New Nursing Student with Loads of Questions!

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Hello,

I have just stumbled upon this website, and i figure it is the perfect place to meet women who have formerly been in my position probably wondering many of the same things that have crossed my mind. First, I'll introduce myself, My name is Toshia.. however my friends call me sunshine. I am wanting to go to school to be an OB GYN nurse and help and coach women through the births of their children. I have had this goal for myself since I was in the 7th grade, and then after having my own personal experience with natural birth in a hospital it gave me that much more motivation.

In that regard, I would love to speak with any women who are in the field i am aspiring to be in. I wonder, Is it more logical to get your LPN, to BSN, to RN.. or do you think its a better route to finish my general classes at the community college i anticipate to attend starting in january and apply those years to an Associates of the arts degree and attempt to get my RN that way?

Also, Were there any books that you felt made your life easier as a student that you would reccomend to me? I honestly do not know a single thing about the nursing field, and am a little nervous about me attending college due to all of the medical terminology, i am nervous i am going to be lost there for a bit. On that note, I was browsing things to possibly make the school life a bit easier, and I came across some voice recorders that are also transcribers so possibly they would take the notes from the professor and make them from digital to text format.. In that regard, has anyone heard of the Dragon software which from my understanding is pretty much the same thing.. and if you know anything about either please share you knowledge before I purchase something that is not really necessary [or worth the money for that matter!]

I don't mean to write a book, however.. I just really am not sure where else to turn. I am very open to suggestions. Thanks so much for your time and for reading! Happy holidays to all!

-Sunshine!

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Specializes in CVICU.

Ok, I'm not even kidding about this, but any of the "Incredibly Easy" books are a fantastic resource for nursing students. They do all kinds of different areas of nursing, such as cardiovascular, neuro, etc., and they're written in a fun way that makes things easy to remember. They also have a magazine, "Nursing Made Incredibly Easy" to which I still subscribe, 4 years out of school! I love it!

As far as dictating software or voice recorders - only you can determine if you will need something like that. I did not, but that's not the way I studied. i did buy a digital voice recorder and used it a few times, but found that the only time I ever replayed a lecture was if I got a wrong answer on a test and was certain the instructor had said a different answer in lecture, I'd take the recording in to back my story up. It bought me maybe two points over the course of the program.

Dragon is actually a pretty good program. I know a few docs who use it for dication and it even understands those with heavy accents. However, again, only you can know if you really need it. You may find that you keep up just fine with written notes.

My only real tip (other than those Incredibly Easy books) would be that if you type faster than you hand write (as I do), you may want to take a laptop to class and type your notes instead of writing. That is, if your instructors will allow it. They may not like the noise of tapping in the classroom.

Good luck and I hope you get lots of good advice!

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Something you should purchase is a medical dictionary, such as Taber's. It's updated regularly. Keep it nearby when you're reading and when you come to a word you don't know, look it up. There will be oodles and oodles of them. If you just pass over them, pretty soon you'll be up to your eyebrows in words you don't know that concepts built upon.

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Specializes in Perinatal, Education.

If you are looking at perinatal nursing as you say, the LVN is not a good option because few, if any, LVNs are used in that area (speaking of my experience here in California). If it's been a while since you have been in school, start with your GE English class and a math before getting into the sciences. It will help you a lot. I teach in an ADN program and I feel it is a good way to become an RN. It really depends on where you live. RN to BSN programs are plentiful and a good way to get you to the BSN from the ADN.

Good luck with the adventure!

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I own a copy of Dragon and I hardly use it. The copy i own is the regular kind and it does not function very well with the terminology. I find it to be more of a pain in the bum than anything else. Takes hours just to calibrate. I checked out the medical version of Dragon and it was about 1500 dollars.

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Specializes in Lactation.

It just depends on your life situation. If you need to get into the workforce quickly then the LPN-->RN-->BSN might be the best way to go. The LPN programs around here are typically one year in length and then you can get to work quickly afterwards and then do an online program to continue your education. Look at the colleges in your area, see what they have to offer. Then start working towards a goal that will work for you and your family.

The medical terminology that your worried about should be one of your pre req classes if you go ADN or be included in the LPN program.

Good Luck and Welcome!!

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Something you should purchase is a medical dictionary, such as Taber's. It's updated regularly. Keep it nearby when you're reading and when you come to a word you don't know, look it up. There will be oodles and oodles of them. If you just pass over them, pretty soon you'll be up to your eyebrows in words you don't know that concepts built upon.

Awesome, I was actually researching on Amazon yesterday and have already placed an order for the Taber's book, so that makes me feel good at least I chose a good one :p.. I think the only reason I was wanting the dragon software was for the capibility to transcribe things so that I may keep a file of notes to go back to but if there aren't many people that use it, it may just be easier to take notes. I had wondered if you are allowed to use your laptop for taking notes or not.. I don't know how any of this works hehe.. I think maybe i should attempt speaking to nurses in my area about how they went about getting their certifications. I mean as of right now, I have a very good job to hold me over while im going through school and currently am only able to attend part time [as i do have a daughter, with no father :/].. so if it takes me a little longer im not going to complain about it I was just looking for the most logical way to go about things. I had a hard time speaking with the advisor at school due to having my daughter with me hehe.. Thank you all for your help and advice :)! I'm just super excited to start, i think ill probably get many of my questions answered when i actually start class but i think its normal to be anxious and want to know it all :p

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Specializes in CNA, Aspiring CRNA.

hi soras mommy, if you need to work asap, getting an rn, adn might be good, that's your associates degree in nursing, their are pre-nursing classes that you have to take before you are eligible to apply to an adn/ rn program.

your local community college may provide informational packets concerning the requirements for their nursing program. that packet will orient you on what you need to do and in what sequence.

in addition to the prerequisites you have to take, you could start taking your "recommeded" courses also, as many as you can before you start the actual nursing courses, so that you can focus on the most rigourous courses with minimal distraction from competing courses.

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Specializes in Obstetrics/Case Management/MIS/Quality.

some of the best advice i was given when i was looking to go to nursing school was not to bother with the lpn, but to go straight for an rn. i went through an associate of science program at a community college to get my rn. after i was practicing for about 10 years, i went on for my bsn. if you are wanting to work in labor & delivery, you will need to have an rn. best of luck in your future education and career! :)

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Specializes in CVICU.

No matter what specialty you're interested in, I recommend skipping the LPN altogether. I don't know about the rest of the country, but my hospital doesn't even hire LPN's anymore and the two we have left will not be replaced if they leave. Except for long term care, I don't know that the job prospects for LPN's are all that great right now.

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I was told too that LPNs generally are not even hired much anymore so there was no sense in doing so.. I appreciate the advice :) It is all starting to come together a bit more :)!

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Specializes in Lactation.

In my area, rural oklahoma, LPN/LVN's are employed in all the local hospitals and doctors offices and LTC centers. I think that it is a stepping stone for anyone that needs to get to work faster. My Family practitioners nurse is an LPN. Our local OB department has several LPN's employed as well. :-) I am assuming that you all are talking about bigger city hospitals not hiring LPN's?

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