Preparation for Grad School

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So I'm an RN with 2 years Cardiac Experience. I've been admitted into Vanderbilt's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program to start this coming fall 2018. I've got about 5 months to prepare. What would you recommend by way of preparation?

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Sit on your but for long periods of time, pull an allnighter once a week, and learn how much credit card debt you can accrue.

I'm being facetious, of course. But if you don't already, I would read a few psychiatric nursing journals and try to pick out issues relevant to your practice. You'll have a lot of projects based on that kind of thing so it helps to be knowledgeable about current issues/trends/etc.

I'd also pick up as many hours at work as possible so that I wouldn't have to work as much later in the program.

Otherwise, just pursue what interests you... good luck!

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

- if you have nothing else to do with your life: get the books you'll need for the first semester and start reading. It will save you some sanity later on, especially if your program uses that infamous 1400+ pages McCance Pathophysiology.

- otherwise, enjoy your life and your work while you still can.

- if you are in full-time program and plan to continue work, get as many things which require some investment of time done before you start. Home improvements, car shopping/repair, vacations, etc.

I'll remember to the end of my life lying back with my hands over my head for 2 hours straight attending a mandatory online lecture on my tablet while dentist was ripping through root canal in my mouth. I knew about that tooth long ago, but was too lazy to get it done. I forgot to turn off the mic and the poor professor repeatedly asked the online auditorium what in the lecture material caused someone to moan painfully from time to time.

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Get some psychiatric nursing experience, maybe?

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