10 Reading Tips for Online Nursing Students

If you’re pursuing an online nursing degree—whether through a BSN program, an RN to MSN option, or an advanced MSN or DNP degree—a lot of your learning happens through reading. Whether you’re engaged with a lesson, a textbook, a discussion post, or a website, chances are that you are reading text.

The good news is that you started reading at an early age and are comfortable with this approach. But you may not be accustomed to reading scholarly textbooks or journals. If you ask, “What did I just read?” and find your answer is, “I don’t recall!” you will benefit from these tips on how to become a successful reader.

Key Takeaways

• Reading is a major part of an online nursing degree, where much of your coursework, discussions, and exam prep happen through text.
• Simple strategies—scanning first, reading with a purpose, quizzing yourself—can help you retain more from every textbook, journal article, and lesson.
• These skills carry through your whole nursing education, from a BSN program to an RN to MSN pathway to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

1. Print it out. 
   If you find you have difficulty reading on-screen, or you are uncomfortable sitting in front of your computer for long stretches of time, consider printing out your assignment. This method gives you many more options for when and how you read. Look for “print-friendly” or “PDF” versions that are meant to look good on paper. But be aware that printing costs can add up.
2. Scan quickly. 
   Scan the entire selection to get a quick overview of your assignment. Read titles, subtitles, and anything in bold font. Read the introductory comments and concluding text or summary. You have just gathered a lot of information in a short amount of time!
3. Get visual. 
   Look at pictures, figures, charts, or graphs to get a better grasp on the message. Visual images may be easier for you to remember than words.
4. Find a purpose. 
   If you notice a heading that says, “Online Learning Success Strategies,” ask yourself, “What strategies could make me successful? Why should I learn this?” It’s easier to stick with reading when it connects to your goal of becoming a nurse. As you read, look for links between the material and your future nursing career.
5.  Quiz yourself. 
   Take a section that you have read and make up some questions about the reading. Later, ask yourself these questions to determine if you remember the answers.
6. Take notes. 
   Take notes as you read to help you encode important facts to remember. Notes give you an outline to follow when studying for exams. If you are reading an electronic book or file such as a PDF, look for features that let you highlight text and make comments. Or, print the source and take notes on paper.
7. Say it aloud. 
   Reciting the most important details of what you have read helps you to remember them. Repeat information aloud to yourself to store it in your long-term memory.
8. Share. 
   Tell someone else about what you have read. The act of explaining can make it more “real” for you and easier to remember.
9. Review. 
   If the reading has a summary, decide if it matches your impression of what you have read. If not, go back and re-read the source to deepen your understanding.
10. Reflect. 
    What you read stays with you much longer and becomes more meaningful if you reflect on what you have just read. Put in your own words what you now know, think, or feel as a result of reading.

Choose two or three of these tips to start and evaluate their effectiveness. Add new tips over time to become an expert reader.

Strong Reading Skills Support Every Stage of Nursing Degree

These strategies can be beneficial, no matter where you are in your nursing school journey. If you’re just getting started, they can support you as you pursue a 3-year BSN program, which may include the option of hybrid learning or an accelerated nursing path. 

If you’re already an RN, strong reading habits can help you power through an RN to MSN online option as you work toward a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Chamberlain’s online MSN program offers several nurse practitioner and non-clinical specializations to match your nursing career goals. 

And if you’re continuing to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, sharp reading skills make graduate-level coursework easier to manage. Chamberlain University offers several CCNE-accredited nursing degree programs delivered through flexible online learning, so wherever your path leads next, you can find a format that fits your life.

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.
 

By Chamberlain University