How can I get someone to talk to me on this website? and share study habits with me?

[donna5599]

I just wanted some good study advice from someone who has already been where I am at right now, doesn't anybody want to share with me, I really need help with studying, it seems like what I am reading I am not retaining, Please can anyone help me.

[AmandaWIRN]

When I was in school, I found it helpful to study with another person, or I would make up flash cards and have my husband or classmates quiz me. Also, taking notes on what you are reading can help you to retain the information a little better.

[orionseal]

It does help to have a study partner, but if you realy want to succeed just read, read, read and then read some more. If you take notes in class (NO IFS ABOUT IT)(WELL MABY JUST ONE)(IF YOU DON'T TAKE NOTES [HANG IT UP NOW] YOU ARE IN TROUBLE) copy those notes a couple of times the very same night you took them (yes I said a couple of times). This sounds like a lot of extra work, but it ""WILL"" pay off come time for exams.
Take frequent breaks (this allows you to digest some of the valuable knowledge you have been trying to swallow).
Drugs, drugs, drugs, you will (IF YOU STUDY THE PROPER WAY) get sick and tired of looking up drug after drug after drug after drug after...... GET MY POINT. you will be able to recite verbatum the possible side effects of TYLENOL.... ett-all.
You will "KNOW" why you don't give levathroid with a multi-vitamin, and why its so important to give P/O zink to someone with a pressure ulcer.
I hope you kept that old Anatomy and Physiology book you thaught you wouldn't need any more, it's a good place to find some of those hard to understand meathods/ routs of action like the first pass effect, IE: Halflife and why some drugs given in small doses (mcg) treat this dissorder, but in larger doses (Mg) it has a different therapeutic effect.....
These are just a fiew of the study habbits I adopted with the girls in my study group, they say it was great to have a man in the groop,because we(men vs women) think slightly differently and a perspective that is slightly off from our own routting of the old brain-neropathways is bennificial to all in the groop. (this does require we all have an open mind)(we did kick one girl out of our study group for being too closed minded)(someone like this WILL drag the group down and hold everyone back) THIS SAME KNOW IT ALL FAILED THE N-CLEX THREE TIMES. She is now a unit secretary (it is sooooooooo important to keep that old knowledge trap in the open position).
So those are some do's in studying, (they may be modified as needed).
These are some don'ts
Don't choose partners that think exactly the same way you do.
Don't take anyones word for it.(look it up)
Don't exclude that person who thinks too differently from you/the group.
Don't choose teachers pet for a study partner (they may be included in a group though).
Don't choose a leader.(you are all equal)
Don't allow yourself to get frustrated and "I MEEN IT" socialy, spiritualy and yes as embarassing as it is to think of publickly, sexual frustration can be a dangerous thing to someone under as much stress as a Student Nurse.
And last but deffinatly not the least important thing to get into your head is this, Don't forget to plan time for FUN this is so important; I think it should be part of every schools course of study, you must not ever forget to "DO" some things for yourselves, do it alone or togeather with the group, spouce girlfriend, boyfriend, sister, brother..... get the point?
Do something for yourself sometime each day, even if it is a miniscule little thing like listening to your kitten purring just because you want to.

These and several hundred other suggestions are milling around in my head, but these are the ones I look back on and see as the ones that helped the most.

Hope this helps.

P.S. If you are Married/Involved please have them come to the computer and read this next entry.
( If it seems like your spouse/Girl/Guy isn't interested in you, or You think He/She is cheating on you, or you think your growing apart. This is cause for you to be proud of Her/Him, this means that your "Nurse" is on the track to success. Please be patient with them as they go through the "meat-grinder" they call Nursing School. They are not trying to hurt you and they realy need your sholder to lean on and cry every now and then. This is the thing they need most from you at this point and time and remember School dose not last for ever.)

[donna5599]

Thank you so much AmandaWIRN and Orionseal both of you gave me some really good advice, however I do feel like I am neglecting my husband and children, but you are right school does not last forever, so hopefully they will understand...THANKS AGAIN for sharing with me.....

[orionseal]

Thank you so much AmandaWIRN and Orionseal both of you gave me some really good advice, however I do feel like I am neglecting my husband and children, but you are right school does not last forever, so hopefully they will understand...THANKS AGAIN for sharing with me.....

Glad I could help.

Keep us informed on your / and your class' progress.:33:

And the "RubBer rOoM" is an excelent place to rant and rave over issues you think no-one will listen to. If you use it we will read it.

Lots of luck to all your class and tell your husband I Feel his pain, my wife starts Nursing school this fall. she sees how much I enjoy my job and wants to join us in the greatest profession on the planet. (She already got her acceptance letter):shades_smile:

[OldSquidNewNurse]

Flash cards are helpful, but time consuming to make. If there's are sample quesions in the book always review thoes. Also my program has sample NCLEX quesiions that we review; however, some (most)aren't what we are covering. Good Luck!

[Toddy]

Check out Flashcards: The world's largest library of printable flash cards and see if former students from your program have left anything. I don't use this as it doesn't really work for me but quite a few of my classmates swear by it and contribute to it. Everyone studies a little differently but it's nice to know there are options. Good luck!

[SoldierNurse]

When I was in school, I found it helpful to study with another person, or I would make up flash cards and have my husband or classmates quiz me. Also, taking notes on what you are reading can help you to retain the information a little better.

I can relate to the taking notes. I would take notes on lectures, then rewrite them later. Plus, I'd take notes on the required reading in textbooks, then rewrite them later, too. I found the more I wrote about the material the more it became ingrained into my brainhousing group.

[JennyP]

I would fold my notebook pages (roughly) in half lengthwise and take notes in class on one half and then write notes from the book and from study sources on the other half of each page.

I recently found some of my old (we are talking 40 years old!) college notebooks and was looking at them and thinking about all of the time and effort that I put into studying at that time. It sure brought back some memories! My microbiology drawings of various bacteria were pretty elaborate back then; but we didn't know nearly as much about the bacterial cells (especially the cell walls!) as we do now.

I would suggest you save some of these for sentimental reasons also.

[x91D]

Hi there,
Study habits... I would read the assignment before we "had" to read it, and then re-read it, go to lecture, write notes and then come home and type my notes up. This really helped to reinforce the lecture. A couple of us got together in a study group, and we all worked together knowing how precious the time was to study and ask questions. Don't get in a group that is more interested in socializing, or talking smack about others,
spend the time learning. I took my books with me almost everywhere, vacation, to the beach, etc. so i could read over
and over. Sometimes it sinks in, sometimes it doesn't but you
need to keep at it until it does. Remember, what you learn in your first sememster will reappear on Boards or your final exam
so don't learn it just to pass a test, understand it. Make sure you take time for exercise and good nutrition, and every once in a while (depending on your grades) pick an evening to do something that has nothing to do with studies and enjoy it, and don't feel guilty about it. You will need a break now and then.
Identify your learning style, some people learn visually, others
by reading, others by hearing. Once you do that you can organize
your studies around that. For example, if you learn best by hearing things, tape your lectures, read your book and tape your
notes and play them back in the car, etc. Whatever works for you. Good Luck, and remember, once you pass Boards the studying
never ends. There are certifications, classes, inservices, equipments, specialty things, and others to learn. Sigh....

I go to AORN inservices and classes frequently, because you
don't want your brain to get stale.


x91D :banana: