Cute video on Nursing…

Getting through those nursing readings. . .

-By Katherine Reina, Nursing Content Tutor

This is a handout designed to help you set the pace for getting through those exhausting readings in your nursing classes. As you go through the list check off the items until you have completed the entire handout and have gotten through the reading. You can make copies of this to keep yourself in check until you get the hang of things.

___ Reading about Location, Location, Location- Find a place where you will be free from interruptions and distractions as much as possible. You may want to change locations often such as in the library, outside, or in a lounge-this will keep you from becoming too bored in the same environment.

___ Set a Time!- Set about an hour to two each day which you will allot to reading only.

___ Skim. Go through the chapter briefly paying attention to bolded words, text boxes, and author’s questions. You may want to write these down for later reference.

___ Note it. Make notes along the side of passages which you find interesting. Any questions you may have should also be printed neatly on the side of these passages.

___ Highlighting. This technique has worked for me. Instead of just highlighting everything that seems important, I choose a different color for each type of structure. For example: Nursing Interventions=Blue, Disease effects=Purple, and so on. The colors actually help me visualize the text in exams.

___ Before class. Reread your notes, pay attention to your questions and if they are unanswered make sure you ask in class.

___ After Class. Compile class notes and text notes into one. I usually type my notes and use them for exam studying.

___ Before exams. It is worthwhile to look over notes and charts of reference in the text.

___ Practice. Now that you have gained a new body of knowledge put it to use! You can practice via questions, clinical, and study sessions with your peers.

 

 

Nursing Students– Tips on Navigating Textbooks

By Alex Morse, Nursing Content Tutor There are many “helpful hints” for reading that I have learned myself or have learned from other people that really do work!  Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of your reading, speed reading and skim reading.  Below is a list of things that I find to be helpful, when I am reading my Nursing textbooks. 1) Break up the information.  During my first semester of nursing classes, I didn’t know any better so I left all of my reading assignments to the last minute, which did not go over well.  Now, I try to read at least a chapter a night, so that way I am not cramming and I can really think about what I am reading. 2) Use the Powerpoints as a guide.  When I go back and read the chapters and take my notes, I use the powerpoints as a guide for my reading.  With nursing textbooks there can be so much information that makes it really overwhelming..by using the powerpoints to guide me through the text, this allevates the issue. 3) “Think like a nurse.”  When I am reading I always tell myself to “think like a nurse.”  I hear my nursing instructors saying it over and over and now I try and incorporate it into my reading.  As I am reading I think, “how can I keep my patients safe,” “what do I need to teach my patient about” “what are the strange side effects I need to know about before giving my patient a medication,” “how will the medical diagnosis affect the patient and their family” ”what is the most important thing to consider first.”  These are the broad questions I ask myself when I am studying, because these are usually the types of questions that appear on the exam..along with the knowledge questions. 4) Practice NCLEX questions.  I immediately started doing better on my nursing exams when I practiced with NCLEX questions.  When you learn the style that nursing test writers use to ask questions, it makes it easier to answer the questions.