Looking for advice on how to prepare for LPN school

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I was accepted to start an LPN program in January, 2011. Are there any current students that could give me advice on ways I could prepare myself? Like what could I be studying now to prepare? Biology, body parts, chemistry, anything? Thanks in advance!

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It wouldn't hurt to go on Ebay or Amazon and get a cheap Medical Terminology and a A@P book.When you start your class it will move very fast with loads of homework so be prepared.Good luck

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CONGRATS to u!!! I as well got excepted into the Lvn program 2011.. I am working on my medical dosage and calculations im using the book i used for my medical dosage and calculations class which was a pre req for the Lvn program.. also i met with the nursing director and she told me to purchase a fundemental of nursing book and it comes with a study guide.. i purchased the books on amazon.. if you can set up a meeting with the teacher of the nursing prgram.. you will get heads up on whats to come.. write down all your questions you would like to ask.. thats what i did now i am confident i will be ahead of the game... take care and good blessings to u!!:yeah:

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Thanks so much for the great advice!! I will definitely check all of it out and start getting busy now. :)

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CNA, HHA, Nurse Mentor.

Gratz on getting in a LPN program in January!

  • Anatomy and Physiology, you'll want to start memorising what function is with each body system and the organs and cells that match.

  • Know your Medical Terminology

  • Also, do a little research on nurses in history and what differences did they make for nursing in today's society. (Don't spend too much time doing this)

  • Fundamentals: Remember the 5 steps in chronological order to the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnose, Planning, Implementation & Evaluation
  • Remember the difference between a medical diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis

  • Also remember your KIWIs (Knock, Introduce Yourself, Wash Your Hands & ID the resident/patient) also Patient Rights

  • Nutrition: Focus on the Digestive System and what happens to food once it enters the oral cavity and what goes where when it passes the Duodenum and into the first 12 inches of the small intestine and so on.

  • Pharmacology: Remember the 6 Rights of Administering a Medication (right drug, right time, right dose, right patient, right route, right documentation)

  • Remember the Controlled Substance Schedule started in 1970 called the Controlled Substances Act which consists of 5 schedules or categories of potential abusive drugs/medications

  • Also know the differences between a Trade Name, Generic Name, Chemical Name and Official Name
  • Also, the three drug categories such as Controlled Substances, Prescription and Over the Counter Medications that the Federal laws created
  • Last but not least, the different routes of administering medication

This list can go on. But if you have any questions, drop me a line and I'll try to answer the best I can. I'm going through the first set of clinicals before going into Med/Surg. Good luck, take notes, don't cheat and stay happy!:idea:

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Gratz on getting in a LPN program in January!

  • Anatomy and Physiology, you'll want to start memorising what function is with each body system and the organs and cells that match.

  • Know your Medical Terminology

  • Also, do a little research on nurses in history and what differences did they make for nursing in today's society. (Don't spend too much time doing this)

  • Fundamentals: Remember the 5 steps in chronological order to the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnose, Planning, Implementation & Evaluation
  • Remember the difference between a medical diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis

  • Also remember your KIWIs (Knock, Introduce Yourself, Wash Your Hands & ID the resident/patient) also Patient Rights

  • Nutrition: Focus on the Digestive System and what happens to food once it enters the oral cavity and what goes where when it passes the Duodenum and into the first 12 inches of the small intestine and so on.

  • Pharmacology: Remember the 6 Rights of Administering a Medication (right drug, right time, right dose, right patient, right route, right documentation)

  • Remember the Controlled Substance Schedule started in 1970 called the Controlled Substances Act which consists of 5 schedules or categories of potential abusive drugs/medications

  • Also know the differences between a Trade Name, Generic Name, Chemical Name and Official Name
  • Also, the three drug categories such as Controlled Substances, Prescription and Over the Counter Medications that the Federal laws created
  • Last but not least, the different routes of administering medication

This list can go on. But if you have any questions, drop me a line and I'll try to answer the best I can. I'm going through the first set of clinicals before going into Med/Surg. Good luck, take notes, don't cheat and stay happy!:idea:

This is great advice. I will write this down, and look into myself

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Yeah I agree with most everything posted. Medical terminology is big and knowing it will help you answer some test questions even if you don't know the answer. A&P is also another biggie. Be prepared for an extremely fast pace. I had a test every day from day 1 until just before Christmas break, which was the end of my first trimester. Congrats and good luck.

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Fantastic advice! Thank you so much! I am currently a medical transcriptionist, so I have a lot of the terminology and drug names and uses. Thanks again!

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