How should i prepare for nursing school? What should i be reading in advance?

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hello everyone, i am waiting to be accepted into at least one nursing program for spring or fall of 2011. i am quite confident that i will get in (i know, how cocky of me :coollook::lol2:), so i would like to know -which books are really good for critical thinking? what should i be studying in advance that you think is really difficult for you as a current nursing student? math is my weakness, so i knoooow i'm going to have lots of fun with dosages & calculations :uhoh3::o, but i'm wondering what else should i really prepare myself for? also, i have the basic concept of what a careplan is, but what exactly is a nursing careplan and why do i keep reading that they're a pain in the gluteus maximus and why or how does the nanda book help? thank you much!:p

Specializes in ER.

Quite honestly, I would suggest you just relax until you NEED to really do some reading. If you get in, then you proved you know the pre-requisite material. This will be your last chance to relax for a while, so take advantage of it! Good luck with your program!!

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I agree with the above person. Unless that is of course you stink at what I suggested previously. If you feel comfortable with it then just spend your days watching tv or whatever you like to do.

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thank you all for your responses, but i am dead set on preparing myself now. i know that you all are speaking from experience, but i'll take my chances. i already know that i'm in for an extremely challenging few years once accepted. i really don't have time to relax as it is with toddlers running around, so i'm just ready to start right into working.

what do you find challenging now that you are in the program and why? what state and school are you from?

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I'm from the Chicago area and will be starting in January too! Which school will you be going to?

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

When I found out I was accepted into the Nursing Program at my college, I too felt the desire and motivation to study and study right away throughout the summer!

The best advice I received was to not even crack open a book. Enjoy your summer as much as possible because the next couple years you will give your life to Nursing School. Have fun and play before school starts. Do not forget the reasons why you wanted to become a nurse and do not lose your motivation!

Good luck to you! :nurse:

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Being about 2/3 through my first semester of my ASN program (in Massachusetts), I can relate to you. I have 2 children (ages 2 and 5) that keep me occupied. I always wanted to know what I should study that could prepare me for nursing school. I thought studying pharmacology, A&P, etc would be of great help. The truth is that the material isn't that difficult to understand. The hard part about nursing school is the tests! The way the questions are worded makes it difficult. Having been in your shoes I wish I knew then what I know now. Find books about how to take NCLEX style questions. Through ATI they have a lesson called "Nurse Logic" that teaches critical thinking skills and how to break apart the questions. I would learn how to do all of that and not worry so much about specifics. Every program is different, but the NCLEX style questions is 100% the same. Best of luck to you!

Also-- the material isn't difficult..it's time consuming. That is what is hard about nursing school. It's mentally exhausting :)

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

I think everyone feels like this....before they start. I'll remind you of this thread when you're about 6 months in and ready to throw your fundamentals book out of a moving vehicle :D

The biggest adjustment for me was studying for application versus memorization. You can read your books till the cows come home but if you don't understand how to think through the scenario and answer "why?" instead of "what?", you'll never make it past your first term. Critical thinking is a skill you have to get a grasp on. I'm in Ohio and in the last few months of an ADN program.

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Great suggestions everyone! I think I will relax and maybe do a brief brush up on A&P. Getting a book on how to apply critical thinking for NCLEX type questions is a great idea (something I would benefit from).g

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