Is there anything I can work on before starting NS?

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Specializes in GYN/ONCOLOGY.

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to start the RN program at my local community college this fall, and if I don't get it i'll have to wait until Spring. Either way, I know it's a bit early but if I happen to be accepted for fall...is there anything I can start working on over the summer to give me a head start? What did you wish you had done/known before you began NS?

Thanks for any advice! :)

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It doesn't matter how early it is, its always good to get a head start. I did that and it helped me. I would definately start looking at pharmacology. Learn the drug classes, side effects, contraindications and interventions. That will help you.

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Im in the same boat as you! I did buy a pharmacology book as well as Nursing Fundamentals Success book (to get a feel for NCLEX style questions that everyone complains about!). I bought them on Amazon and spent like $30 between the two! HTH.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Personally I would simply recommend reviewing and maintaining your A&P and micro knowledge. You won't know what to study for pharm yet and it will overwhelm you. If you have a solid foundation for your basic body systems and how they work, you'll be ahead.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

Take a CNA or EMT-B course before you start. Both will help you with vitals signs; the CNA will help you with nursing fundamentals (turning patients, putting them on the bedpan, cleaning them up when they miss the bedpan...) while the EMT-B will help you with assessment.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Im in the same boat as you! I did buy a pharmacology book as well as Nursing Fundamentals Success book (to get a feel for NCLEX style questions that everyone complains about!). I bought them on Amazon and spent like $30 between the two! HTH.

I love the Success serious of books, I wish they had the Peds one out already. Anyway they are great. Nclex-RN made incredibly easy (the questions and answers one) is really good too I think.

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I was just wondering the same thing. I got accepted for fall, but we actually start late in the summer now that intro to patient care is a prereq. I'm also taking pharm now because it's a prereq in my program. Are you seeing a trend? ;) Pharm is pretty darn hard so if you can take it before the program starts I would recommend it. I wish I had more time to go over the material more thoroughly so I might check out some of the flashcards and manuals ahead of time. We are getting our book list at orientation in about six weeks. Would it be wise to start reading the first semester textbooks? Or, would that just confuse me? Thanks. :)

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Relax and enjoy your free time!

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I plan on taking a Medical Terminology class before nursing school starts.

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As a first semester student, I'd say Pharmacology and anything Nursing Fundamentals especially- the Nursing Process. Everything comes down to the nursing process, if you don't know it/understand it, you will never pass the exams! I bought 2 fundamentals review books to study along with my textbooks because it's just that important.

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I keep seeing pharmacology come up as something to go over before nursing school starts. I'm taking it right now (actually taking a break from it as I type this) as a prereq. Is it because this is something fundamental that you need to know that ties in with the rest of your classes or is it because it's a difficult class, or both?

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

If you are not familar with medical terminology, it would be helpful to learn some before starting. Having a in depth understanding of A&P will be invaluble. You don't need to know the name of every little bump on a bone is not necessary - knowing how bones function, etc, is. I wouldn't re-read a textbook. Go to a bookstore and look in the nursing section. There are some great books that have funny illustrations that will help the information to stick. I'm not at home right now and I don't remember what they are called. Go get a coffee and sit down with a book for a little bit to see if you will find it helpful before you buy it. If you get one on fluid and electrolyte balance, for instance, it will cover many of the systems of the body. Don't stress about it but just review some info. You will be way ahead when you start nursing school. Congrats on getting accepted.

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