Do you have any advice for someone about to start their nursing prerequisities?

meljonumd · Jun 27, 2013

Getting a job as a CNA is a great start, and you'll come across many people who are working towards other degrees while working in a hospital or facility.

Some bits of advice? Be wary of letting a poor attitude from a "lifer" rub off on you. You will run into many people along your path, and hopefully you'll see that it is always a choice to have a positive attitude towards your work and especially towards your patients. What to one person is "a deliberate act of messing his bed right before I went on break" is to another person "oh, he had another bout of the runs; I'll clean him up quick before I go eat."

Learn how to talk to people, and to patients. See how dementia affects a person's behavior (because, you WILL deal with people who have dementia!) Learn how to give someone a bath without totally uncovering them (it is unnecessary and undignified, even if you are in time crunch). Watch how your favorite nurse or tech does things, but also pay attention to the ways that the rude and abrupts ones do too!

Best of luck!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 27, 2013

You're 19, so you're young and I'm framing this response to your particular situation.

I have seen countless kids in my pre-reqs (I'm 43) simply not show up for class or chronically come in late. Most of your success in your pre-reqs will happen because you're present each & every day. I've heard some of the kids say "well, I was too tired from partying last night to get up" or "I'm going to cut out on break since I'm bored". These are the students that can't believe it when they get a C or D (or even fail) the class. This is not high school any more. I'm not saying you are this type of student, but I've seen so many in that age range act like this, that it bears forewarning.

Go to class, pay attention (no playing on your cell phone or talking to other students), take copious notes and try to join a study group. If you can teach the material to others, you're more likely to remember the information.

Get a planner and keep yourself organized. Schedule your homework, study time, quizzes, tests, etc. That way, you know exactly what you need to do each day and you're not overwhelming yourself, trying to cram at the last minute. If you study every day (budget your time so it's not so daunting), you'll also retain the info better.

Use all available resources. If your school offers tutoring or supplemental instruction, take advantage of it! Supplemental Instruction made the difference between getting an A and getting a B in Pharmacology at my school. With Stats, we didn't have SI available, but we had a great Stats tutor. All of this was offered for no charge by the school. It's free and it's easily available, so definitely try to take advantage of it, if offered.

Steer clear of "social" study groups. Yes, it's nice to have friends in class and chit-chat, but when study group turns in to social hour, you stop learning. Make sure you're in a group with like-minded students, who are focused on getting the best possible grades.

Finally, stay positive! It might be overwhelming at first, but you'll find that there are so many supportive people on the boards here who have "been there, done that".

Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful semester

Trenata · Jun 27, 2013

When I was your age, I had no idea what it meant to be a nurse and the hard work it took to study more challenging courses. I think becoming a CNA is great! When I started out in my college career 15 years ago, most classes came easy for me, but then I took my first science class. I failed the first exam miserably and dropped. Then I tried another science class and had to drop. My advice is to take your science classes very seriously and be ready to really study and work hard - study to understand. You can't read the night before and take the exam the next day. You have to study every single day and really understand the material. I wish I had known that before because I never really had any science classes in high school besides basic earth science.

I also wish I had taken chemistry first of all the sciences! Good luck! You sound like you are on the right path since you are already asking these questions!

britthohenbrink · Jun 27, 2013

Hi!!! Just thought I would let you know a little about myself and then give you some tips. I started prerequisites right out of high school and did not take them too seriously the first time around. After taking a year off from college, getting married, and having a baby (at 19) I had to start over so that I would have a chance in getting into the program. (I start this fall) I did my prerequisites with a newborn and by the time I finished I had a toddler and a new newborn. lol My point is being successful is possible if you put your mind to it and want it bad enough it will happen. (I am 21 now)

My tips for success in prerequisites:

*go to class (and pay attention while you are there)

*get a planner ( I wrote everything in my planner)

*study in intervals (don't cram and study for 10 hours straight, study for 30 mins to an hour and take a break and resume studying)

*study often (a little every day will help you retain information more than a lot the night before)

*be respectful to your professors (they can be very helpful)

*take some time for yourself (not every day but once a week or so go out and do something you love... go to the movies, play a sport, hang out with fiends)

*know how you learn (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, mixed)

*be organized (everyone is different when it s=comes to how they organize but use something that works for you)

Lastly, I wish I would have become a CNA before and it is very wise of you to do so. Good luck!!! Don't let negative people bring you down ( and they will try).

MaleRn77 · Jun 28, 2013

You're 19, so you're young and I'm framing this response to your particular situation.
I have seen countless kids in my pre-reqs (I'm 43) simply not show up for class or chronically come in late. Most of your success in your pre-reqs will happen because you're present each & every day. I've heard some of the kids say "well, I was too tired from partying last night to get up" or "I'm going to cut out on break since I'm bored". These are the students that can't believe it when they get a C or D (or even fail) the class. This is not high school any more. I'm not saying you are this type of student, but I've seen so many in that age range act like this, that it bears forewarning.
Go to class, pay attention (no playing on your cell phone or talking to other students), take copious notes and try to join a study group. If you can teach the material to others, you're more likely to remember the information.
Get a planner and keep yourself organized. Schedule your homework, study time, quizzes, tests, etc. That way, you know exactly what you need to do each day and you're not overwhelming yourself, trying to cram at the last minute. If you study every day (budget your time so it's not so daunting), you'll also retain the info better.
Use all available resources. If your school offers tutoring or supplemental instruction, take advantage of it! Supplemental Instruction made the difference between getting an A and getting a B in Pharmacology at my school. With Stats, we didn't have SI available, but we had a great Stats tutor. All of this was offered for no charge by the school. It's free and it's easily available, so definitely try to take advantage of it, if offered.
Steer clear of "social" study groups. Yes, it's nice to have friends in class and chit-chat, but when study group turns in to social hour, you stop learning. Make sure you're in a group with like-minded students, who are focused on getting the best possible grades.
Finally, stay positive! It might be overwhelming at first, but you'll find that there are so many supportive people on the boards here who have "been there, done that".
Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful semester

Well...took the words right out of my mouth lol. Do what she said and you will find yourself in a rewarding job. Again, learn what you can on the job because you will start to appreciate what other members of the "tree" as i call it do. The CNA is basically at the bottom of the ladder. You will get bossed around from med techs to LPNS, RNS, ADON, DON and even the doctor. Don't let it hurt your pride or ego. It's the nature of the job. The DR hounds the DON, THE DON hounds the ADON, The ADON screams at the RNs. The RNS lash out at the LPNS. The LPNS take their anger out on the MED Techs, and the MED TECHS deal the final blow to the CNAs. It's a cruel cycle so dont let it get you down.

Stay strong, stay positive and remember, this is a stressful job havin to deal with dimintia patients, alzhimers, mean old people, scared family members, etc. I would say start learning to distance yourself emotionally from the situation but this is not the job that allows you to do that. You get attached to patients and it can scar you if you get too close.