Study tips

[k8telynn]

Hey everyone! Just started Nursing school, looking over the outline the amount we have to read is SO OVERWHELMING. Obviously its necessary and I totally understand that but does anyone have any tips on how to make it more manageable? Sitting down to read chapters 9-15 is really tough.

Does anyone have anything they do while studying to get the most out of it because sometimes I find myself reading the same sentence over and over again and want to make sure I'm actually retaining what I'm reading! Not just reading to read! Thanks :)

[PrettyLady87]

I find that when you find yourself losing the interest, and can't retain anything, you should stop studying and do something completely different. Go for a walk, exercise, watch a movie...the brain actually learns in a scattered kind of pattern. After having a break, go back, you'll feel refreshed and ready to read and retain! Works for me anyhow, (i'm more of a vivid and hands-on learner; so paragraphs don't do it for me...I tend to draw pictures, watch youtube videos on procedures, and teach others what I learned..helps a lot!)

[weavers]

I find study groups work really well. I hear someone explain, we ask questions, fill in the missing bits. when i can explain something then I really know it. It fun to come up with questions and its funny when you predict questions on the exam. be a leader and organized study groups, with different people. have 2 or 3 groups.

I really like videos. the reading is on COPD, and i can type that into youtube and watch hours of videos. also your school should have videos too. I also type notes, it works for me.

[k8telynn]

thanks so much for the tips! one more question, when you're reading do you take notes? of do you just read and highlight or underline? I am finding that it is taking me a really long time to take notes as a read and at this rate theres no way i could possibly complete the readings at this rate. Its just not possible. I was thinking of trying to just focus and read and highlight important things to look over again later but im worried i wont retain the info unless im writing it down as i read. any thoughts?

[norcalsurfer77]

A lot of the stuff in the book is fluff. Skip that stuff and study the meat and potatoes. I need to write things down for myself to learn as well. I'll read through the whole chapter first, then go back and write down what I really need. The tests in the back of the book often pick out the big important ideas/concepts from the chapter as well.

A tip I read about on this site that I haven't tried yet is to read only the first sentence and last sentence of each paragraph, and read all the tables and diagrams. Again, I haven't tried this approach so I have no idea how well it works.

[biojoule]

If you seriously get to that point, which I often do, stand up and dance around for a little while or do something like walk the dog, start a load of laundry, eat an apple, smooch your honey (or your dog)....anything to get your mind off studying for 5-10 minutes! It truly makes a difference!

[rosie861]

Does your teacher have powerpoints? Use that as a guide while studying(reading) unless they tell you differently.. I buy my books because I write/scribble/highlight everything important. I also have my notes from class and write things from the book in my notes. Taking notes on the important things while I read actually helps me because I can picture what I wrote/read on an exam. I also study in sessions because if your annoyed while studying your not going to remember anything. Also understand that your NEVER going to know everything and once you figure out whats important and whats not you will be ok!