How to do amazing in nursing school?

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Hi everyone,

I just finished a 5 year bachelor's degree at a top university and will be applying for an accelerated (2 year) BSN program. I have heard all of the horror stories of nursing school, and I am assuming these horror stories will be emphasized if the program is compressed (2 years). I did get good grades at an incredible university so do have the study habits down. However, my goal is to become an NP which requires a master's degree. From what I've read, these degrees are EXTREMELY competitive (even more so than nursing school). Although I do plan to apply to every program in the country lol. But this is my goal and I will do anything. Fortunately, the earliest I will be able to start nursing school is September 2018. I am working on A&P pre-req at the moment, but apart from that, I plan to use the coming many months self-learning a lot of theories and parts of the courses that I will need to learn in the program... if possible. I know I won't be able to self-teach the exact course or anything, but I plan to take up a lot of reading to thoroughly prepare myself for the courses so I will be able to get as high a mark as possible. I am insanely determined. And when I have a goal, I need to meet it no question.

So, my question is, what should I focus my education on prior to starting nursing school? Any good books or subjects that I should thoroughly read up on?

Thanks!!

By the way, a lot of people have mentioned PA programs to me. I will be applying to one, but there are only 3 in the entire country and I do not meet the requirements for 2 of them so unfortunately this is not super realistic atm.

2 year ABSN???? I will be applying to 1 year ABSN so I am even more worried than you now:laugh:

Woah 1 year is very short!! All accelerated BSNs in Canada are 2 consecutive years (including the summer)! :/

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Don't pre-study nursing. Whatever you need to know, you will be taught in your classes. Brush up on some A&P and micro, but that should take you a week or two max. If I was you I would take that time and do something really special with it.

Get a job doing something really cool and maybe not even related to nursing. Find an amazing non-profit organization and volunteer, get trained in something, find new hobbies, explore new interests. You're chomping at the bit for something that you will be doing for the rest of your life. Chill out and enjoy your last bit before your ABSN.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I wouldn't bother studying. Would be more beneficial to get a job, like a CNA or something. Or volunteer with the ambulance service ect. That will give you the best start to school. You've just been studying for the last 5 years. Work, earn money, enjoy having free time.

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I'll be starting in August. It has been 10 plus years since I studied a&p. What's the critical things I need to brush up on before it begins? Like do I need to know every bone and muscle in the body, etc.?

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ICU.

Knowing the physiology of the cardiovascular and respiratory system is incredibly important, I'd recommend knowing it like the back of your hand before nursing school starts. Pharmacology is also important to know and remember in-depth, so what I'd recommend doing is reviewing the 50 most common medications used in a hospital and reviewing ones you aren't very familiar with. While yes, it won't be necessary to review these topics to do well in nursing school, I do feel it helped me not only perform better in school but helped with my confidence as well.

Good luck and remember, not every nursing school is scary!

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.

If you've completed per-requisites, then you are studying exactly what you need to be studying. Frankly, enjoy life before the program because you aren't gonna be doing a dang thing while in the program. I guess you could study pharmacology for nurses. Medications is a HUGE struggle for a lot of people. That may be a good place to start if you're looking for some extra study material.

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You will do well if you learn the definition of the word 'amazing' and use the adjective properly.

Per Merriam Webster:

Definition of amazing

: causing astonishment, great wonder, or surprise.

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You mentioned you still had to take A and P. If so, that should be your focus. It is the foundation of everything, and if you don't have that strong foundation you will struggle. If you have already taken A and P, then brush up on your weak points.

Also, if you haven't figured out how to efficiently teach yourself, work on that, because that is nursing school. You get fed about 20% of the things you need to know in class, the rest you are on your own to learn.

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After coming across some of your comments on another thread, and now mentioning it twice in this post, I am curious: which school did you attend?

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