[Beggar♂]

Greetings fellow RNs-to-be.

I'm starting nursing school in January in an accelerated master's program for career-change folks. Since I have a few months before I start, I'm thinking it would be wise to get a jump on things.

I took physio and micro last semester but my other sciences (including anatomy) were nearly 10 years ago. I aced them then and have retained some of the material but significant review would be necessary in order to pass a final.

So, what would you recommend to study/learn/review before starting NS?

During Fall semester, I'm enrolled in pharmacology even though I'll have to take it again in January. It should make it an easy A the second time through.

I'm also enrolled in a medical terminology class during the fall. What do you think, is that worth taking?

For my program, I have to get my CNA which will be 4 weeks starting in August. I don't know if it's worth it but it is required so that pretty much settles that.

My wife suggested I consider phlebotomy just to develop some skill before I start. What d'y'all think about that?

Thanks for your input and have a great day/evening depending on your time zone.

[spoiled_lil_sister]

Wow - sounds like you are diving right in!

I'm in the same boat as you - kind of...I took a mandatory skills class this spring that is now a requirement for our ADN program. The 2nd semester of the class is not required, but I considered taking it over the summer just for the experience. Like you put it, it should almost guarantee an A the 2nd time around. This class was to cover IV starts, phlebotomy, & EKG interpretation. At the time I was working on a telemetry unit, so I asked my unit manager if he recommended taking this class before the "real" classes start. He surprised me by saying no. He said that IV's & phlebotomy is a game of chance - even the best of veteran nurses sometimes cannot hit a vein for anything. You have a 50/50 chance of getting it or not getting it, so those odds are too safe to spend that kind of time & money on it, if you stop and think about it. Being in telemetry, the nurses have to sign off on strips that are run on each patient every 4 hours, so he said he has seen so many nurses that didn't receive enough exposure to EKGs to be able to do their jobs right out of the gate. He recommended EKG's Made Incredibly Easy, so I feel more prepared now when we cover that in school.

I think you should proceed with pharm & med term - Skills you will develop but what you learn in these classes will be building blocks on your future classes. Even the CNA class will give you experience to reading kardexes, ambulating, feeding, bathing, toileting (love those bedpans!), vitals, I/O's, etc, that will be a HUGE help to your 1st semester clinicals. And of course, your 1st semester should build on all of your other semesters.

Good luck! HTH, it is just MHO!

[NurseyBaby'05]

Actually, I'd recommend enjoying your free time and relax while you still can. You're in an accelerated program and it will be baptism by fire. Read what you like for pleasure, spend time outside, anything but nursing/science.

I'm not trying to poo-poo your idea, but you probably shouldn't spend too much time studying ahead of time. You don't know what the instructors will focus on and you may wind up doing double work. I think it might be a quick road to burn-out if you do too much ahead.

[sunny61385]

I am going into my last year of a BSN program and I personally don't think that you need medical terminology and/or phlebotomy. These are things that you will pick up rather quickly.

Originally Posted by Beggar♂

Greetings fellow RNs-to-be.

I'm starting nursing school in January in an accelerated master's program for career-change folks. Since I have a few months before I start, I'm thinking it would be wise to get a jump on things.

I took physio and micro last semester but my other sciences (including anatomy) were nearly 10 years ago. I aced them then and have retained some of the material but significant review would be necessary in order to pass a final.

So, what would you recommend to study/learn/review before starting NS?

During Fall semester, I'm enrolled in pharmacology even though I'll have to take it again in January. It should make it an easy A the second time through.

I'm also enrolled in a medical terminology class during the fall. What do you think, is that worth taking?

For my program, I have to get my CNA which will be 4 weeks starting in August. I don't know if it's worth it but it is required so that pretty much settles that.

My wife suggested I consider phlebotomy just to develop some skill before I start. What d'y'all think about that?

Thanks for your input and have a great day/evening depending on your time zone.

[Cristhian1986]

I agree with NurseyBaby, enjoy your free time, later you are not going to have any free time, believe me

[kasia2]

Originally Posted by Beggar♂

Greetings fellow RNs-to-be.

I'm starting nursing school in January in an accelerated master's program for career-change folks. Since I have a few months before I start, I'm thinking it would be wise to get a jump on things.

I took physio and micro last semester but my other sciences (including anatomy) were nearly 10 years ago. I aced them then and have retained some of the material but significant review would be necessary in order to pass a final.

So, what would you recommend to study/learn/review before starting NS?

During Fall semester, I'm enrolled in pharmacology even though I'll have to take it again in January. It should make it an easy A the second time through.

I'm also enrolled in a medical terminology class during the fall. What do you think, is that worth taking?

For my program, I have to get my CNA which will be 4 weeks starting in August. I don't know if it's worth it but it is required so that pretty much settles that.

My wife suggested I consider phlebotomy just to develop some skill before I start. What d'y'all think about that?

Thanks for your input and have a great day/evening depending on your time zone.

Hi Im starting NS in fall2007 as well and to get myself prepared i took medical terminology class and i love it. I learned so much that now i can distinguish a lot of medical terms lets say on medical report so it is all worth it. I think taking phelbatomy course would also benefit you greatly as to being comfortable with the injection technique and im sure it would help you with IV process, well anyway good luck in whatever you chooses...

[MB37]

I honestly agree with the folks who suggested relaxation, as I finish my 1st semester of my ABSN program tomorrow. It's really intense, and you may not see much of your wife or family - at least not spend quality time - once school starts. I never did, but from what people say working as a CNA is one of the best ways to get experience dealing with patients. It might be a better use of your time to work as one full time than to take classes that aren't required or learn skills that you may be taught differently in NS.

Why are planning to take pharm twice? I don't really understand paying for a course twice unless you have to (b/c you failed/withdrew too late). It's a tough, time-comsuming class, but I have a high A in mine right now with just the school's final left (20%) - we had our HESI today. I'd almost say to take med term instead - if you don't have a medical background, it might give you a better foundation when school starts. If you must prepare early, I would maybe try to review A&P from your old text or a used cheap one, and then get a NCLEX book (or several) and start reading test-taking strategies. Find out if your school prefers any particular books, or just go browse, but these are invaluable. I was pretty familiar with the testing style when I started, and that's the only reason I have good grades.

[BoonersmomRN]

I 100% agree with RELAXING.

However if I had to give my best advice it would be to make sure you KNOW your A+P. Nursing school is not going to re-teach physiology and knowing your physiology makes understanding pathophysiology a LOT easier

[Beggar♂]

My reasoning for taking pharm twice is that I have a lot of freedom this fall to take an online pharm class which I thought could pay dividends in January when I'm taking pharm along with all the other first semester classes. Your advice is well-taken, though.

Given that my anatomy was sooo long ago, do you think it would behoove me to invest significant time in coming up to speed again? I did really well in physio last semester so that provided a basic anatomy review but I couldn't name the cranial bones or features nor most of the muscles or nerves.

I've still got a few weeks to decide about pharm but perhaps I'm better off just waiting and studying what my program's faculty wants rather than what they teach at the local CC.

[BoonersmomRN]

It wouldn't hurt to go over your anatomy but the truth is that anything that is specific to an anatomical region, muscle, nerve, is going to be stressed in patho.

In other words don't waste your remaining time off trying to re-learn cranial nerves or every bone in the body, etc. I