Taking study notes: Nursing student success

Note-taking involves writing down key information from different sources, such as lectures, textbooks, or recorded modules.

Since class time is limited, instructors often focus on the most important concepts, leaving students to explore learning gaps independently.

As a nursing student, taking good notes can help you understand and remember complex material and make studying more effective.

Good note taking can also enhance critical thinking and help develop clinical judgment by linking theoretical concepts with practical applications that support high quality patient care.

How you take notes can vary due to your own learning preference and the material you're studying. You may choose to take notes by hand using paper and a pen or pencil, or you may choose to take digital notes using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Taking handwritten notes can be time-intensive, but some research indicates that it enhances memory retention and recall due to the psychomotor act of writing.

On the other hand, taking digital notes like typing on a computer can be fast and efficient, and they're easily saved, stored, and edited.

There are even digital programs and applications that can help you format your notes in different ways. Lastly, there's a hybrid of these two note-taking forms, which involves using a touchscreen device, such as a tablet or smartphone to write notes using a special pen-like tool called a stylus.

Now there's no single best way to take notes, and there are several styles and formats to choose from. As a nursing student, you'll find what works best for you, which may evolve over time or depend on the material you're learning.

So let's explore a few note-taking formats you can try. Starting with the Cornell method, this involves formatting your notes into dedicated sections to help keep them organized.

This method can be used during a class, while reading your textbook, or while watching a video. Start by putting key information at the top of the page, such as the subject or course, date, textbook name and page numbers or topic.

Then divide your paper or electronic page into 3 sections with a horizontal line across the page near the bottom and a vertical line from the top of the page to the horizontal line, making the section on the right larger than the left.

On the right side, capture the information you want to remember during the class, video, or while reading the text. For example, when studying the topic of Crohn's disease, you might write down the symptoms and nursing interventions.

In the smaller section on the left, write questions like how is Crohn's disease different from ulcerative colitis or keywords and themes like inflammation that are cues to help you clarify concepts or identify key information in your notes.

Then at the end of the learning activity, you'll summarize key takeaways and note your personal reflections on what you've learned at the bottom of the page.

Although it can be time consuming, the Cornell method can support organization and efficient retrieval of information. Next up is the outline method, also called outlining, where you'll organize information using bullet points to indicate main concepts that are then supported by details and examples.

So if you're studying heart failure, you can start by creating headings for main ideas within this topic, like causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment for heart failure.

Then use subheadings to break up the main ideas using bullet points. For instance, under signs and symptoms, you might have a subheading for clinical manifestations of left-sided heart failure with bullet points such as crackles and cough.

Then another subheading for clinical manifestations of right-sided heart failure with bullets for peripheral edema and weight gain.

You can further categorize information based on level of priority, like first listing emergent signs such as shortness of breath, followed by less emergent indicators like fatigue.

Try correlating related information and concepts by highlighting them with the same color. Outlining can be difficult to do in real time, especially when a lot of new information is presented quickly.

However, with practice, outlining can streamline the process of taking, editing and reviewing notes, making it especially useful for exam preparation.

You can also take notes by making a concept map, which is a visual representation of information that shows the relationships and connections between concepts.

They come in various forms, such as mind maps, Venn diagrams, and flow charts. For example, in a mind map, the main topic, such as breast cancer, is typically presented in the center of the page within a shape, like a circle, for example.

Then related concepts like risk factors and diagnostic tests are connected via lines. On the other hand, a Venn diagram can highlight differences and similarities between concepts using large circles that house information.

For instance, one circle titled Signs and symptoms of depression might have manifestations such as anhedonia, hopelessness, and sadness inside it, while another circle titled anxiety can have symptoms such as restlessness, tachycardia, and excessive worry listed inside it.

Where the two circles overlap, shared manifestations of both conditions are listed, like sleep disturbances and appetite changes.

Flow charts are another type of concept map used to display information that requires a sequence or set of specific steps like electrical conduction through the heart.

First, identify the key components such as the sinoatrial or essay node and atrioventricular or AV node. Next, create shapes to represent each component like a square to represent the essay node.

Then connect the shapes in the correct order, adding additional details to enhance understanding as needed. For example, under essay note, you could write natural pacemaker of the heart.

Remember, concept maps might not be suitable for all subject matter or learners, but they can be especially beneficial for content with visual components or students who prefer visual learning.

Regardless of the method, it's helpful to review your notes a day or two after learning new content to make sure they are clear and to clarify any concepts you didn't fully grasp during initial note-taking.

Then continue to review your notes routinely to encourage memory retention and avoid the need to cram for an examination.

All right, as a quick recap, good note taking can help nursing students understand complex concepts, support effective studying, and aid in accurate application of knowledge in clinical settings.

Notes can be handwritten or digital with several formats to choose from. Including the Cornell method, outlining, and concept maps.

You can choose a note-taking style and format that works best for you, which will then promote your success in nursing school.