Study Skills for Nurses

Claire Boyd

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781118657416
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicina
• Subtopic: Habilidades de enfermería

Survive academic study with this snappy guide to research techniques and strategies for all student nurses.

Providing words of wisdom and tips from real student nurses, Study Skills for Nurses enables you to develop your own individual ways of studying for those all important projects, with exercises, step-by-step guides and tricks to help you get ahead.

Special features

• Developed by students for students
• Clear, straightforward and jargon-free
• Ties in with the NMC standards for pre-registration education and the Essential Skills Clusters.
• Takes away the fear of study and independent research projects, making it approachable, easy and fun

Chapter 1
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LEARNING AT UNIVERSITY

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this chapter you will have an understanding of university learning, your university course, some key terms and the learning process.

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First of all, congratulations on achieving your place at university to begin your nurse training (or other healthcare-associated course). Some of you will have entered university straight from school or college, others may be coming back to academic study after many years. Your initial concerns about the course will vary depending on your particular circumstances. For instance, for some new students first thoughts will be about finances, accommodation, child care, balancing study with family life and other responsibilities. Some of you will wonder how you’ll manage when confronted with blood and gore, death and dying. And let’s be honest, some of you will be more concerned initially about the social side to university, and about the possibilities of making lifelong friends. This diversity is one of the rich and fulfilling elements of university education, and where we can all learn from each others’ experiences, skills and strengths.

Whoever you are or whatever your age, this book will assist you in making better use of your study time. Study skills evolve and mature through practice and as you move through your course.

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SCHOOL/COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

If you have come into university education straight from school or college, you will notice that there is much more autonomy: no one will be nagging you to get assignments in on time or competences signed off. The emphasis is on you, the individual, and on self-responsibility and self-management. You will need to organise your study time around your clinical placements and prioritise different tasks (such as competency assessments, reflection and assignments).

One of the most important aspects of university study is the work you undertake independently of the tutors, either on your own or with other students. Sometimes you may be assessed on the outcomes of your group projects.

Another difference with university education is that teachers are usually referred to as tutors. Tutors will help you develop and provide support, and in addition you will have mentors, or preceptors, in your clinical placements to help guide you through your nurse education.

THE LEARNING PROCESS

To learn effectively you need to be aware of the four main factors of the learning process. This awareness will improve how you learn:

• wanting to learn: you will need a sense of purpose and motivation;
• learning by doing: you will need to practice (i.e. making hospital beds), perhaps making mistakes at first;
• receiving feedback: you will learn from both positive and negative feedback;
• reflection: you will also learn from reviewing and evaluating what has been learned, and drawing conclusions.

DEVELOPING YOUR LEARNING SKILLS

To get the best out of your university course you will need to develop and enhance a wide range of key skills, such as:

• time management,
• prioriti...