How to Prepare for Nursing School Lectures

Whether you’re a prospective or current nursing student, you’ve probably heard that the nursing school lectures can be overwhelming. I remember feeling that the classes were a bit different than anything else I’d ever experienced. It is a lot of info and can seem like even more if it’s your first time being exposed to details of the medical world. I’m happy to tell you that with the right attitude and some basic preparation. Here’s my routine (and a free prep sheet) for coming after these lectures head-on! By taking the time to prepare the right way, you’re only setting yourself for more success in your nursing school lectures!

Check syllabus for what will be covered in class

Believe it or not, that syllabus your teacher provided on the first day can actually be one of your greatest resources to guide your study plan. So, fish that packet out from the back of your binder and at the very least, look over the main concepts that are highlighted. This small amount of extra time up front will have a huge impact on understanding and grasping how concepts fit together during discussion in class.

Read textbook chapters prior to exam

Use that syllabus you just located to guide your reading schedule-even if your teacher does not actually “assign” chapters as required reading. This is where the self-discipline comes in… I promise it will be worth it! It’s absolutely a challenge to manage all the required assignments and reading, but factoring in this “prep reading” is arguably just as important. Using the syllabus to write it out on your plan will help you to visualize roughly how much time you need to set aside each week, based on how many chapters and how comfortable you already are with the content. If you wait until after the lecture to read for the first time, there’s no way to predict what you should allow extra time for in your study plan-by taking the time to prepare, you’re only setting yourself for more success!

Use prep sheets

Since the real world is rarely as conveniently black and white as the powerpoint explanations and examples, I find that “brain sheets” or “prep sheets” are the best substitute for straight up slides. If you’re looking for a place to start, here’s my personal prep sheet template that I used over and over throughout nursing school. My set up works best for disease processes and pathophysiology, but could easily be adapted for other topics.   One major advantage of using these prep sheets is how every topic is separated onto individual pages-great for on the go studying! How to get the most out of prep sheets:

• Read chapters that correspond to lecture.
• Prepare single page per topic/diagnosis. Try to limit to just one page-write in the major points and leave space to write additional info during lecture.
• Paraphrase the information – don’t just copy straight out of the textbook! This forces you to stop and think about the information, and then physically writing it down helps to really solidify it in your brain.
• Jot down any questions or clarifications at the bottom or on the back of each page.

Come prepared with questions

We’ve all heard that saying, “if you have a question, there are probably other people in the room with that same question”. This has never been truer for me than in my nursing school days! Never be afraid to ask for clarification if something doesn’t quite make sense. There’s a huge difference between asking your intelligent inquiry and having it cleared up by the teacher (aka the keeper of the exam/grade)…versus stressing about it later and texting your classmate the night before the test in a panic!

Make printed powerpoints a supplemental resource

The vast majority of my teachers provided students with online powerpoints which could be printed before class. There are times I really appreciate the luxuries of the technological age we live in! This was an awesome resource and helped me to focus more on listening and engaging in class, rather than copying every word down.  However, looking back I actually think it may have caused me to rely a bit too heavily on the powerpoints as far as memorizing words versus truly learning the core concepts. For a class where the teacher tends to pull straight of the slides, it can be essential to spend time studying these for exams. But remember: beyond passing that teacher’s exam, your ultimate goal should really be to understand, retain, and eventually apply that knowledge.

Don’t forget to grab your free prep sheet template!

Having an intentional plan makes all the difference! What tricks do you have for nursing school lectures?