Summary of course taken

I am taking a dilpoma in clinical nursing and I have just completed my second year. I found there has been a lot to learn in a small amount of time - the nursing year is longer than the usual academic year - we get less holidays and more time in lectures! You also have many more types of assessments not just exams and assignments but also professional conversations that are marked and inter-professional learning.

Description of strategies used.

I discovered that when I used my computer it helped if I dulled down the screen to prevent glare. I like typing on blue but when I print it out it remains normal like black text on white. The dullness prevents me getting headaches and I can concentrate for longer.

Blackboard is a nightmare to navigate - it has taken me two years to get used to it. There does not seem to be a logical folder format like all the lecture notes being in date order. Things appear to just be in random sections and nothing is set out neatly. It all over the place when things should be tidied up into folders. I tend to download files to put them in my own folders.

I had a brick of a medical spellchecker that had American spellings which did not help my work so I have been trying to get another checker that will be more helpful - they say a Franklin one will soon be available in British English. I have also thought about changing my moble phone to one that could take a dictionary such as a Blackberry.

I really would like to be able to have the Royal Marsden clinical procedures on my mobile phone as well so that I can use it in clinics.

I tend to learn more by visual things with highlighting and colour but I also record my lectures and use the videos that we have on Blackboard.

I really have found it helpful to meet other people who have dyslexia as it has meant that we have helped eachother out and swapped ideas. It has been really good to panic together and friends can tell me calm down! Also I would say - try to read alot it will go in and it will be there when you need it!