Hey! i am new here!

LasVegasRN · Jul 15, 2002

Hey! Welcome to the boards! Gee, I don't know what I'd recommend for you to start reading now. I would recommend taking a CPR and First Aid course to get you started...

RNbrat · Jul 15, 2002

hey! that was fast! thanks for the recommendation! what would be your recommendation on crp and first aid course? i am also interested in reading books on nursing, so far i have chosen the following books:dictionary of medical derivations, building a medical vocabulary and fundamentals of nursing including the study guide.

RN-PA, RN · Jul 15, 2002

Welcome RNbrat! The American Red Cross offers CPR and First Aid classes. They are probably in your telephone directory and you could call for more information.

Also, try your local library and start with a search for books on nursing or health-care related topics.

Have fun!

RNbrat · Jul 15, 2002

hey RN-PA! thanks for the info! i will do!:)

mario_ragucci · Jul 15, 2002

Reading is cool, but you really hafe to think as well. Look at an orange and describe for me what vitamin C is. How do you get the vitamin in you? Can you get energy from an orange? How does an orange become a moving person? Do you exhale part of the orange out as carbon dioxide? What is a gas? Do little bits of bone float around in your blood? What makes a heart so special it never stops beating?

If you can think about this stuff, and imagine, you may have the key. CPR is cool too. Good luck.

alwaysthere · Jul 16, 2002

Go to your hospital and volunteer. Practical experience is the best teacher.

AngelNurse1997 · Jul 16, 2002

There is a book out there called "Your First Year as as RN". It's by Donna Wilk Cardillo, RN. You can get it at Borders or Barnes and Noble for about 20 bucks.

kookyscientist · Jul 16, 2002

Hello RNbrat,

I would recommend that if you can, take science courses in highschool(Chemistry, Biology, Math).That way, when you start college you will be prepared (maybe even test out of some classes e.g. Algebra). A lot of science courses are part of the nursing curriculum. Also I agree to go to the hospital and volunteer, that way you will have some sort of an idea what to expect. There are some people in my program that have never stepped into a hospital until their first clinical, you'll be ahead in that aspect. Good luck.

MollyMo · Jul 16, 2002

Originally posted by alwaysthere
Go to your hospital and volunteer. Practical experience is the best teacher.

And while you're volunteering, let the staff know that you're interested in nursing. They can help also. Welcome aboard. Pick our brains anytime.

mattsmom81 · Jul 16, 2002

Welcome RNBrat! Nice to see young people coming here!

I was a Candy Striper and it's a good way to see what hospital work is all about...you can also do this through the Red Cross if you prefer to volunteer in nursing homes.

Do you like to read? The Echo Heron books give good insight of the life of a nurse...you will get a bird's eye view from her.

Agree with others' advice....let your counselors know your interests so they can steer you to appropriate courses.

Good luck and post often! And don't get scared off if we gripe here....many of us vent here but we still love our profession!

RNbrat · Jul 16, 2002

hey everyone! thanks for the infomation! the science teachers i have now don't teach me anything, they just teach their rights :rolleyes: . i need to learn stuff on the side like reading books like i am trying to do right now. :imbar my parents told me about the candy striper and stuff. i will be going to the american red cross and try out the cpr and all the stuff they have there for me to do:). i will try to get an application for my local hospital, they are building a new hospital in my area they are almost done but not quite yet. i really appriciate all of the info that you guys are giving me, it helps alot!:kiss