LPN School Prep

[missjennmb]

As mentioned in other posts, some of us are starting nursing school this fall. Does anyone have any suggestions for books beyond the course textbooks that we/I should get? Or any other prep work?

I was planning to take 2-4 classes this summer of non-nursing specific stuff towards my LPN/RN requirements but could only get one (small town college not a lot offered summer nights) so I have a lot of time on my hands (I am also a stay at home mom atm).

My brother in law said that the pharmacology part was the toughest. Should I get a book of some sort for that? Or maybe just get my NCLEX review guides? Since its going to be so crazy once school starts, I'm just trying to figure out the best use of my free time, since I now have so much and will soon have none left.

*I read another thread like this that said to just sit back and enjoy it, but I've been enjoying it for the past 4 years and have been waiting for class since I got the "green light" to go back in February. :)

[kad13579]

I agree with sitting back and enjoying it. I thought before I started that I may need to start looking into books or going over what I thought we might be studying, but when I got into the program, I was happy I didn't. They will teach you anything and everything you need to know to get through it. Don't try to overload yourself right now, just take your time and learn what you can when you start classes. What kind of classes have you had already?

[missjennmb]

I've been sitting at home for 4 years now so I guess I'm just at the point of no longer being able to enjoy it. Well I love my time with my kids but its pretty much constant from 5:30am till 8:30pm 7 days a week and I havent had a chance to think about anything more thought provoking than "why is that pig wearing clothes and glasses" in quite some time, lol.

As far as classes I've had already... I've taken a lot of general education courses over the years, as well as IT stuff (I was in school for computer programming but we moved to an area where there are pretty much no IT jobs and that was the end of that).

This summer is the first semester I'm taking anything specifically for nursing, and I'll be taking Algebra 1. I might take Eng Comp 1 too, but its online and I'm not sure if I want to take on the additional cost of an online class. Somehow I have to squeeze in the pre-reqs for RN school while I'm in LPN school, but I have a lot of the gen ed classes for LPN school done already, so I'm hoping that it will even out. If it gets too rough I'll just hold off on the additional stuff until the semester after I graduate from LPN (although that will mean I postpone my degree for another 6 months atleast)

[Jules A, MSN]

Since you still have pre-reqs you need I'd load up on them this summer.

[amjowens]

I just finished my first semester. Pharmacology was the toughest. There's really no way to prepare, except with mentally/emotionally preparing for pacing self with good study habits. Also, I'd try to get the pre-reqs out of the way if at all possible.

A friend of mine and myself (ON FINAL EXAM DAY!!!) went to the bookstore to see if we could get summer's book! We decided that we'd study and get ahead. Unbelievably, we saw other classmates there, and the few books that the bookstore had in stock from last semester were being sold!!! We have a 3 week break, and I went again today to see about the book, but still not in. Oddly, feeling a little "behind" without book. We were given the first few chapters we're doing from our instructor, and I did want to study! SO, my advice I'm not taking. I see your point, with wanting to study while you have the time to take your time!

I'm trying to enjoy my time off. I'm studying math a little bit, as we have a drug calculation exam every semester. Other than that, there's no way around the tough studying I'm going to have this summer, so I'll just breathe now while I can! Good luck to you!!!