Attn: 2nd year ADN students, quick question

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Any suggestions for those of us entering an ADN program in the fall as to what we could "get ahead" on (i.e. practice dosage calcs. vs. medical terminology) this summer???

I know, I know........ "enjoy your free time, you won't have any."

However, as someone who has TONS of free time at work all day, I've been looking at dosage calcs, and they're kinda foriegn without instruction.

So...............your thoughts on what could be done to make life a little easier in the fall, if thats even possible :stone. What did you wish you had done before entering? :chair:

PS: this is for students that are done ALL pre-reqs

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Any suggestions for those of us entering an ADN program in the fall as to what we could "get ahead" on (i.e. practice dosage calcs. vs. medical terminology) this summer???

I know, I know........ "enjoy your free time, you won't have any."

However, as someone who has TONS of free time at work all day, I've been looking at dosage calcs, and they're kinda foriegn without instruction.

So...............your thoughts on what could be done to make life a little easier in the fall, if thats even possible :stone. What did you wish you had done before entering? :chair:

PS: this is for students that are done ALL pre-reqs

I would suggest contacting a second year at your school and asking them that question since each program is a little different.

We recently answered this question in orientation tho and for our program we advised that they go through their dose comp book over the summer because they were going to have a dose math competency exam the first week of class, and we also advised them to go through their concept mapping book for care plans as this was something they would be expected to become proficient at but would receive little instruction on from the faculty.

Then I would advise that you use the time to get everything organized. Get your supplies, if you're buying a PDA get your programs loaded, buy your uniforms, get your books, organize your schedule and clean your house.

Lastly, yes please do RELAX. You want to go into the program well refreshed and chomping at the bit to get started!

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Buy the cheapest dosage calc. and med. term. books you can find and study them. Some test questions I miss because I don't know the terminology (4.0 student, but no med back ground). Dosage calc. just for the Apothacary system. Forget "enjoy your free time." You can work hard now or twice as hard in the program. I wish I knew what to study in my free time before entering the program.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Find out which Med/Surg textbook you'll be using, and start reading ahead. That would be my best suggestion.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

If your syllabus is available, start with that. It will give you a feel of the territory you're about to cover. Get your book list too and get started with that.

Get all your medical stuff out of the way; titers, immunizations, etc. Make sure your BLS is up to date too and be sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING. It's ghastly how much stuff doesn't manage to get into the right files.

Get thee shopping!:) It is, by far, the most fun part of the program. Get your shoes, your uniform, stethescope, scizzors etc. and, if you're a techie like me, your PDA and all the really cool programs that are out there.

Start practicing signing your name followed by the initials, RN. See it, believe it, go for it. Failure is not an option despite anything anyone else will tell you cuz see.... you're gonna make it!

And everything everyone else has said. Please relax if you can. I know I couldn't when my acceptance came.

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Specializes in OB.

I would suggest "getting your life together" this means, clean and organize your house (it may be the last time for a while), get lots of stuff out of the way like dental appointments, check up's, get your car serviced, that kind of stuff. If you have kids, get them organized and in a routine that will fit your schedule, make sure you have all your day care issues settled, organize lots of back up people. If the rest of your life is running smooth then nursing school will go better.

Good luck!

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Specializes in CCRN.

You may also check out "Test Success for beginning nursing students" by Nugent (I think). You will soon find out that nursing test are totally different than any other test you have ever taken. This book was a help to me, teaching me how to determine what they are really asking in the question. I bought the book prior to starting the program, but didn't read it until I made a 78% on my first exam, the first D I had ever received. Boy did I break that book out then.

I know you don't want to hear "relax", but trust me it is the best advice. My program has summer quarter off, and boy do I need it. Finals were last week and I don't return until September. With that said, yes I have already started my readings for fall quarter. We are an over-acheiving, anal bunch us nursing students. LOL

Good luck and keep us posted.

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Find out which Med/Surg textbook you'll be using, and start reading ahead. That would be my best suggestion.

Yes, this is my suggestion as well. Get the syllabus and book and start reading at a casual pace. I would also suggest getting a NCLEX review book because they usually give suggestions on how to read and answer test questions. You cannot be over prepared. If you get ahead of the game you will be able to relax while your classmates will be complaining about all the reading they have to do in such a short time!

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Specializes in ED.

read up on what the nursing process is all about. Even if you don't understand it at first, you will go in having read something about it so it will make sense in class.

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Buy the cheapest dosage calc. and med. term. books you can find and study them. Some test questions I miss because I don't know the terminology (4.0 student, but no med back ground). Dosage calc. just for the Apothacary system. Forget "enjoy your free time." You can work hard now or twice as hard in the program. I wish I knew what to study in my free time before entering the program.

Absolutely find out the med/surg or fundamentals book you will be using and hit it hard! Read a little each day and come summer you should have a lot accomplished. Hit the topics in there that you know first qtr or semester. Some of the things we did were:

1. SAFETY :crying2:

2. Inflammatory response review (this includes integumentary intro.)

*3. Fluid and electrolytes and homeostasis*- hit the signs and symptoms of each imbalance (like hyperkalemia or hyponatremia). TRUST ME you will use this base in almost every other nursing class so get a head start!

These are just a few of them...does this help? ask anything else if you need to.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

You might want to practice on skills if you are not a CNA. Learn how to count resp, take a B/P, listen to lung & heart sounds, know how to make a bed, give a bath ect.Know your A&P, get a good NCLEX book ( I like Saunders) see how questions are worded & look at the rationales for the right/wrong answers. Learn your conversions, lab values, math calculations. As someone said in another post contact a 2nd year student/buy your books, get a syllabus if possible & read ahead. We had to use Calculate with Confidence 3rd ed. by Deborah Gray Morris it is an excellent book to get you up to speed on your math. I found the first year to be very busy but not that difficult if you apply yourself & do not get behind on your reading. Good Luck!! :)

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Any suggestions for those of us entering an ADN program in the fall as to what we could "get ahead" on (i.e. practice dosage calcs. vs. medical terminology) this summer???

I know, I know........ "enjoy your free time, you won't have any."

However, as someone who has TONS of free time at work all day, I've been looking at dosage calcs, and they're kinda foriegn without instruction.

So...............your thoughts on what could be done to make life a little easier in the fall, if thats even possible :stone. What did you wish you had done before entering? :chair:

PS: this is for students that are done ALL pre-reqs

Organize yourself. Get a calender system going for yourself and plot out all your appointments, classes, tests, etc.

Get your books as early as you can and start on the reading (there is always a TON of reading)

Clean your house.

If you have kids, set up your plan for when they are sick and you have class or clinical. Who will come to watch them? Will you and your spouse take turns missing work/school?

Practice driving to campus and to clinical, look for upcoming road construction or delays that might be in your way.

Review your math. Calculate with Confidence is great although a bit confusing at first. Find something that works for you.

The "Nursing Made Incredibly Easy" series is wonderful. Maybe subscribe to their magazine. I love it.

Something stupid that I had to do was to figure out how to get my hair up in a neat, efficient ponytail quickly, early in the morning. That was fun lol. Or, get your hair cut with enough time to get used to it and to practice styling it so it stays out of your way.

Tune up the car, get the oil changed and check the tires. If you have any doctor/dentist/other appointments to schedule for the next few months, either do them all NOW or schedule them now for the days you will not have school. (Primo slots fill up quick)

Try on shoes. Lots of shoes. Spend the extra time finding a really comfy pair. Its worth it.

Read sites like this one to get your feet wet.

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