suggested reading for lpn student

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2009

Definitely read. Any good medical terminology book will do. It really helps. My program had an orientation that included med term and it was great. You shouldn't feel 'stupid' with all the CNA's etc, they will be learning new stuff too. My best advice is get your foundations book and start reading! I am a college graduate and have been a teacher for 25 years and still it takes me about three times reading the material before it seeps in. Good luck

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2009

I would read up on medical terminology, that's going to help you so much in nursing school. Medical Terminology was my weakness and now it's gotten better. Good Luck

irvinsgirl · Feb 18, 2009

I would read a basic anatomy and physiology book too

ladymahoghany · Feb 18, 2009

I suggest reading a chapter a week in your foundation book. Generally, there is at least 2-3 test in one week in my class, which means we cover 2-3 chapters in one week. Just to give you a feel as to what your going to deal with.

Gen2Nurse · Feb 18, 2009

What are some names of the foundations book? I would like to study up too before I start in June. Do you think they have these at the library?

rebtur4 · Feb 19, 2009

If you know your anatomy and physiology it helps with learning med surg. Definetly start reading your fundamentals book and if your LPN program is anything like mine your first couple of test will be on cultural considerations and laws that apply to nursing (HIPPA, ect). They drill those in before anything else. Also if your school has a site for students to get info on classes see if your instructors have posted your syllabus for your classes and then you can see what you need to go over first. My adivise is to stay ahead and don't let yourself get behind. It's very fast paced, and gets even faster when you start doing clinical rotations on top of med surg lecture, math, nutrition. But it's do able. Just keep your head in the game and try your best. That's all any of us can do. Good luck I hope you suceed.

stasis_DC5 · Feb 19, 2009

if you got the books that they gave you already, then maybe you should you look at the syllabus and read ahead. otherwise, if you ain't got nothin' then i really don't think you need to read anything. seriously, i didn't know anything about health care at all when i started and i did fine.

AnnieMae* · Mar 19, 2009

Here are some suggestions to start with:

1. Anatomy & Physiology the easy way by Barrons

start reading this now!

2. Nursing Fundamentals made incredibly easy, I believe the publisher is Lippincot... Way easier to read than our textbook.

Pambamm · Mar 20, 2009

Read/study up on basic math to help you with pharmacology too :specs:

mrsraisinkain · Mar 20, 2009

I am just about done with LPN school and I posted a very similar thread to this when I started. I read some stuff before I started school and to be honest with you it didn't really help at all. First of all you are going to be so overwhelmed when you start school you should take this time to relax. Second, you don't want to be spending a lot of money on books because you will be getting a dumptruck full of them soon enough. If you want to brush up on Anatomy and Physiology or medical terminology google some free websites. Look at the curriculum for your school. You may be getting med term there anyway. (I didn't get it til my 2nd term. That didn't make much sense to me.)

Also you have no need to feel stupid in class. there will be people from all walks of life with all different types and amounts of experience in your class. Even if somebody has been a CNA for decades trust me they are still going to be nervous too.

Good luck to you!

missjennmb · Mar 20, 2009

I would get a couple of pharm books the break before that class starts (pharmacology demystified or pharmacology made incredibly easy ect) because that has been the toughest class for everyone I have ever talked to and I'm practically drowning in it at the moment (w/ a strong B average the first half of LPN school). I wouldnt worry about it if you are not taking it first semester though becauase you'll forget it before you get there with all the rest you will learn. I would strongly suggest medical terminology though because its SO much easier to remember all the words if you know what the various prefixes/roots/suffixes mean. For example, I had a huge test and couldnt remember to save my life, but I knew what "otomy" and "ectomy" and "thesia" meant and it helped me get through those questions where I didnt completely know all the words because I figured them out. I think all schools should require a med term class, but for some reason mine does not even though we have a good one.