Any advice for a Pre nursing student :)

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I am a 2012 high school graduate about to start into a 4 year BSN program at a private college. I will be taking A&P 1 with lab, intro and developmental psych, bioethics, library research, as well as academic seminar. Any words of wisdom/advice on these particular classes? Which ones should I be the most worried about? I have always been a straight A student and am hoping to keep this up! Is this a feasible goal? Thanks in advance for your help!

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Specializes in Cardiology, NCLEX instructor.

You will certainly be very busy, just starting out I wish some would have told me that your gpa will be highest at the beginning of your college career so keep it up! When your friends are enjoying the college scene stay focused! Once that GPA goes down it is so tough to get it back up and nursing school definitely weed you out by a low gpa. Good luck!

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Stay organized, don't get behind in classes, and be sure to block out study time every day! This will prepare you for your future nursing classes!

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Your A&P classes are going to be the most important, but overall you need to strive to have the highest GPA possible as sometimes, this is a top determining factor. In our university, the top cut is made according to GPA and then they go from there with life experience, certifications, and an interview process.

Aside from academics, do yourself a HUGE favor that will greatly benefit your nursing school experience AND improve your chances of acceptance if your school takes into account health care experience: get certified as a nurse aide/hospital tech/personal care provider and get some job experience doing that while you're doing your prerequisites. I am about to start nursing school tomorrow, and looking at the first rounds of clinical skills we will be covering in labs, nearly ALL of them are things I learned to do as a CNA! All of us who have that experience definitely have a leg up on those who don't. Plus I feel that having been a CNA, I will have a greater sense of appreciation for the CNAs who I will be working alongside when I am a nurse.

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I agree with becoming a CNA to give yourself some prespective on what you are up against. As for academics A&P is the most important and will be built upon in future classes like micro and patho. I would review any notes you have from high school bio, chem and physics before the class starts. Physiology is mostly chemistry and physics of the body. I am not sure how you can take intro to psych and developmental psych in the same term? Isn't intro a prereq for developmental. Good luck!

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Thanks so much for all the great advice. I will definitely be looking into getting my CNA license. How long does it normally take to become a CNA? Also I'm starting classes tomorrow! Wish me luck :)

SlaveHeart-The intro and developmental psych is one class. I guess maybe they combines the two?!

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It's a CNA certificate you'd be getting (yes, it's a license in a couple of states, but mostly...a certificate). And six weeks is common for the duration.

If you want advice, etc, all you have to do is read threads on this forum....it's LOADED. Doubt you'd even have to ask a single question, as I wonder if it's possible there's one left that hasn't yet been asked?

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Thanks :)

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READ THE BOOK!!!! I can't tell you how many students I saw that thought they could get past by just reading the power points and the notes. In my A&P 1 class I read the book and finished with an average of 99.7. In A&P 2 I was swamped with micro and stat, so I just read the notes and finished with a 93 :( Its still an A, but goes to show you how reading the book makes a difference. Although becoming a c.n.a is truly helpful, be careful. I have hurt my back in ways I didn't think I could. The job is backbreaking and sometimes I wonder how many years of stress on my back I could have taken away if I didn't become a c.n.a. I start my program on the 27th. Super excited, wish me luck :)

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I don't have any advice for the prereq classes, but once you start your actual nursing classes the biggest thing I wish I would have known is to PAY ATTENTION TO THE BASICS. Trust me, the things you'll feel like are "common sense" tend to be what trips you up later. Fundamentals is the section that costs people the most points on the NCLEX, because with all of the new interesting things we learn we tend to ignore the basic, boring stuff. So all I can say is make a CONSCIOUS effort to really memorize your fundamentals.

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Advice? My advice to you is to forget your friends and the fact that you have a life and prepare your soul for the rigors of nursing school...it is not easy.

Get used to thinking about every aspect of everything that could happen...dont understand what I mean? you will when you start nursing school. and dont fret when your "A" GPA starts going down, nursing school is notorious for lowering it.

not trying to be nasty just being realistic..good luck!

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For all classes, especially core science/nursing prerequisites, learn all you can and keep it with you as you advance towards your goal (graduating with that BSN). Everything you learn will be needed with each upcoming class, and you will build upon that knowledge. A&P I is a good example. You'll learn all about specific systems, microscopic-macroscopic, body positions, etc. Learn it all to the best of your ability now so that when you get to the nursing courses, it will be fresh in your mind. :)

Being a straight A student, in my opinion, will be feasible for the classes you have listed so long as you don't underestimate the courses. Study hard and you can achieve that A every semester. :) I hope you accomplish all that you want in life.

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