How to prepare for LPN school

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

So I'm FINALLY starting LPN school this fall. I was supposed to start last fall already, but had to postpone my plans due to an unexpected (but not unwanted) pregnancy and due to my husband deploying to Iraq for 15 months. That left me alone with our baby daughter and 8-year old son with no relatives nearby. I have taken one class online (Developmental Psych) that I will need later to bridge over to RN, and it was HARD to find the time and energy to do it with a baby that kept me running day and night. I passed with an A- though.

It has been two years since I've had my Anatomy class, and over one year since my Medical Math class, and I've noticed that I've forgotten quite a bit. I'm trying to refresh my memory by going through old tests, reading books, etc. Besides that, is there anything else I can do to prepare myself for the program? I'm thinking maybe medical terminology? Any other suggestions?

I'm very excited and very scared at the same time since the failure rate at this college is very high.....:o

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Congratulations! I would find out which NCLEX book your school uses and start practicing some of the basic units and reading up on test taking skills. Good luck.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

unless medical terminology is a required prerequisite or you need the credit hours, don't waste your money on it. i am giving you a link to a listing of free medical terminology tutorial websites where you can get everything online that you would get in a course. spend the money instead on a new copy of taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary which you will need to keep with you to look up medical terms while you read your nursing textbooks. the medical terminology in your nursing textbooks is way beyond what is taught in medical terminology classes. i know, i taught medical terminology.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Jules and Daytonite, thank you so much for your input.

I'll look into the NCLEX book and thanks Daytonite for the awesome link to the medical terminology sites. I bought a medical terminology book several months ago and it's great but I find it easier to study in front of the computer while holding my baby rather than reading a book. So this will help me get a lot more accomplished.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

beside the online companion textbook website that has online flashcards, you can also make your own online flashcards using table commands in word and temporarily turning the front or back of them "invisible" by changing their font color to white (the same color as the page) while testing yourself. i have files with pages and pages of flashcards i created and used this way, but never printed out. the physical act of typing and creating the cards seems to be a big memory retention tool for me.

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