Time Flies By....

When you're a nursing student! 

Does the day seem to fly by and you still have plenty to do? Can't find enough time to study, spend time with friends, read for class, prepare for the next exam, or even cook dinner? Try some of these time management tips and be sure to attend one of our workshops for more information:

1) Write down where you are spending your time. For example, on average how many hours per week do you sleep (including naps)? Commute? Spend with friends, going out, watching tv? Getting ready? Add up the total hours. There are 168 hours in a week, subtract your total from 168. How many hours are remaining? This is how much time you have left to study. Do you need to make any adjustments to your schedule? 

2) Use a time management tool such as your NYU google calendar. You week should look something like this: 

Notice all the different color blocks? Each color represents an activity. For example: Yellow - Breaks/out with friends, Green - Extra curricular activities, Red - class. This way you have a visual of how much time you are spending. The calendar is an excellent tool to organize your time and it sends you reminders!

3) Use SMART goal setting to manage your time too. For example: S for SPECIFIC: "Read for Actute Psychology for two hours" This is NOT a specific goal because it does not tell you what you are going to read and how much. A more SPECIFIC goal would be: "Read and take notes on chapter's 7&8 in 60 minutes. Complete 5 NCLEX questions in 10 minutes." Refer to our previous post about SMART goal setting for more information. 

These are just a few suggestions. Contact our office at nursingadvising@nyu.edu if you would like to set up an appointment with a professional academic advisor to chat one on one about time management. 

Test-Taking Strategies Review

If you were unable to make it to the workshop last week we certainly hope you will plan to attend in the future. Many students found the session to be very helpful and they plan to implement the strategies discussed with Professor Brody.

The workshop reviewed strategies and concepts discussed in Dr. Ea's workshop held during the spring semester. For a brief review refer to our blog post from February detailing some Effective Strategies for Test-Taking. Additionally, stop by the Office of Academic Advising & Learning Development to pick up a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

As an NYU Nursing student, you are always able to meet with a member of the administrative advising team to discuss strategies for test-taking as well as time management and study skills. Feel free to email nursingadvising@nyu.edu to set up an appointment today!

Nursing Care Plan Workshop: Review and Tips!

If you were unable to make it to the Nursing Care Plan workshop facilitated by Professor Fidel Lim on June 6, 2012, see below for a brief review of some of his suggestions. During the session he introduced a case study, guided attendees through an effective and ineffective care plan for the case, and offered participants the opportunity for Q & A.  He also reviewed some of his own tips for writing a "care plan that cares." It was a great session!

Some things to remember when composing you care plan are:

• Get creative! You can add in your own headings to make sure you are accurately communicating what you need to say and information is represented appropriately
• When highlighting expected outcomes be S.M.A.R.T.  Think specific, measurable, action (verb) achievable, relevant, time frame
• For nursing interventions and rationales be sure to pair a rationale with each intervention, check what your textbook says, recommend interventions that are not found in the textbook (be creative, but appropriate), and integrate your knowledge of pharmacology
• Evaluate! What did you see during your shift? How did your patient respond to the interventions? What parameters will you use to evaluate

If you have questions or would like to know more about what was discussed during the session, feel free to reach out to professor Lim at fl9@nyu.edu. He can be a great resource as you start to think about writing a caring care plan.

Wondering about APA? Here are a few tips.

If you were unable to make it to the APA workshop on Wednesday, you can feel free to stop by 1015C (10th Floor, 726 Broadway) to obtain copies of the PowerPoint and handouts from the session. Many attendees found the session to be very helpful and enjoyed Karen Roush, NYUCN PhD student and Clinical Managing Editor of the American Journal of Nursing. Courtesy of Karen, a few tips to help you stay on track when writing an APA paper are included below.

General Reminders

• Be sure that your writing is clear and concise. Avoid the use of jargon, which is not easily understood by people outside of your discipline.
•  Use straightforward language and maintain your active voice while writing. Be simple and direct to avoid confusion.
• It is ok to use personal pronouns when attributing an action to something you, and/or your team did.

When using abbreviations

• Spell out acronyms the first time you use them. 
• Try to avoid both overuse and underuse of abbreviations. 
• abbreviations such as i.e., vs., e.g., etc., should only be used in parentheses.

What is Plagiarism?

• Avoid adding things to your paper that are taken word-for-word from a source. You cannot include information that is not original thought unless credit is given to the author.
• You never want to misappropriate thoughts and ideas
• Avoid cutting and pasting directly, be careful with quoting, and try to ensure that when referring to source material you are not following to closely to the structure and ideas of the original work.

The above are some general things to consider when writing an APA paper for a course.There is always more to know and it is best to ask your professor or a trusted source if you are unsure such as the APA Style Manual.

The information above was provided for the APA Writing Style Workshop by The Scholar's Voice, www.thescholarsvoice.com. Questions about the Scholar's Voice can be directed to Karen Roush directly. Email a member of the Advising Staff for more details.

APA Writing Style Workshop!

The Office of Academic Advising is pleased to inform you of a very informative upcoming workshop. Karen Roush, PhD Student and Clinical Managing Editor of the American Journal of Nursing, will present a writing style workshop for graduate and undergraduate students. Specific information about this workshop is listed below.

American Psychological Association (APA) Writing Style Workshop
on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Nursing Conference Center
4:00pm to 5:30pm

The Nursing Conference Center is located on the 10th Floor of 726 Broadway. If you wish to attend this workshop, RSVP to nursingadvising@nyu.edu by no later that April 24th at 12 noon. Any questions about this session should be addressed to a member of the Advising Staff.

We wish you the best for successful completion of the spring 2012 term and look forward to seeing you at this event!

Need a Refresher on Library Research Skills?

This Thursday, March 8, 2012, Susan Kaplan Jacobs, Health Sciences Librarian, will present a library research skills workshop tailored specifically for graduate students. This session is meant to appeal to individuals who are familiar with effective research strategies as well as those who are unsure where to begin.

The topics covered will include locating research evidence in article databases, translating PICO questions into search strategies, and using point of care/background sources for topic overviews. Susan Jacobs will also leave time after her presentation for questions. The Office of Academic Advising strongly encourages you to attend this informative session.

Locating Evidence: Library Research Skills Refresher Session
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Atrium Conference Room
726 Broadway, 10th Fl.
6:00pm to 7:00pm
Please RSVP to nursingadvising@nyu.edu if you wish to attend

Effective Test Taking Strategies

If you weren't able to make it to Professor Ea's test taking workshop this week keep reading for a summary of what was discussed. The Office of Academic Advising will plan to offer another test taking session in April; but, until then, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind moving forward this semester!

Self-Assessment Questions: A Few Things to Consider

• How do you study best? Alone or in groups? Answering this question can be essential to your success in studying for an exam. If you know that you need alone time and complete quiet to retain information then it may be best to study alone.
• Where do you study best? Similar to the first question, if you have a special place that you like to study then be sure to secure that space during your study time. Studying can be similar to real estate in that location is key. Find a place where you, and/or your group, is most comfortable.
• Are you maintaining a positive attitude? Relaxation is another key to being a successful test taker. Think positive thoughts and affirm yourself and your abilities. Anxiety is contagious so try to remain positive and distance yourself from people or things that will make you nervous about upcoming tests.

Preparing for the Test

• Plan Ahead. Keep up with reading and know exactly what you will be tested on. Check learning and lecture outcomes before and after exams to help you "focus read."
• Develop study habits and skills. Being a good listener, an effective note-taker, and an effective reader will assist you in being as prepared as possible for your upcoming exam. If you have questions about how to do this for your course, ask your instructor.
• Validate Your Knowledge. Utilize study guides associated with your course material. Use resources such as Kaplan, review questions, and attend tutoring to confirm what you know to be correct.

Taking the Test

• Identify the topic and focus of each question. If you need to, rephrase the question in a way that makes sense to you. If you are unable to identify the focus of the question THEN read the answer choices. Look for emerging patterns.
• Select answers by elimination. Don't look for the correct answer right away. Be sure to read ALL the choices before settling on the answer you think is correct.
• Don't read too far into the questions. As you are taking the exam, don't make up circumstances to justify each of the choices. Avoid saying "what if" and answer the question that is in front of you.

The tips above and many more were covered by Professor Ea in the Test Taking Workshop on February 8th. Hopefully this summary can be of assistance in your study time and preparation. Feel free to reach out to the Office of Academic Advising with any questions related to this workshop or assistance with study skills. We wish you the best and look forward to seeing you at our future events!

Upcoming Support Workshop: Test-Taking Strategies!!

We are excited to announce this upcoming academic workshop, which will be presented by Dr Emerson Ea. This session will address effective strategies and tips for answering question-types commonly seen on the NCLEX and other licensing exams.

Test-Taking Strategies
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Atrium Conference Room
726 Broadway, 10th Floor
1:00pm-2:30pm

This workshop is open to both undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Nursing. All are encouraged to attend! If you are interested in attending this session, please RSVP to nursingadvising@nyu.edu by no later than February 7, 2012. We look forward to seeing you there!