Buying your first nursing textbook can be daunting, they’re huge! And a lot of times finding a way to break it all down can be challenging for students. Here is a guide on how to successfully read and understand your nursing textbooks!
Look at the Chapters Objectives
These objective bullets should be listed at the beginning of each chapter in any textbook and will break down the main points. Read these before reading the chapter and go back to them after reading to make sure you understood the objectives.
Review the Key Terms
In almost every chapter there will be a new vocabulary. It’s helpful to review these key terms before you begin reading, that way you’ll have an idea of what’s going to be covered. The key terms will again be listed at the beginning of each chapter. So look these words up in the back glossary and take notes.
Also visit How to Take the Best Notes in Nursing School for more note taking information.
Skim the Headers
Before you start reading, skim the headers and see what matches up to your objectives. Doing so will give you a good idea of where the majority of important information will be found. So be sure to focus on these sections.
Browse Boxes & Tables
Browse through any boxes or tables laid out in the chapter. Often times if information is given to you in a written form and then again in a box or table, it means it’s important information. Information that you will probably be tested on, so take notes on these sections.
Read Your Nursing Textbook
Now that you have a good idea on what’s going to be covered in this chapter, go ahead and start reading. Take notes on anything that seems to be important information and reference back to your key term notes as needed. If any information is bold or italicized, then there’s a good chance you’ll need to know it.
Use Your Resources
Oftentimes new nursing textbooks will have sections where you can get more information online. Use these website resources for things like extra practice questions and case studies. If not, take advantage of your teachers office hours and any student success centers or study group help you can get.
End of Chapter Review
At the end of each chapter there’s usually a review of the key points as well as some practice questions. Go ahead and review the key points and make sure your notes reflect this. Then take the practice questions. If you are getting the practice questions wrong, read the rationale for each answer and go back to review that section. The practice questions are good prep for your exams. So if you’re not given a study guide from your professor, then use these questions to help you study.
And that’s it!
Be sure to set aside time in your schedule for reading and studying. And remember, however many units your class is, take that and multiply it by two. This will help to determine how much study time you’ll need for that class each week. For example, if your class is three units, three times two is six. So you should be studying for about six hours each week for that one class.
If you’re a pre-nursing or nursing student, be sure to check out the following posts for some nursing school insight!
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- How to Survive Nursing School
- How to be Successful in Nursing School
- Top 10 Best Jobs for Students in Nursing School
- 16 Things You Need to Bring to Clinical
- Managing and Preventing Student Stress