Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

How to Read Efficiently in College or Nursing School

College students are often shocked to see the enormous reading assignments that some professors will assign. Even nursing students can become quickly overwhelmed when trying to sift through page after page of reading.

However, I have some good news for you: There are some “secrets” to reading more efficiently. In this article (and video), you’ll learn some simple strategies that you can use to speed through those assignments and retain more information than if you read every word on the page.

How to Read Efficiently in College

First, it’s worth noting that you don’t always have to read for every class. I’ve had many classes in which I did little more than gloss over the PowerPoint notes or lecture notes, and I got an “A” with ease.

I don’t recommend you do that for the first exams. In another article, I talked about how to start your semester strong. The takeaway is that you need to over prepare for all of the first exams. Once you do that, you’ll know which professors are easy, and which ones are difficult. You’ll also know the classes in which you can skimp on the reading assignments.

Now, let’s get to the reading tips:

Tip #1: Read before going to class. Your syllabus will inform you about the reading assignments, so make sure to read the chapter before class, not after it. This will give you a foundation you can build on during lecture.

Tip #2: Read the chapter introduction (word for word) first, and then flip to the back and read the end of the chapter summary word for word. This will tell you the gist of the entire chapter.

Tip #3: Now begin to read the actual chapter, but not word for word. Instead, read the heading first, then read any bold or italicized words. Most textbook authors will bold or italicize the important concepts or points, and all of the other words are just “fluff” words that help illustrate or explain those terms.

Tip #4: Highlight or underline anything you feel is important, or jot down a few extra notes on your lecture notes.

Tip #5: When you find that something is confusing, go back and read that section word for word. The author’s illustrations or explanations may help to clarify a concept.

Tip #6: Have you study guide or lecture notes sitting with you. This way, you can see the parts of the text the teacher or study guide author is emphasizing, and you can read that more carefully.

Tip#7: Remember to use techniques tailored to your own learning style when reading. For example, if you are an auditory learner, repeat concepts aloud as you read them. If you’re a read/write learner, summarize what you’ve just read in your own words. If you’re a visual learner, focus on those diagrams and copy them a few times. If you’re a kinetic learner, you may enjoy pacing back and forth as you read.

Conclusion: Read Faster and Learn More!

These tips can help you to read faster and retain more information than if you just try to read everything word for word. I hope these tips will help you improve you skills as a nursing student!

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • Weight-Based Dosage Calculation #shorts for Nursing School & NCLEX
  • Alzheimer's Disease (Dementia) Nursing: Symptoms, Treatment, Stages, Pathophysiology NCLEX
  • PPE Donning Order Sequence Nursing Tutorial #shorts
  • Depolarization and Repolarization of Heart: Action Potential (Atrial & Ventricular) Animation

Recent Posts

  • Depolarization vs Repolarization of Heart Action Potential Explained
  • Alzheimer’s Disease (Dementia) NCLEX Nursing Review
  • Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia NCLEX Quiz
  • The Great Saphenous Vein
  • NCLEX Study Plan

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • TikTok Nurse
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2022 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.