Focus

It's the little things that help me get through my days. I've been reading a book called Vital Skills: Study Strategies Every Nursing Student Must Know as a part of required reading for my Nursing Fundamentals class. It sounded like a very hokey title but it's actually a great read and has helped me really get a handle on my studying process. I thought I had good study habits, but this material is so different, so dense and so immense that my "old" ways of learning weren't nearly adequate. This book is specially geared toward the nursing student and the challenges of the unique education to become a registered nurse.


I've taken a few of the books' suggestions to heart. The first one being positive thinking. It's helpful while studying to think about why this information is pertinent and how it will relate to me once I'm a nurse. This has kept me in my seat on more than one occasion during Chemistry class when every muscle fiber is set on bolting through the door. I try to put the terms into a positive light by picturing myself acing pharmacology or physiology because I was such a great chemistry student. Like I said, hokey, right? Well, when it comes to chemistry and I, we are mortal enemies so I'm willing to give anything a shot. And surprisingly, it's not that hard to see how this class will link to my other studies, I just have to put actual effort into admitting it.

Another suggestion from the book is to have a focus--print out a "fake" diploma with your name on it and put it on the fridge or in a place that you will see everyday. Use it as a motivator to stay on your study schedule or to get a boost throughout the day. Anything that will keep you thinking of your future once you've passed your exams and achieved your goals. For me, I decided the best place was to put something on my phone since I look at it seven million times a day. So, I used the banner function on my phone and I typed my first and last name with the title "R.N." at the end, just like what my license will say when I pass the NCLEX and become a registered nurse. Now when I open my phone, the main screen has a little focal point for me to read all day long. It seems trivial but it's a nice reminder for me to stay focused and work hard. At this point, I'm using all the good advice I can find to keep me in the zone. Fingers crossed!