what do you use: notebooks/binders/other??

lil' girl, LPN · Dec 28, 2004

I like the composition books with the pockets for holding my handouts.

NurseFirst · Dec 28, 2004

I am starting the BSN program in Jan and I was trying to decide what is best for lecture notes and handouts. Do you use indivdual notebooks and folders, 3 or 5 subject notebooks or do you use a big binder? just curious as to what you all use.
My classes will be:
Health Assesment/Lab
Health promotion
Pharmocology
Fundamentals/Lab
Thanks!!

That I use for putting our syllabi in (which number in the 100s of pages). I have a plastic multi-slot folder where I keep different kinds of papers in...such as nursing care plans; patient data; "green sheets"; tests and quizzes; etc. Most of our syllabi come with places for us to write in, so the question of notebooks is moot. One of our instructors actually said to show up with a notebook (among other things.). She is said to be the most anal of our instructors :).

What you DO want is a clipboard for clinical. There are some great clipboards out there, that are about legal size in length, that have a handle, a big storage compartment with a place for papers and a place for pens and I guess another place or two. It also has a calculator on it. Very convenient. Highly recommended.

NurseFirst

gsunursingstudent · Dec 28, 2004

Maycee,

I just finished my first semester in the BSN program and I used 3 ring, 1 inch binders. For some classes, with the big syllabi, I used 1 1/2 inch binders. To help with organization I used one binder/class instead of combining everything because you're about to learn alot. Also I used individual notebooks..i think thats what they're called (college rule) just in case you have extra notes to write that won't fit on the slides. For pharmacology, I had two notebooks, one for the already learned material and one for the new material that we had not tested over yet. And the subject dividers are good as well. Good Luck with your first semester, it won't be easy but take it one step at a time.

RNinRubySlippers, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2004

I use 2" binders for the monster classes (1 subject) then put 2 subjects in one 2"! Works wonderfully!

HTH!

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2004

I use one 2 inch binder, it has a divider for every class. I keep the syllabi, and current notes and handouts in there. When I am tested on material, it goes into that classes file, in the proper order of course:) . I really like having everything with me, sometimes I have an hour or two extra and I can get something done for another class.

In our BSN program, APA format is a biggie. We have something called Writing Across the Curriculum, we have 5 writing intensive classes in the nursing program, plus some in the general ed component. In these classes we must pass the writing part of the class, I think it is to be sure we are progressing as professional writers. Our writing is tracked through all of our classes, but only graded in 5 of them. Anyway, what the point of this ramble is...I bought a 3 inch binder and dubbed it my writing portfolio, I keep everything I write for the nursing program in there, with all of the grade sheets I have received back. It is a nice reference and I have proof if I am ever doubted about something.

Good luck in the program!

Jen1982 · Dec 29, 2004

Hi Maycee

I have just finished my first semester of the BSN Program and I had a one and a half inch binder for each class. I organized them with our specified coursepacks, dividers, and so on. Anything to make them look neat and tidy! Teehee. I also brought a clipboard to every class (to take notes etc). It is personal choice, but I have found that a clipboard is much more useful than those 3 or 5 subject notebooks. Sure they look nice, lol, but I always end up wasting so much paper, because I never end up using the whole book! Neways, I also like to take my notes on lined paper so I can remove from my binder when I study. Good luck!!!

Jen:p

Jen2 · Dec 29, 2004

I buy a 3" binder and with divider tabs I label the first one with syllabus and put my syllabus behind that. I then use a divider for each instructor that I have and put all of her lecture notes behind her tab. This keeps me really organized. I put loose leaf paper on a clipboard and use that to write my classnotes on and when i get home in the evening I just put them under the correct tab in my big binder. Also after a test I go back through my notes and highlight the questions that were on the exam in a diff. color highlighter that i use in class which is really nice if you have a cumulative final and your whole semesters worth of notes is all in front of you.

shel_wny · Dec 29, 2004

I bought one of those big accordion plastic file things to put all of my handouts in. It had 6 sections - perfect for each of my classes and with one file for what I have already completed that is due. I also had a 5-subject notebook that I used to take notes in class and on my own from the textbook readings. I didn't use a single sheet of notebook paper all semester.

All of my classes were heavy on handouts, notes, and self-study from the textbook.

Shel

Rhoresmith · Dec 29, 2004

I used one large binder for all my classes, that way I had all my material with me and if I had extra time I could study. Sometimes the material from one class overlaps with another and having another piece of material helps me if I am not quite getting that concept. It is also a good way to never forget or grab the wrong notebook or binder. I used loose leaf paper in each section to take extra notes but I am a big writer in my books and highlight highlight!!!!

FocusRN · Dec 29, 2004

Well, I use a combo of things. I have a 3 1/2" 3 ring binder (that zips closed from mead). I also use a 1 subject notebook for each class I am taken (they have to be the kind, the have preforations). I keep the notebooks in the binder, along with some loose leaf paper in the back. I think this is the best method (maybe I am a little bais). It think its best because, I write my study notes in the notebooks, and I can tear out the pages to compare my lecture notes, and put them together for a full picture (but they have to be stapled back in at some time). And all of my subject are apart from each other. Dividers can be torn out, but a notebook remains a notebook. I think it is really more organized, because when you go on you'll have a notebook to go back and look in and not just some random sheets of paper.

stressgal, RN · Dec 29, 2004

"I keep everything I write for the nursing program in there, with all of the grade sheets I have received back. It is a nice reference and I have proof if I am ever doubted about something."

So important! Keep all of your papers and grades as well. Can't tell you how many times an instructor has forgotten to write in a grade or accidently put in the incorrect grade. I would recommend that you keep all corespondence between yourself and Instructors. One gal in my class got docked points because she had not completed a skill return by a certain date and proved through an e-mail the instructor had cancelled the appointment and had asked her to reschedule. Saved her from receiving a lower score.