How to get a jump on school?

tiffanyleigh0212 · Apr 13, 2010

Get organized!! Do a good clean of the house, because you won't be able to after school, not that deep knee cleaning. As far as reading books before, I wouldn't personally. You have so much reading to do when school starts, just read something enjoyable now. Also reading in advance, you might be reading something not even necessary. We have jumped all over in the books and not read everything. I know how hard it is to not do anything, I was the same way, just really wanted to be doing something for school, but your time will come shortly, so just try and get organized, rest, spend time with your family. If you just really want to read something I haven't read any personally, but you could try a book like surviving nursing school or something of that sort. Good luck!

Servingshots · Apr 13, 2010

I Purchased a book called "Test Success: A guide for begging Nursing Students" its supposed to teach you how to critically think and take the type of tests that are given in nursing school. I agree with the above comment, you dont know what you will be assigned so I dont think its a good idea to get a head start in your textbooks but maybe get like a pathophysiology made incredibly easy or something like that so you can be familiar with these concepts.

RPN_2012 · Apr 14, 2010

I was in pre-nursing this year and in your sem2 A&P class we were doing all the systems in the body...

In the summer I'm planning to go over all of them once more, 1 week per system at least... and I'll do some math review (dosages, conversions, fractions)

So if I were you buy a A&P book, and just do over it, system by system, so you're a little seasoned come fall semester :)

By the way, congrats on your acceptance!

cmonkey · Apr 14, 2010

I listen to a lot of nursing podcasts and read several magazines. I read the science and health sections of the NYT every week (t/th), and generally geek out online. I think you're on the right track, but don't burn yourself out before you even start!

CrazierThanYou · Apr 14, 2010

I Purchased a book called "Test Success: A guide for begging Nursing Students" its supposed to teach you how to critically think and take the type of tests that are given in nursing school. I agree with the above comment, you dont know what you will be assigned so I dont think its a good idea to get a head start in your textbooks but maybe get like a pathophysiology made incredibly easy or something like that so you can be familiar with these concepts.

Begging students? LOL Should that be Beginning?

CrazierThanYou · Apr 14, 2010

I got my acceptance letter for the fall and while I expected to be more excited I was immediately struck by- how the heck am I going to do it? I'm the only income in our family and I'll be working full time during the two year ADN program, and I've got three kids ages 7 and under (fortunately I also have about the most awesome husband in the world). I want to use my time as wisely as I can, so I'm looking for ideas on what I can do to get ready so I'm not starting from scratch in four months. I've looked up the books for my first course (Nurs 101: Intro to Nursing Practice)- there are about eight listed, Med-Surg, Psych, Maternity, Drug references, etc. Last summer I read my sociology and psych books ahead of time so I would be familiar with the material- but I can't read eight textbooks. None of them are called introduction to nursing, or concepts of nursing- should I look for something on Amazon that might cover the basics? Or is it not productive to even try that? I'm really looking for anything that will give me a better shot to hit the ground running, books or other suggestions.
Thanks!

I am really NOT trying to be a witch here, but I am curious as to why your awesome husband doesn't work, leaving you to bring in the only income?

Good luck with nursing school! I hear it can be done while working full-time so hang in there!

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Apr 14, 2010

I appreciate all the responses, and I think I'll try to find a nursing intro book to get familiar with the new style of learning, for me, before school. I'm finishing up A&P II this semester, so I think that at least the material from this course will be relatively fresh in my mind.

And for the question about my husband, he's been a stay-at-home dad for going on seven years. When we had kids it was important to us that a parent be at home with them, daycare wasn't for us. And with three kids, his former job wouldn't have covered the cost. If he had a job now, I wouldn't even be able to consider taking on the random schedule of nursing school and work. He does everything at home, so while he's not bringing in any money, I never have to worry about the kids being taken care of or the house running smoothly. Sometimes it's a little more pressure than I might like, and when the kids are older he'll go back to work, but for right now this is how it goes.

itsmejuli · Apr 14, 2010

I don't think its necessary to do any prep work ahead of time. Enjoy your time now with your family because when school starts you'll have little time with them.

Servingshots · Apr 14, 2010

I also have a book called "how to survive and maybe even love nursing school" great intro book to the world of nursing school. Good luck!