Need some input

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hello everyone. i am starting nursing school in august, and i was wondering what i could do over the summer to prepare. i have thought about volunteering at a hospital, but i have young children so i don't have much free time. also, are nursing students who have not been cna's at a disadvantage? thanks for the input!:nuke:

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Specializes in Former MA and NA, now an LPN student.

Hi! congrats on getting into school! :)

As far as how to prepare - honestly, just enjoy your "free time" and relax. if you're really itching to do something, maybe pick up a simple med term book or anatomy book. Or, if you know you're a little rusty at math, brush up on that. Otherwise, I don't really think you need to do a whole lot of hardcore studying before LPN school. You don't want to burn yourself out on it all too much too fast. Enjoy your time with your children!

Students who weren't CNAs are not at a disadvantage. In fact, I have heard several times over that it is harder sometimes to break that bad habits that some CNAs come in with than it is to just teach someone who has had no experience. A CNA might have a little edge right at the start with learning tasks like bed making, transfers, etc, but the other students catch up fast and it evens out in no time.

August will be here before you know it!

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Ditto.

They will break it down for you so you need not be a CNA. If you have NO medical background, go to the library and get some anatomy books, possibly terminology so you feel a little more comfortable. Other than that don't stress it...

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

School is designed for people who have no prior healthcare experience. Therefore, you should do fine without ever having worked as a CNA. Good luck to you!

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I've asked for this same info, and I also have little kids so not a lot of time (I'm saving my pennies for the car and childcare I need to have for the year of school)

the one suggestion that I got that was not "relax while you can" was to get an NCLEX study guide and start flipping through it/use it throughout the year. I've seen Saunders highly reccomended, but they didnt have it at my Books-A-Million so I got a Mosby instead. I figure I'll need it sooner or later so it wouldnt kill anyone if I got it ahead of time, and it will give me something to do so that I "feel like" I'm doing something, even if its not a fulltime thing.

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Make sure you have all your emergency contacts up to date for you and your children.

Line up backup childcare for the school year

Freeze easy meals

Don't sweat the "get a head start" stuff. Like the Commuter said school is the starting point. They expect you to know next to nothing. That's why you are paying for an education.

Think about pricing your textbooks, stethescopes, etc.

Relax and enjoy your freedom while you have it.

See the dentist for yourself and the kids

Ditto the GP for PAPs, and med refills if needed.

Relax.

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The best thing to do to prepare yourself is get an A&P book and Medical Term book and start reading a lot. Next have a family meeting and make sure everyone understands what nursing school means to you and designate chores to the family. Start it now. So when school starts it won't be a shock to your family that "mommie's not doing anything." around the house. Oh.....and put on a pair of wings and be ready to fly! Angie

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