By Emma Spain – Nursing Student, East Carolina University
Hi, my name is Emma Spain, and I’m currently in my second semester of nursing school at East Carolina University. If you had told me a year ago that I would be excited to learn from a textbook, I would’ve laughed out loud. I’ve always struggled with focus due to my Attention Deficit Disorder, and traditional reading just never clicked for me. Sitting down with a thick textbook used to feel like trying to climb a mountain with no gear. I’d get overwhelmed, distracted, and honestly, bored.
That all changed when I discovered Elsevier and the Sherpath platform during my first semester. I can genuinely say it transformed the way I learn. Elsevier textbooks doesn’t just hand you pages of text to read, it breaks information into digestible pieces, incorporates case studies, and includes interactive practice questions that make me think like a nurse. It keeps my brain moving and engaged, which is exactly what I need. I went from being a “textbook hater” to someone who actually enjoys diving into my learning materials.
Now, my favorite way to study is to review content in the textbook, such as Fundamentals of Nursing (10th Edition), answer the practice questions that follow, and use that momentum to build my understanding. The night before an exam, I revisit the Sherpath for Medical-Surgical Nursing quizzes. They help me gauge what I really know and highlight what I need to brush up on. It’s like a personal check-in with my brain. I walk into exams feeling more prepared, more confident, and more capable. They help me gauge what I really know and highlight what I need to brush up on. It’s like a personal check-in with my brain. I walk into exams feeling more prepared, more confident, and more capable.
Another resource that’s been incredibly impactful is SimChart. When I first started nursing school, I assumed I’d learn how to chart after graduation, once I was on the job. But with SimChart, I’m getting that experience now, and it’s realistic. It mirrors hospital charting systems and allows me to practice nursing judgment in real-time scenarios. I’m not just learning how to write things down; I’m learning how to think critically, prioritize care, and make the next best nursing intervention.
These tools have helped me bridge the gap between the classroom and clinicals. I’m not just learning information to pass a test, I’m learning how to apply it in the real world. My confidence in clinical settings has grown so much, and I know that’s because the learning I’m doing with Elsevier is sticking with me and showing up when I need it most.
I truly can’t recommend Elsevier’s resources enough. They’ve helped me not only become a better student but also a better future nurse. They meet me where I’m at, support the way I learn, and give me the tools to succeed both academically and clinically.
To any fellow students who struggle with focus or feel like textbooks just aren’t for them, there’s hope. I’ve been there. And I’ve found a way forward that works. Thanks to Elsevier, I’m growing into the nurse I’ve always dreamed of becoming.
Resources I love included below.
Sherpath Vantage for Harding Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing, 12th Edition
Sherpath Vantage for Potter Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition