Best subjects to get prepared for

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I am a new "Pre-Nursing" student just beginning classes like Anatomy, Nutrition, etc. I won't begin clinical classes until next year. I like to get a foundation of what the future holds before it gets here and am wondering what reading and or researching I can do that will make me more prepared for my clinical year. I will be taking "Nutrition", "General Psychology" and a Non-lab "Chemistry". I do not "need" the Chem class b/c I have pre-reqs from HS and College that satisfy it, but the Nutrition class is tied to it.

Anyhow, as I look forward, are there things that I can buy now that could range from old textbooks, to flashcards from Barnes and Noble that will give me at least a decent nomenclature foundation on later classes?

Any advice on how to prepare for coursework in the future is appreciated. Also any advice on standardized testing like the GRE, TEAS, etc. would be helpful.

Thanks

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Mosby's Textbook for Nursing Assistants is perfect for what you describe. An older edition works well and doesn't cost too much, I have the 5th edition and it is going for about $4 on Amazon.

I've been reading other nursing books also (fundamentals, med/surg/ geriatrics, pharm), but I like that Mosby's best. It has the right degree of depth.

Otherwise, if you are weak in math, brushing up on that (basic math up to conversions and ratios) will help with the chemistry class. I don't have book suggestions for that, though. I just went to the library and picked through the math section until I found a couple that fit my level and style.

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I tutor chemistry at my school. My suggestion if you want to get a head start on nomenclature is to get yourself a list of polyatomic ions and make flashcards. Put the abbreviation and charge on one side and the full name on the other. I did this when I took the class and always tell my students to do it as well.

As far as Psych and nutrition, not much you can do there. When you take a&p, there are some good flashcards and coloring books that some people I know used. I just studied out of my lab book that had good diagrams in it.

Happy studying!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

A&P... there is so much to memorize and learn... the human body doesn't change too much, just buy a cheap old book. you'll have to know much of it... all the way down to the names of the markings on bones, to the names of the layers of the arteries, all the muscles... you get the point. I'm not saying start memorizing, but it won't hurt to read over a chapter here and there so the information will not be brand spanking new when you "officially" cover it.

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Thank you all!

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