School of Nursing

Academic Success Program

Dissecting My Textbook

It is important to know the difference between simply reading and reading to learn. A nursing student's ability to read, assimilate, comprehend, retain, recall, and apply information will determine the student's overall success. Critical reading is not centered on memorization, but it is an active process that requires engagement and a determination to learn the information. SQR4 is a reading method that encourages students to relate new information to previously learned information. The SQR4 technique promotes reading with a purpose and allows students to assess how well they know the material.

SQR4 Reading Method