Tips for my students that work

Published

As an instructor, I've shared several tips for my students that have been very successful in breaking apart the lengthy chapters and making sense of what's important to know.

FIRST read the syllabus to identify the key areas the instructors are seeking.

Review the chapter index in the beginning of the book. Pencil an outline on paper with the key points. Using the syllabus outline and book outline are how I develop my lectures. Always leave a large space between the topics because you will continue to add content.

Go to the chapter and read the first sentence or two of each paragraph that discusses a new disease, procedure, etc. Make a few notes on your outline of the important highlights.

Review the outline you've been making. Go back to the chapters and review the information, adding to your notes a bit more. Keep it brief, you do not want to rewrite the paragraph/chapter. By keeping room between each item on the outline, bring it to lecture to add to. By competing this step in advance of the lecture makes you aware of the content that will be discussed and continues to break down the content.

Pull out the old index cards and create one for each disease, etc. These should contain the highlights: disease, cause, s/s, treatments. The benefit of the index cards is their portable and can be reviewed anywhere at anytime.

Learn five items at a time, get them down solid and add an additional one or two at a time. Don't forget to review them all and keep building.

This technique has helped my students with ADHD, comprehension problems and the feelings of being overwhelmed and thinking you have to remember every aspect of the chapter.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you, tabrojajo, for great tips!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great tips! Wish I had this info when I was i school! Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That method does sound like it'll be immensely helpful when I get to that point!

Right now I'm just taking pre-req's, which is helping me a great deal get a feel for what I'll need to focus one in "real" nursing school.

I noticed that the muscle unit gave me trouble in A&P Essentials, so before A&P 1, I plan on making a graphic using muscle names in the shape of the actual muscles, and then coding what they do (extend, flex, adduct, etc) and whether they're primaries or sympathetics.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you i think i will incorporate this with my content review with nclex

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do you have any books that you would recommend for student who would like to prepare for nursing school? I begin nursing school this spring and have taken all pre reqs except for micro. During winter break, I wanted to work on developing my critical thinking skills and was wondering do you have any recommendations on how I could do this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you! This seems like a very thorough way to study

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the tips! I start the ADN program in January '17 and am really nervous and excited. I am considered a nontraditional student as I am returning to college at age 46. I've always dreamed of becoming a nurse but child rearing came first. Now it's my turn. I'm just finishing one of my prerequisites, microbiology, and have taken both anatomy'so this year. I have a 4.0 GPA and have worked really hard for it. I'm going from taking one class each semester...I did that so I could really make the grade and be able to focus...to four or five classes in January . I'm nervous about how im going to keep organized. Any and all tips and helpful ideas are much appreciated!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

StatPearls has great resources for all aspects of nursing, from fundamentals and dosage calculations to NCLEX. Over 50,000 multiple choice questions with explanations and flashcards and a free ebook. Free access link is posted on their facebook page for all students worldwide. I love it so far, you can build quizzes based on your weak areas and track your progress.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello professor!! please share more on how your ADHD students were able to make it through nursing having this problem. I do not know for sure what I have but I have always struggled with school since in grade school im due to finish my BSN program in 2 months but upon starting to review I feel like I know very little and the stress is starting to build. I cannot tell you lab values without trying hard to remember. Any other tips I can use? Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where do I go to get the free ebook?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment