How to prepare for LVN/LPN school

AARN · Jul 21, 2009

congratulations! Be prepared to study, if you don't understand something look it up, utillize the study guides that come with the book, when you read the review questions read the rationales, if you miss any questions on your exams review the exam and learn from the mistakes, all of the information builds on itself. How you study and what you study depends on your academic background. utilize your lab and clinical time to gain hands on practical knowledge, your instructors will take notice. Don't let yourself hang out with negative classmates on a regular basis, most important you can't pass by memorizing, read it, think about, and do your best to understand and comprehend the information.. It also helps to familarize yourself with how the books are designed to help you learn. Don't fall behind on your reading.

hope this help. :twocents:

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2009

read the information on this thread: https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/study-strategies-254733.html - study strategies

some of these websites will be helpful as you get into studying specific diseases, ob and pediatrics: https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/medical-disease-information-258109.html - medical disease information/treatment/procedures/test reference websites

newlpn_chic · Jul 21, 2009

Everyone is right on point with the suggestions, being a LPN student about 6 weeks so far, its no joke. Its a lot of studying, sometimes I found the web to be a great resource for finding even more information, because sometimes seeing the same thing worded different either from another person or school helps. Also I found reviewing the information for at least 1.5 hours a day is helping me because if you wait until the night before an exam it helps unless of course that works for you.:caduceus: Good luck!

ksauce20 · Jul 22, 2009

Stock up on lots and lots of note cards...nobody told me to do this and I have found them to be a great help when I am studying (you just have to take the time to write them out, which also helps you study) be prepared to study A LOT after school...I was on here for months and months before I started school reading about the first day for some people and just prepairing myself...I am on my second quater now..made it through the first (really hard) and I studied about 4-6 hours every night...i don't study as much now because I have gotten used to the instructors and how they test and what kind of questions they test you on...but the first quater is the most intense until you get the hang of it

newlpn_chic · Jul 22, 2009

Stock up on lots and lots of note cards...nobody told me to do this and I have found them to be a great help when I am studying (you just have to take the time to write them out, which also helps you study) be prepared to study A LOT after school...I was on here for months and months before I started school reading about the first day for some people and just prepairing myself...I am on my second quater now..made it through the first (really hard) and I studied about 4-6 hours every night...i don't study as much now because I have gotten used to the instructors and how they test and what kind of questions they test you on...but the first quater is the most intense until you get the hang of it

yes note cards is a must!!! and the objectives in each chapter is your foul proof study guide!!! :up:

ZanatuBelmont · Jul 22, 2009

I start my LVN program on August 20th and was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on what I need to prepare for class to start. I have my books....intro to med/surg, nursing & clinical skills, drug dose calculations. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated as I do not want to get into class and be overwhelmed with information I was not aware of.

Do not get in the habit of depending on a buddy to help you out. You will pair up with someone, eventually, in the program. It will be tempting to ask them "Hey, do you know the rationale for this?" Find it yourself. You are, after all, in nursing school. Take time to look up answers to your own questions. That's the best way to learn.

pharmgirl · Jul 24, 2009

I start my LVN program on August 20th and was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on what I need to prepare for class to start. I have my books....intro to med/surg, nursing & clinical skills, drug dose calculations. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated as I do not want to get into class and be overwhelmed with information I was not aware of.

Be prepared to be overwhelmed. No matter how much you prepare ahead of time and no matter how many threads you read on here... you will be overwhelmed, its just the nature of the beast and in my opinion thats a good thing. It gets you "in gear". NS is very different than pre-reqs and takes awhile to get used to. Use the "holy crap" energy to channel your "git r' done" energy and you will do great!!!!!

Mom2Cassidy · Jul 24, 2009

I don't mean to hijack this post, but I have a question along the same line.

I have heard some people say to start studying now( I won't get my books untill class starts, so I'm not exactly sure what to study) I suppose math, med term. A&P, ect...

On the other hand, I have people telling my to just wait, and start school with a fresh mind. AND use this time I have left to spend with my family and get things at home organized. Anyone have any thoughts?? TIA

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2009

Good luck ! Just study, study, and study and you should do fine. I just finished and all the hard work pays off !

NursinginProgress · Jul 26, 2009

Best advice for any program that's challenging and your career depends upon it ... study and best of all SLEEP! Good luck everyone, I start in September. :yeah: :up:

bcskittlez · Jul 28, 2009

Going into the 2nd quarter. Things i've learned:

1. Study, for yourself. Some may not want to, and may not want it as bad. Do it for you.

2. Read. Your teachers are gonna tell you, we are telling you and you will hear it again. People have no idea how much it helps to READ the material.

3. Notecards should be a requirement for nursing school, because you can use them later to study for the NCLEX.

4. Be on time. Just be on time lol.

5. Don't... quit. You will want to. I wanted to one week, then the next week fell in LOVE with nursing. Don't quit.

6. Color. Amazingly enough, coloring the body parts and saying them to myself in A&P almost got me perfect scores. Then I read the processes of them and talked them out to myself while I colored. I still remember them! You can find nursing coloring books at Barnes and Nobles.

7. Believe. Believe you can do this because you can. Believe that things around you are going to try to stop you, but they will not.

8. Don't be the one to fail "handwashing" checkoff's lol. What I mean is, go home and actually practice the skills, in the little time you will have, because you will have little time.

9. Follow their rules, for now. You may know a better way, you may think it's stupid, but your license will be your license in the end. Just follow the rules to get through. And have integrity when you get out.

10. Forgive yourself. Nobody is perfect, please don't try to be in nursing school. Nursing school teaches you to be a Nurse, Educator, Barber, Hairstylist, Therapist, Organizer, CNA, Critical Thinker, and sooo much more. You will NOT be perfect.

Let me know if you want to know anything else! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!