Somebody tell me how to best prepare!Please

stressgal, RN · Mar 30, 2005

Don't know of any way you can get ready to tackle the large amounts of reading that nursing school requires, but maybe I can help with a couple of other questions.

A book that was recommended our first quarter was Patricia Nugent's "Test Success". I found this book helpful as nursing tests are different than any other testing.

Our clinical uniform is mandated by the school, available at only one supplier.

Supplies I find helpful are a steth, tape measure, lots of black pens, hemostats, pen light and scissors. BP cuff optional. Great shoes are also a must.

The best advice I can give you is to find someone already in the program at your school and ask them all of your questions. They will be the best resource you can find.

Good luck and keep us posted!

nikonos · Mar 30, 2005

All of the supplies that you need will be designated by your particular program since each one is a little different than the next. We had to have a 75/90 hour CNA course under our belt before we could apply for admission into the nursing core courses and I think that helped set the stage for learning the assessments. I'm not sure how you would go about 'training' for taking the tests because, as you will soon find out, nursing tests are different than any test you have taken in your life. That isn't a bad thing...you just have to get a feel for your instructors style and find the most effective way for you to study for them. In my first semester two of my professors test over the PowerPoint lectures they present and the third tests right out of Harkreader so each instructor has their own quirks and you have to approach their tests a little differently.

You could brush up on some terminology if you haven't had an actual course in it as it will really help out when deciphering the pt's chart during clinical. The main thing is just to RELAX, don't get caught up in this 'I need to be reading something right here right now' mentality. Focus on your grade in AP2 and getting all the paperwork submitted for your application. When the semester begins the stress will hit you like a brick to the gut, so take it easy while you can. Good luck.

Tweege · Mar 30, 2005

Don't know of any way you can get ready to tackle the large amounts of reading that nursing school requires, but maybe I can help with a couple of other questions.
A book that was recommended our first quarter was Patricia Nugent's "Test Success". I found this book helpful as nursing tests are different than any other testing.
Our clinical uniform is mandated by the school, available at only one supplier.
Supplies I find helpful are a steth, tape measure, lots of black pens, hemostats, pen light and scissors. BP cuff optional. Great shoes are also a must.
The best advice I can give you is to find someone already in the program at your school and ask them all of your questions. They will be the best resource you can find.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks for the info. I wil check in to the "Test Success" book. I do know a few people in the program, but I rarely see them... hmmm, I wonder why!!!

Tweege · Mar 30, 2005

All of the supplies that you need will be designated by your particular program since each one is a little different than the next. We had to have a 75/90 hour CNA course under our belt before we could apply for admission into the nursing core courses and I think that helped set the stage for learning the assessments. I'm not sure how you would go about 'training' for taking the tests because, as you will soon find out, nursing tests are different than any test you have taken in your life. That isn't a bad thing...you just have to get a feel for your instructors style and find the most effective way for you to study for them. In my first semester two of my professors test over the PowerPoint lectures they present and the third tests right out of Harkreader so each instructor has their own quirks and you have to approach their tests a little differently.
You could brush up on some terminology if you haven't had an actual course in it as it will really help out when deciphering the pt's chart during clinical. The main thing is just to RELAX, don't get caught up in this 'I need to be reading something right here right now' mentality. Focus on your grade in AP2 and getting all the paperwork submitted for your application. When the semester begins the stress will hit you like a brick to the gut, so take it easy while you can. Good luck.

Hi nikonos,

Great advice, I'll know what to expect when the brick hits me instead of the wall!!! When you say to brush up on the terminology, do you mean A&P, or medical? Would a medical terminology reference book be helpful? Thanks again for your input.

Suzan

nad · Mar 30, 2005

:crying2:

got a interveiw at manchester uni for general nursing degree any tips to get me through any body

nikonos · Mar 31, 2005

Hi nikonos,
Great advice, I'll know what to expect when the brick hits me instead of the wall!!! When you say to brush up on the terminology, do you mean A&P, or medical? Would a medical terminology reference book be helpful? Thanks again for your input.
Suzan

AP terminolgy will come into play a lot as far as describing the anatomical location of something so know all the inferior, superior, infra, supra - type of things. Just look into the really basic word roots and prefixes like hemo, pneumo, itis, otomy, scopy etc.... I'm not sure I would buy a book as there are too many good free resources online for you to learn the basics. Our program emphasizes using medically appropriate terminology when describing the location of wonds, scars, etc in our nursing notes so we get penalized for documenting above the bellybutton as opposed to superior to the umbilicus.

nikonos · Mar 31, 2005

got a interveiw at manchester uni for general nursing degree any tips to get me through any body

Here you go:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88629

Tweege · Mar 31, 2005

AP terminolgy will come into play a lot as far as describing the anatomical location of something so know all the inferior, superior, infra, supra - type of things. Just look into the really basic word roots and prefixes like hemo, pneumo, itis, otomy, scopy etc.... I'm not sure I would buy a book as there are too many good free resources online for you to learn the basics. Our program emphasizes using medically appropriate terminology when describing the location of wonds, scars, etc in our nursing notes so we get penalized for documenting above the bellybutton as opposed to superior to the umbilicus.

Gotcha, Thanks

Guest70758 · Apr 2, 2005

I don't really think there's much you can do right now to prepare. I would hold off on buying supplies until your program tells you exactly what you will need. It could turn out to be a waste of money. No point in buying good shoes if they don't match your uniform requirements!

As far as terminology, unless you really, really struggle with it, it's likely that you will pick most of this up in your classes.

Best advice I can give you? Don't worry about it! There is a shortage, the nursing program wants you to succeed. They want you to graduate. They are not going to hang you out to dry. Just concentrate on getting good grades this semester (A&P II will really help you in Med-Surg so save your notes), and on meeting all application deadlines. Otherwise, sit back, relax, and try not to stress over it.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Apr 4, 2005

Know your AP like the back of your hand. It will NEVER go away and you'll need to know the concepts for most of your nursing classes!

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 4, 2005

I wished I had taken a medical term class before I started nursing school. That would've been beyond helpful

Good luck and RELAX!!!!