chapter front to back, did workbook, questions on the CD that came with the book. But for some reason this old brain not clicken with it. Any ideas that can help me.

I was thinking about instead of using powerpoints from class that have all the notes and stuff on it to start fresh,

any suggestions is helpful. I been bugging my co-workers on ideas on what they did to pass when they were going.

ladyarawin:banghead:

[rotteluvr31, ADN, RN]

Concepts work best for me when I re-write them. I can study the book and look at powerpoints, and it doesn't mean a thing. If I write out the diseases like a pathophys card then I retain them better because I have to look at the material, write the material, then I can repeatedly review what I put together.

This is how I am passing my Health Alt classes.

[loricatus]

Try to do your studying as if you were a teacher having to write test questions. Make actual questions and answer them. This broad approach helps you to organize concepts and start thinking in test mode.

If you could give some examples of what you find difficult, I'll try to be more specific on what I am referring to.

[ladyarawin]

Endocrone system and butt and guts is were I had the lowest grade in on quizzes and test. Wouldn't have thought of doing it like a test mode. Thanks

[loricatus]

Butt and guts----I like that

OK, a quick example of what I was referring to r/t endocrine system"

The hypothalamus is responsible for producing what thryroid hormone?-TSH

Released from where?-Ant. pituitary

What does TSH do? regulate the thyroid's production of T3 and T4, stimulates it's production.

What does the thyroid produce? t3 & t4

Where do they go? to the cells

To do what? regulate metabolism

What would it idicate if the TSH level was high, but the t3 and t4 levels were low?- t3 & t4 being low indicates that the thryroid isn't producing enough but it being prompted by TSH to try and produce more; so, you have got hypothryoidism (list the symptoms here) and a possible goiter could be found...

You can go on and on this way and it sticks in your head because you put it there.

BTW, the endocrine system is probably one of the hardest for most because of it cyclical nature. Break each cycle down into manageable pieces or use a homemade chart-but I find trying to mentally picture things the best way to remember them.

Good Luck

[lvnlrn]

I tutor A&P at my school, and one of the first things we do with students is have them take a test to find out what their learning style is: auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. You can find a quiz at http://www.usd.edu/trio/tut/ts/stylest.html that will tell you...

Once you understand how you learn best, try modifying your study habits to accommodate your learning style. I hope this helps, and good luck!! :nuke:

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

rather than looking at the same information from your textbook and class, try venturing out and reading about the same subjects written about by different authors writing from a different point of view. the information really won't be all that different, but sometimes just the way another author presents it is fresh and will turn on light bulbs in your brain.

this list of weblinks on this thread was developed from an lpn school site.

• https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/medical-disease-information-treatment-procedures-test-reference-websites-258109.html - medical disease information/treatment/procedures/test reference websites

i have really expanded on it and add interesting weblinks to it all the time. look up signs and symptoms of medical diseases on some of these websites. the merck manual is really good and family practice notebook will give you disease signs/symptoms and doctor's treatments in concise outlines that are easy to look at (i love that site). medline plus will link you into the best websites for information on just about any disease that is easy to understand because it is written for the average consumer.

you might also try using my critical thinking flow sheet for nursing students.doc to help you organize the information about specific diseases and help you in studying them. a link for it is also at the end of all my posts. and if something is particular puzzling, you can always ask on question here on the forum.

also see the information and weblinks on https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/looking-test-taking-stratagies-224581.html - looking for test taking strategies

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

One way to look at the endocrine system is that most of them are opposites; such as Addison's and Cushing diseases, Hyper/hypothyroidism, and such. Actually, I found out it was the most fun! We each have our challenges, though, so, I will not diminish the fact that this was difficult for you at this time. Daytonites suggestion to look at how it is written elsewhere is very helpful-that is what I used to do and did well. Also, consider looking up things in Wikipedia. They usually have decent explanations of disorders.

[p2o8]

hello. when i went thru this part of school i had a wonderful teacher who who made us a chart. she listed each gland in a box, then we would put what hormone it secreted what the disease process was that followed it and what the level of that hormone was (high or low). that really helped us!! try thinking of it as a ripple in the pond effect. it sets off a chain reaction when one gland secretes too much or too little. you literally have to play it out like a movie. i wish you the best! kudos for not giving up!!