Phlebotomy before RN

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I was accepted to RN Program (fall 09). I am planning on taking a clinical assistant(Phlebotomy procedure,EKG, injections,vital signs and urinalysis) class over the summer. Would that be helpful when I start clinical?!? Thanks!

Specializes in heart failure and prison.

If this class is free, then ok. Other than that no, you will learn all these skills in clinicals and you should have to do clinical lab check offs before you go to the floors and see actual patients. In my opinion this would be a waste of money. As for EKG's, again you will how to hook up a patient on clinicals and you will get cardiac in school. You will get more in depth, then what the phlebotomy class will teach you. Good luck

If this class is free, then ok. Other than that no, you will learn all these skills in clinicals and you should have to do clinical lab check offs before you go to the floors and see actual patients. In my opinion this would be a waste of money. As for EKG's, again you will how to hook up a patient on clinicals and you will get cardiac in school. You will get more in depth, then what the phlebotomy class will teach you. Good luck

Thanks! What do you think it would be helpful for me to do before first semester start? I am a full time student, GPA 3.4, all my pre- requisite out of the way. I have been studying a little of Pharmacology and also Fundamentals of Nursing textbook. I am a just nervous since everybody says that Nursing is very hard. Thanks!

I took a phlebotomy class after I got my CNA so I could a job at a hospital while in NS. They really didn't cover much about EKG's, we kinda blew past it, but focused on blood draws. It was helpful in the aspect that I am really good at drawing blood, but not helpful in NS. I learned how to DO an EKG via OJT, but haven't learned how to really interpret them yet...that probably happen in advanced Med/Surg.

I'm in Med Surg II right now... my advice would be focus on Fluids/Electrolytes/ABG's, this was an issue for many people. Also, review A&P...it'll help you in patho.

Good luck!

I'm in Med Surg II right now...

No I'm not...I'm in III... just wanted to clarify. I have no idea why I typed that I was in II... :bugeyes:

No I'm not...I'm in III... just wanted to clarify. I have no idea why I typed that I was in II... :bugeyes:

Thank you! I guess I will study the whole pharmacology book before I even start class then b/c what I had so far has not being easy:)

Specializes in heart failure and prison.
Thanks! What do you think it would be helpful for me to do before first semester start? I am a full time student, GPA 3.4, all my pre- requisite out of the way. I have been studying a little of Pharmacology and also Fundamentals of Nursing textbook. I am a just nervous since everybody says that Nursing is very hard. Thanks!

Nursing is hard. I just graduated in Dec 2008 from a 3 year program. My advice would be to just relax, because once you start your brain will be on overload and you don't want to be overwhelmed and tired when school starts. You will have plenty to do once you start your program. ABG's and fluid & electro was an issue for most people, however I could teach you ABG's in a matter of minutes, I had a very good instructor who taught us ABG's and fluid & elect and I never forgot it. Another word of advice, when you get your breaks in school, take them, don't study. You will need to give your brain time to relax.

When you start your program, make sure you do nclex questions. Whatever topic you are doing make sure you do at least 10 questions a day pertaining to that topic. The reason for it, this will start preparing you for the boards and it will help you study. i.e if you are doing cardiac, make sure you do cardiac nclex questions. This helped me on the boards and I passed a lot of test in school by doing those questions. good luck in your program

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