My cousin is starting clinicals in August and asked me how she should prepare over...

[Love767]

the Summer. Here are a few thoughts that I had on the subject:

a. Nothing, just relax and enjoy the summer since life will get very stressful for her soon enough when he BSN clinicals begin.

b. Read her textbooks ahead of time. She has a 3.8GPA now, and intends to become an NP of some sort. Everyone tells her that her GPA will drop like a rock in nursing school so maybe she should work hard ahead of time to minimize this drop. I told her to definitely practice her calculation skills since this was very stresful for me.

c. Contact her fellow group members by email (she already knows her clinical assignments which are in groups of eight). To see if any of her fellow classmates would be interested in practicing skills, or discussing chapters (kind of like an Oprah reading club from hell!).

d. Read this board for a half hour everyday to gain wisdom from others in a few months that might otherwise take years to accumulate.

e. I suggested that she buy two or three NCLEX review books and read these along with her texts since they will give her some idea of what nursing school questions are like.

What advice would you give my cousin Sarah?

[HyperRNRachel]

I've seen this topic before. For the life of me, I don't see how you pre-study for nursing. Had I tried that it would have been a total waste of time because the exams were mostly over the lecture and the lectures were decided by the instructors picking and choosing amount the readings. I guess you can pre-read your books but most books are what, 1100-1200 pages of excruitiating details? I would maybe spend time working on drug calculations and the math. Skills practice would probably be a waste because every instructor has a right and wrong way to do something and if you learn it wrong you have to relearn it right

Studying ahead of time is a good idea. The key is to have access to the syllabus and study guide. We have chapter objectives that need to be answered in our study guide. Working on these questions ahead of time will help during the actual class lectures. If nothing else is learned, she will at least be exposed to NCLEX type test from using the study guide; which for most first year nursing students is a hard concept to grasp. I start studying for my up and coming classes as soon as I get the information, it never hurts to be familiar with the information.

Working on nursing math is another good idea! I do not know why nursing students, with extremely high GPAs freak out when it comes to a math test...but we all did...and still do.

Someone posted a question about the most common top 10 drugs, that would be good information to become familiar with.

Review lab values, the basics........ WBC, RBC, Potassium, calcium, sodium....etc. etc. These values and the reasons for an increase or decrease for each one are presented from day one.

The nursing process is great concept to learn now. It will be used from the very beginning, and built upon throughout the program. Definitely not a waste of time to get familiar with this information starting now.

And remember, the instructors expect you to come to class having read the chapters being lectured on. At our college we had a pop quiz at least every other day(kinda took the "pop" out of pop quiz). It did not take long for us to realize that when the instructors said "read the chapters before class", they meant it.

Also, tell her to relax....if that is possible! :chuckle

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

There's plenty enough to do with getting physical exams, immunizations, drug tests, books, syllabi, uniforms/shoes, stethoscope together with general and nursing supplies.

I read ahead by using my syllabus as a guide but honestly I don't think it did me much good. The actual lecture and test material didn't comport with the syllabus as much as I would have liked not to mention that it didn't stay in my brain since I didn't apply it.

Enjoy what's left of the summer and talk nursing with everyone here. I'm sure she's itching to get into it already. The best medicine for that is to participate here on the discussion boards.

[fnimat1]

If she has access to books that are required I think it's okay to skim through the book or syllabus, relaxing as much as she can now is also a good idea. I had the first of three orientations on July 7th and we were given an orientation packet. We have 2 assignments due back when we go for part 2 & 3 of orientation. We are also required to purchase the syllabus so that we can familiarize ourselves with the curriculum, assignments, organize it all etc.

Fatima

[rollingstone]

I'd go to the movies. Better yet, I'd go to a baseball game.

[LouisianaNurse2006]

So is it true that your gpa will drop like a rock? I only have a 3.0 right now, so I really can't afford for it to drop much lower than that. :uhoh21:

Don't worry about gpa, just try to really get involved and interested in the subject matter. That always make learning easier.

I worked really hard to keep my gpa up to get into the nursing program (I also start in August), now I will work hard to pass the nursing tests.

Don't worry about the big picture, concentrate on the here and now.

I think looking ahead and introducing yourself to the basics such as drug calculations, nursing process, and the first few chapters of your books, as soon as possible may help during those first few stressful weeks of school.

I know it would make me feel more organized and on top of things.

Good Luck.

[All_Smiles_RN]

I start the nursing program in August. I've decided to take it easy this summer. I'm spending lots of time with my toddler and enjoying every minute of it. I do vists Allnurses often. I'm learning so much from reading the discussions here, probably stuff that can't be taught in a textbook. As far as reading, I've been checking books out from my local library. I've found books with nurse snippet stories, life in the day of a nurse, life in the day of a nursing student, and so on. I have 2 years to worry about the technical aspect of nursing. Why not just enjoy summer? That's just my 2cents worth. :)

...Jennifer...