Heading to the bookstore...

ceraleigh · Jul 22, 2007

Where are you weak?

I would suggest stick with A&P, Chem, & Micro material right now. Pick up a coloring book and go through it. You'll get a general idea of where things are located. Ideally you'll want to help yourself get a good understanding of the basics so when you're in class you'll kinda know them already.

wrobelchic · Jul 24, 2007

That last post was really good advice. The problem here is, I work as a CNA and my nurse really takes me under her wing and tries to let me watch and/or help and tries to teach me things sometimes. A co-worker who was enrolled in the same school just this past year loaned me two of his text books (Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing and Anatomy and Physiology). Problem here is, if I don't "get it", I get bored. So, I started with the Anatomy and Physiology book. Thought that was my best bet. However, I can't seem to make myself remember all the ions and neutrons and cells and parts of cells. What am I going to do besides beat myself over the head with the text book to try to remember all this. Granted, I don't NEED to remember this YET, because I start NS in the Fall, but I wanted to get a head start. I'm a full time employee and mom of 4 boys, I'm going to need all the head start I can get!

On a brighter note, when I got bored with not understanding the A&P, I went on to the Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing and I'm doing pretty good with that book. Because of my current occupation and lots of thanks to my awesome charge nurse, I really understand most of what I've read. And what I didn't know, is coming pretty easy to me. Any ideas on the A&P? Thanks.

ceraleigh · Jul 24, 2007

Skip straight to the bones, muscles, & organ systems. The parts of the cell & chem are easier to learn in lecture (I think) and the others take a lot more hands on time.

wrobelchic · Jul 26, 2007

Thanks so much. I didn't think about skipping around. LOL. I'm doing really well with the fundamentals. I'm re-learning some stuff I learned when I was certified almost 8 years ago and learning lots of new stuff and terminology too. I'll break out and dust off the A&P book and take your advice. Thanks again!

natrgrrl · Jul 27, 2007

How about a book or CD on nursing math? I just got one on ebay called Calculating Drug Dosages: An interactive approach to learning nursing math.

It comes with a workbook and a CD. The CD explains how to do the problems and a little bit of why it's done a certain way The workbook just has practice questions and answers. I have really enjoyed it. I am surprised at how much info and questions are on the disk. It ranges from how to add and subtract fractions, to how to read a syringe and identify needle gauge and length, to info about IVs.

Anyway, my thinking is that if I get a little bit of exposure to this stuff before classes start, I'll be better off.

wrobelchic · Jul 28, 2007

How about a book or CD on nursing math? I just got one on ebay called Calculating Drug Dosages: An interactive approach to learning nursing math.
It comes with a workbook and a CD. The CD explains how to do the problems and a little bit of why it's done a certain way The workbook just has practice questions and answers. I have really enjoyed it. I am surprised at how much info and questions are on the disk. It ranges from how to add and subtract fractions, to how to read a syringe and identify needle gauge and length, to info about IVs.
Anyway, my thinking is that if I get a little bit of exposure to this stuff before classes start, I'll be better off.

Wow, that's a good idea. :idea: I didn't even realize you could buy something like that, but I def think I would benefit from it, b/c math doesn't come easily to me. Thanks!!

justme1972 · Jul 28, 2007

We had to take an entire course in nursing math...that really, really helped alot.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2007

julesradio. . .other than a straight out fundamentals of nursing book, you might want to read some of the popular literature that is on the market about the profession of nursing listed in this older thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/helpful-books-nursing-studies-135816.html

be sure that you understand what the role of the professional rn is. before going to rn school many people do not. many have an image of a nurse as being someone who ministrates to sick people, bathes them, gives medicine and sees to the patient's physical comfort. while that is true, it is only a part of what an rn does. an rn is a problem solver, supervisor and manager of patient care. it is a position of supervision in many respects and carries a great deal of responsibility. many of the books listed on the above thread, particularly those by echo heron have attempted to show that side of professional nursing to the public. what is in a fundamentals of nursing book covers what is taught in the first semester of an rn course and is basic hands-on nursing care. much of it is very similar to what cnas (certified nursing assistants) learn with the exception that rns are taught the reason "why" (the rationale) these things are done. throughout rn classes the focus is always on the rationale for what you are doing. after learning these basics your nursing classes focus the remainder of time on learning about the many kinds of diseases, how they are treated and how the nursing care and management is specifically tailored to them.