First semester studies?

shaazzaamm34 · Nov 23, 2006

Hey Congrats on Acceptance... Kudos...

Well first semester... Seems like forever (but it was only last yr) ugh...

Let's See the one's I remember was history... Fluid and Electrolytes... Endocrine... GI...

The fluid and electrolyte test was Hell... Material had so many Norms...

If I was you.. I get a head start on normal Lab values... If you can get those Memorized Then you should be Good...

Also... the Way I study is 1) if you get PowerPoint hand-outs... Then read over those a Bunch... 2) get a Nclex-rn book... and Review questions the pertain to the Upcoming test... It's amazing how much that helps...

Quit partying... Pick up drinking... And you should be Fine... lol

Just playing About the Drinking... But most do..

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Nov 23, 2006

I'm just finishing up my first semester (Med/Surg, Assessment, Concepts, and Psych) and I don't think there is anything you can do to prepare. You will already be ahead of the game with your hospital and CNA experience!

Just relax and read a book and watch a few movies before classes start! I don't find nursing school hard, but there is a lot to read and do...I miss reading FUN books and sitting around doing nothing for hours...LOL.

socishan · Nov 25, 2006

Thanks for the help. Is there any particular "brand" of the Nclex review book that was more helpful to you? I know several companies put them out. When I was taking A and P over the summer, I found the Kaplan version of A and P review to be pretty good. Not sure about the Nclex though.

Is there anything else anyone can think of that might help me out if I started looking ahead a bit? Are there any big lists or anything that first year that are mostly memorization and might take a lot of time? I wouldn't mind starting to glance through stuff like that since I have a month or so before school starts.

Thanks again!

shaazzaamm34 · Nov 25, 2006

Thanks for the help. Is there any particular "brand" of the Nclex review book that was more helpful to you? I know several companies put them out. When I was taking A and P over the summer, I found the Kaplan version of A and P review to be pretty good. Not sure about the Nclex though.
Is there anything else anyone can think of that might help me out if I started looking ahead a bit? Are there any big lists or anything that first year that are mostly memorization and might take a lot of time? I wouldn't mind starting to glance through stuff like that since I have a month or so before school starts.
Thanks again!

Find out who wrote the nursing books you all use... Like we have Mosby... And saunders... But Just remember their might be one or two test memorizing... But everything else is application... What would u do in this scenerio type stuff...

Achoo!, LPN · Nov 25, 2006

If you can get your med math book ahead of time you may want to page through that. Our math was all independant study, yet if you don't pass the math you are out. Silly.

Microbe · Nov 25, 2006

Yes you can start by reading a book on Dosage calculation(isbn: 0766862860) it is a self study book. If you are familiar with dosage calculation you can start reading and studying about health assessment.

Learn and remember some terminologies on health assessment - Alopecia(baldness), nevi(mole), xerosis(dry skin), ephilides(freckles), pallor, erythema, cyanosis....

Goodluck.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Nov 25, 2006

Most of what I would've suggested is listed above (including ENJOYING your freedom!)....dosage is HUGE, assessment skills, vitals...get your book and start reviewing chapters early...if you could get a copy of 1st semester syllabus, that'd be helpful...we studied about everything in this silly book (Potter & Perry), so anything you could read ahead would save you a small amount of time....and then there's lab skills....maybe review some of the links to be found on this site...here's one that Daytonite had posted some time ago from another college...they're a bit lengthy, but might be helpful to see some of what you'll be expected to do for checkouts:

Index of /DCG/videos/faculty/Dutra/N110A/

Try to prep family and friends that there will just be times when you'll be waist-deep in reading, studying, and doing things for school and that you'll catch up with them at break and to please be understanding...and then try to find time during school to give yourself a break and have lunch or a movie date with these folks....you're going to need that, too!

I didn't come from any kind of healthcare background and have managed to hold my own so far; you'll be fine!! Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2006

i keep files of links just for questions like this. have fun exploring:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/fund-nursing-157590.html - fund. of nursing

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/starting-nursing-fall-158337.html - starting nursing in the fall

https://allnurses.com/forums/1643291-post4.html - fundamentals of nursing post

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/what-do-before-classes-start-165765.html - what to do before classes start?

https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/starting-aug-06-a-166290.html - starting in aug. 06

https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/med-surg-help-119956.html - med/surg help

https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/advice-med-surge-1-a-133555.html - advice on med-surg

http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/study_skills.html - study skills for the nursing student from daytona beach community college nursing department with some good advice.

http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/test_taking_skills.html - test taking skills also from daytona beach community college nursing department. a couple of sample questions and how to choose the correct answer for these application type questions.

http://www.efn.org/~nurses/ - this is a website maintained by the nursing students at lane community college in eugene, oregon. for study and learning tips specific to nursing students click on "tips for learning" at the left side of this home page.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/right-way-study-188919.html - right way to study?

and you might as well get your first dose of what the nursing process and care planning is because you're going to have to learn it sooner or later:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~nursingprocess/index.htm - this is a beautiful site that defines and explains a bit of what the nursing process is. you can also click on the links at the left side of the webpage to go to various subjects included within the nursing process to find out more about them.

http://nursing.about.com/od/nursesgeneralinfo/a/nursingprocess.htm - the nursing process. a short article explaining what the nursing process is.

http://www.mac.edu/faculty/nursingdepartment/200%20level/nursing_process.htm#return%20to%20top - the nursing process - a short introductory tutorial of what it is

http://www.childbirths.com/euniversity/nursingprocess.htm - the nursing process and writing nursing care plans. from e-university

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/need-good-careplan-book-161103.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/careplan-book-162397.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/does-your-school-make-you-do-164397.html

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/good-care-plan-books-167341.html

RNfromMN, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2006

I can relate - I had this whole last summer off and desperately wanted to prepare for my 2nd year...I quickly became overwhelmed and BORED just reading ahead in my textbooks...

I say, you can never go wrong studying medications and math for meds. I wouldn't recommend buying a textbook, just in case your school will want you to buy a different one, but you could check out what the library has and go from there. I'd get a Pharmacology book and a Medication math book. And memorizing lab values, as Shaazzaamm suggested is a good idea, too.

Good luck!

socishan · Nov 26, 2006

Wow, thanks for all the great responses. I've got tons of info to get me started now! (Which could be a good thing or a bad thing haha.) Time to get down to business...

I've already prepared my family for the fact that I'll be studying and gone a lot and am lucky they're so supportive. I guess we all manage somehow, right? :bugeyes: