Yay I got into Nursing School. Now what?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So I just found out yesterday that I was accepted into nursing school for January 2015! I'll be going for my ASN first and possibly my BSN after. I'm so excited to start but now I feel like I need to start preparing myself for what nursing school is going to put me through.

I've been reading some topics on here as well as some other websites for tips on how to prepare and what you should be doing prior to starting your first semester, but I have a few questions.

- Is it possible to hold down a part time job while attending school full time? Nothing too major, perhaps just a 15 hour a week gig or perhaps just a weekend thing.

- What would you say is the best NCLEX review guide to get? I've been reading that a lot of people suggest you buy one right away and review it as you go along in school. I've also saw some people suggest getting Pearson Reviews & Rationales: Medical-Surgical Nursing by MaryAnn Hogan. Would you suggest getting this as a guide?

- Where does everyone get their textbooks from? I'm a huge internet textbook buyer so I'm hoping there are some good sites where I can get my nursing books for cheaper.

- What are some of the things you think students should do in the months prior to starting their first semester? Are there things you know now that you wish you would have known before?

I think that is all the questions I have. I'm sure I'll think of a hundred more later :yes:. Thanks in advance! :)

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, virgo7598:

Thank you so much for asking such good questions. Like you, I start clinicals January 2015 for a ADN program; and I've similar questions. You might be able to do the job, but various people at our school who are already past 1st semester shared be careful with part time jobs or optional classes.

I've heard http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1455727555/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 6e) is among the best, but like you saw posts for Pearson Reviews & Rationales: Medical-Surgical Nursing with "Nursing Reviews & Rationales" (3rd Edition) (Reviews & Rationales Series): 9780133083606: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com. I've also seen people recommend Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 20e (Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for Nclex-Rn): 9780323078955: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com and Fundamentals Success: A Q&A Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking (Davis's Q&a Success): 9780803627796: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com It would be nice to know which one (1) would be the absolute best for 1st semester students that would still be good all through the 4 semesters.

I've been using amazon.com for books as well as the campus bookstore. I've been told when it comes to nursing books, don't rent; a fellow Microbiology student going into their 3rd semester of nursing school/clinicals shared she made a major mistake renting 1st semester only to have to buy the same books for 2nd. I've seen posts about people using half.com, chegg.com, ebay.com.

In terms of months prior, I've been told that learning common lab values is a plus. While all my prerequisites are done, this fall I'm looking at taking statistics (to go towards a BSN), Physiological Pathology (which should help me in actual nursing school/clinicals plus I've been told the book they use can help when it comes times to take the boards), and abnormal psychology (our school replaced this with lifespan development as a prerequisite, but a number of students in clinicals shared that it is helpful for clinicals).

If you are on a budget, but want to occupy your mind with stuff that might be helpful for clinicals, there are a number of free online classes you can take:

https://www.coursera.org/course/clinicalterminology - started this week, and is fantastic so far

https://www.coursera.org/course/clinicalpsych - starting in late July

https://www.edx.org/course/ricex/ricex-bioc372-1x-fundamentals-immunology-1846 - starting mid August

https://www.edx.org/course/hkux/hkux-hku01x-epidemics-1778 - starting early September

https://www.coursera.org/course/chemhealth - starting mid September

https://www.coursera.org/course/epidemics - starting late September

Also, the following YouTube videos may be of help:

allnurses.com articles I found helpful on this subject matter include the following:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/advice-nursing-students-886598.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/mistakes-avoid-clinicals-906484-page3.html

Thank you.

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Good day, virgo7598:

Thank you so much for asking such good questions. Like you, I start clinicals January 2015 for a ADN program; and I've similar questions. You might be able to do the job, but various people at our school who are already past 1st semester shared be careful with part time jobs or optional classes.

I've heard Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 6e (Saunders Comprehensive Review for Nclex-Rn): 9781455727551: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com (Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 6e) is among the best, but like you saw posts for Pearson Reviews & Rationales: Medical-Surgical Nursing with "Nursing Reviews & Rationales" (3rd Edition) (Reviews & Rationales Series): 9780133083606: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com. I've also seen people recommend Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 20e (Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for Nclex-Rn): 9780323078955: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com and Fundamentals Success: A Q&A Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking (Davis's Q&a Success): 9780803627796: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com It would be nice to know which one (1) would be the absolute best for 1st semester students that would still be good all through the 4 semesters.

I've been using amazon.com for books as well as the campus bookstore. I've been told when it comes to nursing books, don't rent; a fellow Microbiology student going into their 3rd semester of nursing school/clinicals shared she made a major mistake renting 1st semester only to have to buy the same books for 2nd. I've seen posts about people using half.com, chegg.com, ebay.com.

In terms of months prior, I've been told that learning common lab values is a plus. While all my prerequisites are done, this fall I'm looking at taking statistics (to go towards a BSN), Physiological Pathology (which should help me in actual nursing school/clinicals plus I've been told the book they use can help when it comes times to take the boards), and abnormal psychology (our school replaced this with lifespan development as a prerequisite, but a number of students in clinicals shared that it is helpful for clinicals).

If you are on a budget, but want to occupy your mind with stuff that might be helpful for clinicals, there are a number of free online classes you can take:

https://www.coursera.org/course/clinicalterminology - started this week, and is fantastic so far

https://www.coursera.org/course/clinicalpsych - starting in late July

https://www.edx.org/course/ricex/ricex-bioc372-1x-fundamentals-immunology-1846 - starting mid August

https://www.edx.org/course/hkux/hkux-hku01x-epidemics-1778 - starting early September

https://www.coursera.org/course/chemhealth - starting mid September

https://www.coursera.org/course/epidemics - starting late September

Also, the following YouTube videos may be of help:

allnurses.com articles I found helpful on this subject matter include the following:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/advice-nursing-students-886598.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/mistakes-avoid-clinicals-906484-page3.html

Thank you.

Wow thank you so much for all those wonderful resources!

I feel like I am good as far as classes go because I actually have a Bachelor's in Psychology so I already took Abnormal as well as Physiological Psych. Plus I minored in Biology so I took Micro/Anatomy/Physiology already as well.

I will definitely look into those free online classes. Those look great. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

And if I'm not juggling enough in the fall, my wife just recommended https://www.coursera.org/course/microbiome ; since you minored in biology, that might be of interest as well.

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Thank you pmabraham

This will be very helpful. I was just wondering though: won't we, as new nursing students, have enough time to learn every new thing while in nursing school. Apart from buying the necessary book supplies, do we actually need to dive into the details of what we might do in nursing school.

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Congrats on being accepted!! And great questions! I am not there yet, but will find any advice you get helpful as well.

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What kind of work do you do? I will be working full time in the fall if at all possible but when NS starts up in the spring I plan to drop to fill-in so that I don't have to commit to any particular shifts. I can work when I have time and not take shifts when I feel really swamped. Healthcare is great that way. I work as a DSP, keeping my eye out for CNA but not holding my breath.

Amazon's been very good to me. Just be careful you're getting the right edition. Renting is a waste IMO- you get more money back by reselling, and if you do choose to keep a book instead you can do so. Not a fan of electronic copies either for the same reason.

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What kind of work do you do? I will be working full time in the fall if at all possible but when NS starts up in the spring I plan to drop to fill-in so that I don't have to commit to any particular shifts. I can work when I have time and not take shifts when I feel really swamped. Healthcare is great that way. I work as a DSP, keeping my eye out for CNA but not holding my breath.

Amazon's been very good to me. Just be careful you're getting the right edition. Renting is a waste IMO- you get more money back by reselling, and if you do choose to keep a book instead you can do so. Not a fan of electronic copies either for the same reason.

I currently work at a clinic full time doing scheduling. I hope once they find out I'm going to school they will let me stay on part time. I don't think I could do more than one day a week or maybe every other weekend or something.

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Specializes in Step-down ICU.

When I was in school for Lpn I did work partime, it was as a phlebotomist doing early am draws at nursing homes.

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