Accepted into an RN program!!! How do I prepare?

java12 · Apr 9, 2012

I just got accepted into the RN program at Central Arizona College! I will be starting this fall. I wanted to get a head start this summer and perhaps get a few nursing books and get ahead on concepts and such. What would you have done the summer before you first semester of nursing school to help prepare? Any advise is welcome.

As soon as you know what text book the nursing courses you are taking use, buy it! When you know the name of the professor you could email and ask what chapters the course starts with...then start reading! Sometimes you can locate the previous semesters syllabus online.Certainly vital signs are a theme in your first nursing course...practice on your family/ friends and make sure you have those down. Med dosage calculations can be a challenge at first...you could by a guide on that...it is never too early to familiarize yourself with dosage calculations!

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Apr 9, 2012

[color=#2f4f4f]definitely practice vital signs and noticing what's the norm and what is considered abnormal in the vitals as well as physical assessment findings. start cracking open your books as soon as you get them to get a feel of what's ahead of you, but don't look into it so much that you stress yourself out! that was my mistake. just look at the first couple of chapters of each book. most likely you won't be skipping around in the books. my instructors have went in order from chapter to chapter. it's much more overwhelming looking at all you're going to have to learn and take in beforehand than when you are going through the motions! wait until school supplies come up for middle/high school students during the summer and stock up on notebooks, paper, pens, staples, and anything else you know you'll use in nursing school. tabs, post-its, highlighters...especially highlighters! lol, best of luck and enjoy! preparing for my first semester was so much fun! :)

Wifeoffireman · Apr 9, 2012

Congratulations! :yeah: I can't wait to get there!! My cousin is a nurse and she gave me a list of "must have" books, Prentise Hall's Reviews & Rationals Comp. NCLEX RN Review, Nurse's Fast Facts, Saunder's Student Nurse Panner, and a Tabes Medical Dictionary. I hope this helps some!!

lwright54 · Apr 9, 2012

First of all, congratulations!

Obviously, everyone is a little different, but I would highly recommend:

1) Familiarizing yourself with some common pathophysiological processes and health history terms: Hypertension (HTN), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Myocardial Infarction (MI), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Atrial Fibrilation, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Type I and II Diabetes Mellitus (DBM), Hypothyroidism and Rheumatoid Arthritis... just to name a few.

2) Studying some type of drug list, whether found online or purchased at a book store, of common pharmacology facts and nursing considerations. Then try and apply those medicines and concepts to the disease processes you studied. Focus on drugs that are quite common. (i.e. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI's) such as Prilosec, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) such as Lisinopril and medicines like Lasix, Digoxin and Coumadin that have to really be monitored closely). Be sure and pay attention to the generic names.

3) Finding a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or Medical Assistant (MA) job. If you are strictly opposed to working while in school, I would suggest completing as many shadowing experiences you can prior to nursing school.

4) Tie these things together--your knowledge of disease processes, basic treatments and personal experience--and you'll have a tremendous head start on your fellow class mates. If you do choose this route, type all of your research and info into the computer and save it, because you'll likely be able to use it on nursing packets or in presentations for your classes. Cut and paste!

Just by your interest level alone, I am sure that you'll do great. Keep up the good work and have some fun along the way. Only, remember that while getting good grades is important (even if it sometimes requires sucking up to the instructors), the overarching goal is passing the NCLEX and obtaining your license to practice. Ultimately, that's what'll put food on the table!

hiswife0223 · Apr 9, 2012

I just got accepted into the RN program at Central Arizona College! I will be starting this fall. I wanted to get a head start this summer and perhaps get a few nursing books and get ahead on concepts and such. What would you have done the summer before you first semester of nursing school to help prepare? Any advise is welcome.

Save,Save,Save!!! i don't know what your circumstances are, but having extra money on hand is always helpful!! Just in case you can't work your usual hours/days etc. Hope that helps! Congrats, i also start soon(may)!!!

vw74vw · Apr 10, 2012

Thank you for all the advise...I have been trying to get a CNA job since Dec but without experience it seems very difficult. The Phoenix area has been hit hard and everyone is looking for a job. I'm currently taking Pathophysiology and Medical Terminology this spring which I really enjoy. I should be getting my list for books at then end of April so I can at least buy those and start reading. Thanks again for all the advise and good luck to everyone!