How should I start preparing for nursing school?

Published

I will be starting a BSN program in the fall, being that it's a few months from now and that I have no more pre reqs to take, what can I start doing to sort of prepare me or give me a head start for nursing school? I thought of taking a CNA course but my friend says that would just be a waste of time, others have sugested that I buy a dosage calculation book. Please share some of the things that you did or wished you would have done to give you an advantage in nursing school.

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/BMT.

Honestly, I would work as much as you can and try to save as much money as you can. I went to a three year diploma program with classes Tuesday through Friday and worked Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 7p to 7a or Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 7a to 7p. I don't know how I did it, but I did and everything worked out OK.

I would not take a CNA course at this stage in the game. You will learn "CNA stuff" in a fundamentals course. I took a CNA course in high school. When I started working as a patient care tech in the hospital, I found that many fellow co-workers had only on-the-job training. Try to get a job as an aide or tech if you can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

get your affairs in order as much as possible. Be very frugal. Tell family you will be a ghost during this time. Ask them to help any way they are able. Find a place to study and make sure people understand that you are no longer available at the last minute for fun and games. You will have to plan your whole life during the time you are in NS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

get the fundamentals success book..godsend!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

Maybe an NCLEX book to help prepare you for the nclex style questions they will be asking you in nursing school exams. Yes, dosage calculations are a big thing; It won't hurt to study ahead on that because that's one of the things you'll be tested on first thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been trying to think of ways to study ahead; Flash cards with nursing abbreviations, any nursing books inexpensive enough for me to afford or passed down from friends in the field. I do have some headed my way from a long-time nurse.

It's luckily been something I've always enjoyed studying. I was a child in my mom's lab coat, playing with her anatomy books & a dr. kit, lol, but the waits are killing me...

Waiting to be done with my pre-requisites, getting into a program, making it to my degree. I finally find my footing & direction & have to take it slow in the beginning. Frustrating for someone so gung-ho. LoL

But I feel I have to slow down & look at it as a good thing, down time for wise preparation.

Even though I can't be the one to give the best advice as I have yet to go through a program myself, I wanted to chime in being in pretty much the same boat. I'm impatient to do what I know I'll love most in this world, but spending this time learning all we can & getting ahead of the game in preparation is key IMO. :) :up:

I love this community, this field, & get excited to see there are so many others going for & going through the same things I am. Really keeps the encouragement up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well congrats on getting accepted!

Well, I'm in the final semester of my BSN program, which has been a HUGE challenge (but so worth it). Here's my advice: Don't study nursing books, dosage calc. books, anything nursing... it probably won't make a lot of sense until at least after your first semester.

So, here's what you do to prepare... HAVE FUN! Go on a vacation. Read a book for pleasure (because that most likely won't happen for the next two years...). Stay up late watching a movie marathon. Hang with your friends and family. Go to a concert or two. SLEEP IN.... do all the these and more, because you'll only be dreaming about them once you start. Take heart; Christmas and summer break will provide a bit of a relief between semesters.

I'm not trying to scare you, but do know that it's a challenge. And this challenge will feel like is dragging on and on, then WHAMO! You're staring graduation in the face. All the tests and stress that come with school will be worth it-- so have fun now!!! :)

I never worked in a hospital before my first day of nursing school. Nor did I do some crazy prep before nursing school. I'm not a straight A kinda gal either... and I've just been hired into a Level III NICU. So, based on my experience alone... I say, have a little fun this summer before beginning your journey into the nursing world. :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's good advice too. Lol. Esp. from one who's been through the experience.

I just feel overwhelmed thinking of the possibility of feeling too overwhelmed once I get there & kind of go into a panic mode to get very prepared.

I know breathing is important too. Lol. ;) :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks guys

A vacation is tempting, but I'm trying to save as much as I can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dang, I start my BSN program as well June 5th...So excited!!! But I work at a hospital as a lab tech fulltime. I am not sure whats going to happen once i start. I will probably drop down to per diem and get a fun waitressing job at night so I wont have added stress lol. Nursing school will be enough. But hey, we still gotta pay tha bills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Re-study your A&P, chemistry and microbiology. You CANNOT know this stuff too much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion