What to study before Nursing School?

AceOfHearts<3 · Oct 10, 2015

If you aren't strong or confident with med math work on that- you could get a used old edition of calculate with confidence very cheaply

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2015

No. You are not going to understand anything until you are in the program. Finish your classes up now and relax. I can't tell you how many times I tell people to relax before the program. There is nothing you need to get an upper hand on, I promise.

hopefulhdr · Oct 10, 2015

I'm four weeks ago from finishing my final three pre reqs and have 2 and a half months off before I start the 22 month program at Hopkins.

I intend on relaxing and arriving mentally and physically strong to tackle the accelerated program.

Don't risk burn out!

By the time I finish my pre reqs I'll have been studying for 8 months for GRE included! I took them three at a time and it's been intense!

We all need a break

FL_Nurse92 · Oct 10, 2015

Study!?.. Study NOTHING! like mentioned above nothing nursing related will make much sense and A&P is the section in nursing books the instructor says to skip! I would relax because believe me you will have plenty to look at, learn, and study when nursing school starts!

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 10, 2015

A and P, maybe but there is nothing else to really start without beginning lectures. Just enjoy the time off in between.

direw0lf, BSN · Oct 10, 2015

I think you're good just reviewing the A&P. I had started reviewing abg's, isontonic, hypertonic, hypotonic solutions, electrolyte imbalances, and some other things and not only was it confusing but we haven't learned that yet even in fundamentals and intro to pt care.

A&P is pretty big in my program though. Next semester I have pharmacology so over the winter break I'm going to learn basic med math.

Maybe if you don't already know these things it's good to learn before school: Vital sign ranges, pulse points, words to describe normal and adventitious breath sounds, chain of infection, and medical terminology.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2015

Memorizing details without having any basics about the whole picture is confusing, a waste of energy and will make you feel unnecessarily stupid.

At most I might suggest looking at medical terminology. Nursing/medicine has a language of it's own. It does have some basic prefixes and suffixes that will be used over and over to make different words.

Hyperthermia for example is a combination of hyper (excessive) and thermia (state of heat) to make a medical word for the condition of an abnormally high body temperature.

Hypothermia combines hypo (below) and thermia (state of heat) to make a medical word for the condition of an abnormally low body temperature.

If brady means slow and cardia means heart what would the word bradycardia mean?

It's fun to make up words too, to insult the bradycerebrums you encounter.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Oct 11, 2015

chocolatelady1980 · Oct 11, 2015

Get the Saunders Q&A NCLEX book (the yellow one) and study chapter five on test taking strategies. Nothing "nursey" about the chapter, but a lot of good points on how to answer nursing school exam questions.

Mami.RN, MSN, RN · Oct 12, 2015

I say relax and enjoy it while you can. I wanted to study ahead but I am glad I listened to others and just relax. Trust me you will do enough studying that you would regret not enjoying thst time.

However, if you do want study then review A&P and maybe medical terminology.

O9eleven · Oct 12, 2015

In the words of Frankie goes to Hollywood, "Relax don't don't do it."