I've GOT to do something!

I just found out that I have been accepted into the nursing program that was my first pick!!! WoooHoooo! I wasn't expecting that at all and I am so excited. :balloons: But, I can't sit around and wait for school to start for the next five months! What can I be doing while I wait? I saw that another person posted a similar question and the main advice was to REST. I know that's what I should do, but I just can't. It would drive me crazy.

So, what do you all think I should do with all this time I have on my hands? I was thinking that I would review my medical vocabulary, learn as many of the medical abbreviations as possible, and brush up on math and conversions. Do you think this would be helpful? What else do you think would be good to get a head start on?

Thanks!

If you can find out what textbooks you will need for the course, try to get a hold of them now if you can and start reading. Start doing dosage calculations every day.

I would rest...but if you are anxious I would go to Barnes & Noble and start looking at the NCLEX book (Saunders), actually I would buy the NCLEX book. They have a section dedicated soley to nursing books, I would look at Pharm, Med/Surg and Pathophysiology. Since you have 5 months I would look at as much info as possible just so you know what you are in for...including care plan books! Congrats!!

I think going over medical abbreviations and vocabulary is an excellent idea!

Don't let yourself get too overwhelmed with the Nclex books if you decide to get them as some of them are very specific and don't give a good general overview. But, if you are anxious to get ahead you could go over Maslow's Hierachy of Needs and other basic nursing fundamentals which will (or should) be addressed in your first semester.

Good luck and congratulations!

I just found out that I have been accepted into the nursing program that was my first pick!!! WoooHoooo! I wasn't expecting that at all and I am so excited. :balloons: But, I can't sit around and wait for school to start for the next five months! What can I be doing while I wait? I saw that another person posted a similar question and the main advice was to REST. I know that's what I should do, but I just can't. It would drive me crazy.

So, what do you all think I should do with all this time I have on my hands? I was thinking that I would review my medical vocabulary, learn as many of the medical abbreviations as possible, and brush up on math and conversions. Do you think this would be helpful? What else do you think would be good to get a head start on?

Thanks!

Get yourself a good lab results book.. That helped me so much.. Get one that tells you what the lab is for, what the prep is, what the results might be

etc. You should be able to find one at your school book store.

What are you doing for work now. Do you have a medical background if not you might volunteer or take a job at the local hospital.

Read nursing journals such as Nursing2005 (or the online version) or Nursing Made Easy, or nursing infomration websites, etc.

But don't knock yourself out. Soon you're going to be so busy you'll curse yourself for not enjoying the time off more. (See my quote below). Good luck and congratulations.

Congrats!!! Since you have 5 months and are excited about getting ahead start, I would recommend (strongly) to rest at least 1 month before school starts! You will wish later you had if you dont. :)

Everyone's suggestions are great as well as your own. I am a 2nd semester ADN student and wished I had known before what to know now! LOL

You will definitely need to know Maslows as well as Erickson stages. Medical abbreviations in my opinion, seem to come naturally as you are using them, pick an "x" number to review each day and start using them while taking notes.

Start now learning your electrolytes, the F&E imbalances and their signs and symptoms! I hear the Fluid/Electrolyte made easy book is excellent!

Dosage calculations! and drugs...find out from family and friends, what drugs they are on, and start learning them! also anytime it mentions a drug name in your books while you are reading...keep a separate notebook of drugs, (you need a good drug book) and start looking them up and writing info in your notebook about them.

Those are my suggestions for you. But remember...do rest BEFORE you do start classes....we all suggest that because we KNOW how valuable rest is once you do get started!

Congrats again and Good Luck!

Congrats on getting into your 1st choice. :balloons:

I wouldn't strain myself with the medical abbreviations. They are quickly becoming passe as they are becoming more and more of a JCAHO no-no every year. Hopefully your school will not get you used to using them, only to have the real world tell you to break that habit yesterday.

Focus on the math. Most programs have very strict policies on the math tests (as in fail the math, fail the term).

Really start getting into your math conversions and dosage calculations, study up on Erikson and Piaget (They are in every semester so far), and look over your fundamentals book. Put the Nursing process into your head.

If your program requires a lot of paper-writing, I'd say spend your time brushing up on APA!

Good luck! :)

I'd learn Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and drug calculations. There's not a semester that goes by that doesn't touch on Maslow, not to mention the dreaded drug calculations test that you have to pass each semester.

Don't tackle something complex that will discourage you. There's enough time for that once you're in the program :rotfl:

Thank you guys for the great advice! I bought a math for nursing book today that seems pretty good. I looked through the Fluid/Electrolyte books at the bookstore, but they seemed very complicated. I'm going to keep looking for one that explains things better. Thanks again, and keep the ideas coming! :)

If I could afford not to work before school starts (June for me) I'd go to Mexico and take medical spanish and volunteer at an orphanage. But studying for the the next couple of months sounds fun too Stupid A&P 2 @!#%##