Published Aug 7, 2012
arother27
3 Posts
I am new to this site and I am looking for some help. I just graduated from my college with my associates in nursing and because of wait lists I have to wait a whole year before I can start nursing school. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on how I can stay sharp during this year off, I really do not want to lose anything that I've learned. Or books or CDs that I can purchase to be prepared to start school. Thanks so much!
BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 722 Posts
I'm confused. If you graduated with your associate's, have you taken the NCLEX? If not, are you working on it? If so, and you passed, then you can be working as an RN while going to an advanced program. Otherwise, if you just have an associate's and it's not in nursing, then look up the books your school uses and start reading them now.
NightNerd, MSN, RN
1,130 Posts
Maybe also take a CNA course and work as a CNA, if you have the money for the class and want the experience. It will help you develop some of the body mechanics and basic patient care skills that will help you feel comfortable once you start clinicals.
Otherwise, just keep refreshed on your pre-reqs, especially A & P. Review old notes and textbooks, take little quizzes online, and subscribe to nursing magazines, read articles, etc. Maybe learn some medical terminology, and perhaps another language too (I know the last thing you probably want to do is learn something else right now, but I bet some basic Spanish will come in handy for all of us!).
RNsRWe, ASN, RN
3 Articles; 10,428 Posts
I am new to this site and I am looking for some help. I just graduated from my college with my associates in nursing and because of wait lists I have to wait a whole year before I can start nursing school.
What?
Do you have an Associates degree in nursing (after having completed your nursing school education) or do you mean you have only completed pre-reqs (not a nursing degree)?
weavers
24 Posts
volunteer. at a hosptial, at a local clinic, anywhere you can. work on your resume, now. make money as a care giver and save money so you don't have to work while in school.
check out this website. i had a pre med freind that went to peru and delivered a baby, did injections and all kinds of things for 3 weeks.
http://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/
found this website a little while ago. it has flash interactive things oncranial nerves, the kidney, ect.
http://www.wisc-online.com/ListObjects.aspx
nclex 3500:
Main Menu - NCLEX-RN 3500 - Institutional Versionever to early to do nclex questions. just do fundamentals of nurisng for now.
I went to a 4 year school that had a program where you go to their school for two years and get your associates in nursing then go to a nursing school for two years and get your BSN. Right now I am in between the two and waiting to start my BSN program. I do not have a nursing degree.
I have my associates in nursing, its just from a four year school, I can not do anything with it because I have not had any hands-on experience.
pixiestudent2
993 Posts
You may have an associates degree... But it isn't in nursing.
Get a job at a hospital as a tech is was I would do
Here's the problem. While you may have an Associate's degree, it is not in nursing. You CANNOT have a degree in nursing without having had the core nursing classes/labs/clinicals. Seems pretty obvious, no?
You DO acknowledge you have no nursing degree....so what is it you DO have? An Associate of Science in humanities? Liberal Arts? Whatever....point is, you can do ZERO with whatever it is you do have as far as healthcare is concerned.
Go through a CNA course (six weeks is pretty common) and start work as an aide/tech...that's where you'll at least get some face-time with staff and a chance to learn the basics of hygiene/patient care.