Good Idea or bad...I have Nursing books & want to start studying (fundamentals)

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Hey everyone, how is everyone? I have question @ the nursing books I have. I will be starting program in Fall, I was wondering-do you guys think it's a good idea to begin reading the first nursing fundamentals book to get a heads up??? I have a newer pharmacology book I bought not too long ago & I have studied that also. What does everyone think? should I or should I not? Do you think that would be jumping ahead a little too much? Thanks for your time 

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I don't think you can ever get too far ahead in nursing school. lol

I say go for it and good luck! :)

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Enjoy your "free time" before nursing school starts. (Even if you're still taking classes now.... you have no idea how much work you're going to be doing come the fall!)

I started reading a few weeks before the semester started, which gave me a good head start while still allowing me to retain the info I read. Try to find out what will be covered during the first couple of weeks and start on that when it gets a little closer to the beginning of the semester. (Our program didnt start with chapter 1...we jumped right into the middle of the book...)

Just my :twocents:

Good luck in the fall! You're in for an amazing journey!

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Excellent idea.

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I always try to have a "head start". If you have a somewhat currently published Fundamentals book, go for it. It can't hurt to have a little basic understanding of what will be thrown at you. With all the info and reading that will be expected of you in nursing school, it will help to have some of that info in your head..even if its just a basic understanding of it.

You'd be surprised how quickly your first day will come. I figure if you are currently taking courses and you are doing well, if you have free time, read some from the Funds and Pharm books. If you are currently takin classes and they are a bit tough for you, concentrate on getting through those courses and then worry about the funds book closer to your start date.

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Our school gave us a list of readings ahead of time. I started them a week or two before school started. I think a week or two in advance is good--otherwise, enjoy your free time.

One other thing you might do is randomly flip through your book and look at the stuff that catches your attention. I often get distracted while studying because I will find nasty pictures or particularly fascinating topics (don't ask why, but colostomies consumed a lot of my time first semester--until I was in the room when one was being changed!) Get the nasty and fascinating stuff out of your system so you can focus.

Okay, who am I kidding?? I still google weird things like maggoty wounds and scabies infestations.

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Specializes in ICU.

I would focus more on becoming familar with your textbooks; how they are organized, ect. The only problem with reading the actual chapters is you don't know where your instructor will start. Most of my instructors skipped around in the textbooks, rarely ever starting with chapter 1 and progressing chronologically. I have found that getting a feel for how each section is broken down into sub-units is extremely beneficial, as opposed to jumping straight in and reading from page 1.

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I'd recommend solidifying your anatomy and physiology knowledge, getting yourself organized and maybe familiarizing yourself with new study skills and note taking methods. We've gone through my fundamentals and med surg textbooks in a completely nonlinear method and I've found that: a. things I really remember the A&P well for are easier to learn, b. managing and keeping track of the readings and pacing myself is very challenging, and c. my previous study habits, which were totally functional in my other classes, are not quite working anymore and I've had to learn new methods on the fly.

Otherwise, I recommend enjoying your free time. I don't think trying to get ahead is necessarily a bad idea, but for me anyway things make more sense at first in the context of a classroom.

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knittingmonster said:
Our school gave us a list of readings ahead of time. I started them a week or two before school started. I think week or two in advance is good--otherwise, enjoy your free time.

One other thing you might do is randomly flip through your book and look at the stuff that catches your attention. I often get distracted while studying because I will find nasty pictures or particularly fascinating topics (don't ask why, but colostomies consumed a lot of my time first semester--until I was in the room when one was being changed!) Get the nasty and fascinating stuff out of your system so you can focus.

Okay, who am I kidding?? I still Google weird things like maggoty wounds and scabies infestations.

LOL :lol2: a colostomy-OK, I know what u mean-I'm always amazed @ those kind of pics too, I will keep that in mind-funny, thanks!

in Microbiology I was always amazed at the fact how bacteria work its way into our bodies-oh yeah and STDs always amazed at those pictures-pretty gross huh?

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hiddencat said:
I'd recommend solidifying your anatomy and physiology knowledge, getting yourself organized and maybe familiarizing yourself with new study skills and note taking methods. We've gone through my fundamentals and med surg textbooks in a completely nonlinear method and I've found that: a. things I really remember the A&P well for are easier to learn, b. managing and keeping track of the readings and pacing myself is very challenging, and c. my previous study habits, which were totally functional in my other classes, are not quite working anymore and I've had to learn new methods on the fly.

Otherwise, I recommend enjoying your free time. I don't think trying to get ahead is necessarily a bad idea, but for me anyway things make more sense at firstthe context of a classroom.

udy

I know, I think I worry about my study habits-are they going to be good enough? will I have to change them and so forth. I know I will have to change quite a few things,I guess I'm just wanting to prepare myself as much as I can. Thank You!

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I am starting in the Fall also and came over here from the pre-nursing thread to ask this exact question. I work in a pharmacy so I have a general grasp of drugs, their generics and what they basically do. I didn't know if it would be a good idea to pick a couple drugs a week and really get into what they do in depth. How much of the first semester is dedicated to pharm? Or is it more about techniques and the systems of the body? Thanks all of you for being so helpful and passing on what you have learned. :)

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Do you have a pharm book? If you are taking a pharm class the first semester, I recommend that you study the major drug classifications and drug calculations. The calculations were a major struggle for some. It can't hurt to look through the fund. book and read anything that seems interesting. You will be doing a lot of reading during the second semester.

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