Ok all you smarties, need some advice!

Sheri257 · Mar 13, 2004

Check with the school. My school puts out a booklet which has all of the nursing school reading and other assignments. If your school has something like that, you could get a jump on what you definitely need to know, instead of just guessing and spending time on books that may or may not help you.

For instance, a lot of pharmacology books teach the math differently than the way my school does. It actually confuses students and makes pharmolcolgy a lot harder for them. So it's always best to go the source to determine exactly what you need to know.

eirthjona · Mar 14, 2004

Hi

I would opt for buying a nursing dictionary it will be worth it waight in gold. Then going and having a look at the other boards and then translating them.

MikeLPN · Mar 14, 2004

Get an NCLEX review book and then party all summer.

shyne · Mar 14, 2004

Enjoy your summer because you'll regret it if you don't. It will not hurt to brush up on some basic math skills too :wink2:

wintergreen · Mar 15, 2004

I start nursing classes in the Fall (6 mos from now) and I have some time, so if you could go back in time, is there any material you wish you had reviewed before starting your first semester? I have Fundamentals and Essential Nursing Concepts. Thankfully, all my co-reqs are done-ok, except for Micro which I'm going to take in the summer. Any ideas? Thanks!

My best advise is to just relax! You will be so unbelievably busy in the next two years! But it will be great! Dont give up! If you are set on reviewing any material, I would review medical terminology. It is a great help when you first begin clinicals and have no idea what half of the stuff all the nurses and docotors are talking about! Good Luck!

LauraLou · Mar 15, 2004

Dosage calculations and abbreviations. Knowing how to do dosage calculations will be a huge help! It is also good to know the basic abbreviations: bid, qod, PO, etc.

Good luck!

johnnrachel · Mar 15, 2004

I would most definetely purchase "Math for Meds". It was suggested to me by a student and I bought it about 6 months prior to starting. Im in first semester now and it is much easier to know the calculation methods now and work with them because you really are expected to know math it is not taught in nursing. Knowing the calculations ahead of time is only going to ease the stress :crying2:

later in school. Im a first semester student and I am already looking ahead into the calculations required to know for second semester. Always have to be ahead of the game in nursing. Good Luck

belladelicious · Mar 15, 2004

Dosage calculations book, like everyone else said. And use dimensional analysis, it's much easier once you figure it out! You have plenty of time to learn how to do the math, so you should do really well on that math test, if you have one.

Learn how to do blood pressure, pulse, respirations, easy stuff like that in case you don't know.

I would just focus on micro this summer, it's hard at some schools. And definetely relax and enjoy your spare time, b/c soon it will be over :rotfl:

belladelicious · Mar 15, 2004

oh, one more thing....there's a book called test success for nursing students, or something similiar to that title...I've heard several people here talk about it. And many schools sell it at the campus bookstore. Anyway, I bought it, and it has questions related to Fundamentals. I didn't pick it up until a few weeks ago, and I saw all these Fundamental questions...so now I'm studying it before tests. Some people have difficulty with taking the nursing school tests, those mult. choice questions throw some people off I've noticed, so it'll help. It's a short book too.

RNKITTY04 · Mar 15, 2004

I totally agree with RN 2005. Start now by learning Dosage Calculations and you will be just that more ahead when you are over-whelmed with all the other required material. Good luck!

FNimuaeMae · Mar 15, 2004

Medical terminology, med math, abbreviations... all helps tremendously... Before I started nursing school I got a job as an aide at a nursing home and took a CNA class, just to make sure I could handle the bodily secretions and all. And it helps to have all the prereqs done so you can concentrate SOLELY on the nursing classes.... they can be stressful enough!

Missy:chuckle

callbabe · Mar 18, 2004

I didn't review any material before starting nursing school. I partied all summer!

I need someone with legal expertise. I work in MO. In a level II trauma center. No in house call. I am required to cover 48 hours on the weekend. Is that legal. I have worked 27 of those 48 in a row, and felt really wiped out. Even the nurses on the floor are only responsible for 12 hours, and possibly 16, but no more. I forgot to mention that I am an OR nurse. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Or tell me who I should talk to, and maybe get this changed.

Management is out of the question. They do not have to work it so they do not care. Help