Preparing for ADN program starting in August

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2012

algebra. you will have to have a good working knowledge of basic algebra of the kind "solve for x." if you can't do that you will really struggle with medications, and if you struggle with medications, neither your faculty nor you will be happy. i think we might see more plaintive cries for help about med math than almost anything else.

i'd also recommend a couple of resources to supplement your required texts that should always be on your desk, all available at your friendly online bookseller:

the nanda 2012-2014 nursing diagnosis manual, for getting a handle on nursing diagnosis early on

the anatomy coloring book and the physiology coloring book, no joke either of them, but excellent resources for critical concepts

laboratory and diagnostic tests with nursing implications, joyce lefever kee. says it all.

welcome to the profession!

simcr · Mar 12, 2012

Thank you for your advise. I did purchase a medicine calculation book, and I will start at the beginning. so far it is just basic math with fractions.

sweetjess321 · Mar 12, 2012

Hey! Congrats on starting school in the fall. I just got accepted as well and will start the ADN program at Phoenix College. I have so many questions too, but my sister is a nurse so I get a lot of info from her. I do have to say that I'm super frustrated because I need to figure out if my employer will work with my school schedule in the fall but there is no way to know what the nursing schedule will be like until we start. I don't think that's the way it should be because people have kids and jobs and other stuff going on and need to plan. So, basically, I could be "let go" from my job after school starts if the schedule doesn't work out with school..How is that even right?? Someway, somehow, there's got to be a way to know ahead of time time day and time classes are. I don't think is fair at all. How are we suppose to plan?

Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2012

. How are we suppose to plan?

At the school I am applying at, they have orientation about a month before classes start and at that time you get your first semester schedule. Hopefully that is how your school works.

sweetjess321 · Mar 12, 2012

Thanks Mama_Cashew, hopefully the advisor I spoke with is wrong. I have orientation August 1. But was still told we won't know our schedule until first day of class. We shall see.

Scarlettz, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2012

I was so clueless when I started out (I am still clueless in some areas lol...but it's a continuous learning experience.) A good number of people in my class were familiar with the basics due to past medical experience (as a patient tech, medical assistant, or what have you.) A lot of people in my class have relatives that are nurses (especially in their intermediate family) that could help them with tidbits if advice. Therefore, I felt even more lost compared to these people.

Search videos, read articles, or just go over nursing skills books to practice and familiarize yourself with vital signs (for instance) - how to locate a radial pulse on your wrist (it's on the same side as your thumb ) , practice counting family members' respiratory rates for a minute, purchase a blood pressure cuff and practice getting comfortable with applying one and listening to the sounds, etc.

I'd also recommend reading a test taking strategy book (one might be on your nursing recommended reading list.) We had one our list, but I never had the time to read it while enrolled in actual nursing classes, lol.

I'd even look into getting an NCLEX book. I didn't start doing NCLEX questions until the summer after my first year of nursing. I think it'd be helpful to practice these sort of questions as early as possible. I might not start it until actual classes start, though. Maybe practice doing questions related to what you are covering in class at the time.

And finally, enjoy your summer! I think our school didn't supply as with a proper nursing book list until the last couple of weeks before class. Why not? You won't have much fun and relaxation and time once it all begins.