Studying Issues

[EarthhAngel2013]

I am having the same problems trying to study now that bit me in the butt last semester. I have never had to study. Not during highschool, hardly during ADN prereqs. I am now having to study. This is my one shot to get this right. I have 2 months to get this information down, or I will not be able to continue in the program. Ok. The point of this post is not to whine, the point is to find a way to fix this.

For me every time I crack open a textbook, my brain is thinking, "Yay it is time to go to sleep." I get exhausted, like I cannot keep my eyes open whatsoever. I try to power through it, but I can't, sleep is inevitable. I have tried studying at the library, at home, in my bedroom, in the school cafeteria (where it is so noisy I can't concentrate). Studying while eating helps the most, but I am already overweight, the last thing I need to do is nothing but munch for the next two years. Help me Please. What are some of the tips and tricks you use while studying? How do you guys keep yourselves absorbed and interested in textbook material. I LOVE Nursing, I LOVE being a PCT, How can I get myself through the studying part of it? Anything is appreciated.

[SurroDoula]

I can't just sit and read through a chapter unless I am REALLY interested in the subject matter. So I highlight important points and make flash cards as I go. This breaks it up for me so it is not so tedious; the actions of reading it, then highlighting it, then taking notes on it helps to reinforce the concepts in my head. I also find that some soft music in the background can tune out distracting noises (I have 2 kids and a kitten...).

[hockeyguy, BSN, RN]

I'll tell you what I do - however lengthy the chapter in front of me is, I try to get myself excited for it (even if I'm not really excited about reading it). It's silly, but I basically have to say out loud "Endocrine system is so interesting! I've always wanted to learn more about it! Now is my chance" Don't forget to smile while doing it, or it won't work lol. Just trust me. Then, as I'm reading, I try to either think of a friend of a friend who has this disorder, of picture myself having it someday, or make up a patient in my mind who has it. This adds a little "personality" to the words on the paper. Get excited about the material!

As far as staying awake - I would suggest taking frequent breaks. So, read for 15 minutes - really focus - then take a 5 minute break by walking around, getting up and having a glass of cold water, washing your face, whatever works. Eventually, increase the reading increments to 45 minutes and take 15 minute breaks in between. The key here is to get up, stretch, get your blood flowing.

I wouldn't eat too much if I were you, b/c that will just weigh you down and make you more sleepy. A cold drink on the other hand is a great idea.

This is exactly what I do. I really want to learn the information even if I don't convince yourself you do! I have the same technique I pretend I have the disease because if I did I really would want to know every single little thing about it! It really works, I am at the top of all of my classes. Remember that you are not studying to get through the tests you are learning this because you will need it to take care of patients and this is your only time to learn this information before you move on to the next subject. If you love nursing you will want to do the best for your patients and the more you know the better critical thinking skills you can bring to the table when caring for them. Good luck!!!

[cogath]

I just finished my PN and I had the same experience. I came up with a more creative approach to studying and it really worked for me. I use printer paper and colored pencils to make fliers for each topic we are studying. I include a brief explanation of the pathophysiology, and a list of risk factors. Then I write out a focused assessment, and interventions. Some topics require a second page for a med chart or a body map. I ask myself "If I had a patient with _____, what would I see (signs, symptoms, assessment) and what would I do (diagnostics, treatments, meds). This project gives purpose to my reading and helps me "pull" the information I need from the text. Also you end up with notes that are really easy to study. Good Luck!

I love this too! I am an office supply fanatic and buy all sorts of color and fun pens and markers. It makes it like an art project, which is really appealing to me and helps stimulate my senses so that I am paying attention, am ACTIVE (i.e. not falling asleep in my chair while sitting immobile reading) and REMEMBER the information. However, I also have synesthesia so colors help me remember words. We should treat studying for nursing school like being in Kindergarden

[KristeyK]

I take notes off of the reading I do. For some reason, if my hands are occupied, I am more able to retain the info I just read. After I am finished with the readings, I will make note cards based off of my notes that correlate with the power points my instructors lecture from.

I also don't read for more than 20-30 minutes at a time. I'll either take a break to watch other insane people on television (Hoarders and Extreme Couponing...HELLO! lol) or I come here for reassurance that I am not alone in feeling weary from the intensive readings and hours studying outside of class.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

A lot of these tips do work well. Pay attention to yourself. Notice about how long it takes for your comprehension to wane... The words will seem like gibberish or you'll just read them and go "what???" and it just won't make sense. That's when you stop, stretch, go for a quick walk down the hall or to the end of the block or something, grab some water and get back at it. In other words, when your mind starts to drift, stop studying, let it disengage so that it can process what you just read in the background, then after 5-10 minutes, go back to studying and repeat the process. Marathon study sessions don't do you any good for information retention. Shorter blocks of time studying does. You can group the blocks together, but you're just studying in little blocks, not huge chunks.

As one person above stated, sometimes, see if there's someone you can teach the material to. Read it, See it, Do it, Teach it. At the end of it, you'll KNOW it.