Preparing for LPN program

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Hi, I am hoping to start an LPN program in October and as you know that is a long time to sit around and wait. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should learn or study to help me prepare for the journey ahead? Any good websites? Thanks for any advice:)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Hi, I am hoping to start an LPN program in October and as you know that is a long time to sit around and wait. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should learn or study to help me prepare for the journey ahead? Any good websites? Thanks for any advice:)
I would study basic anatomy/physiology or basic nursing skills. If you're not good at math, I would brush up on fractions, decimals, and basic division.
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A really good place to start is with the NCLEX-LPN study guide. It is a great book that comes with a CD to prepare you for the type of questions you will be asked on your state boards. And a lot of nursing instructors are using the NCLEX-Prep books for devising test questions. You can get them online or at any "Hastings" book store. The book is devided into subjects that have practice tests. Take the practice tests and see how you do. You will know right away where your strong and weak points are.

Also...if you dont have any experience, you might consider getting a part-time job as a nurse assistant or nurse tech. You wont believe the amount you will learn by just being around other nurses.

Good luck.

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Hi, I am hoping to start an LPN program in October and as you know that is a long time to sit around and wait. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should learn or study to help me prepare for the journey ahead? Any good websites? Thanks for any advice:)

Take a CNA class (Certified Nurse Aide) or see if you can get a hold of your potential book list for October and read, read, read:)

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Thank you all for your suggestions. I will look into doing those things. I am going to volunteer at a local hospital, but the orientation is in a couple of weeks. I hope that they will let me do some things that will be beneficial and help me to learn. I have my fingers crossed.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I will look into doing those things. I am going to volunteer at a local hospital, but the orientation is in a couple of weeks. I hope that they will let me do some things that will be beneficial and help me to learn. I have my fingers crossed.
Perhaps it would be more beneficial to volunteer at a nursing home. LPN hospital jobs are slowly being phased out. Most LPN job opportunities are in nursing homes and other long term care facilities such as hospice and rehab.
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I'm hoping to get into a LPN program, but I'm just starting my prerequisites. I am taking a CNA class right now, then I hope to work in a LTC. I think it will be helpful to be a CNA. The CNA classes are pretty short but they get your head thinking about nursing :)

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I would suggest you take as many of required non-nursing classes as you can prior to the program. That way you can focus on just the nursing classes while in the program.

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Specializes in LTC and MED-SURG.
A really good place to start is with the NCLEX-LPN study guide. It is a great book that comes with a CD to prepare you for the type of questions you will be asked on your state boards. And a lot of nursing instructors are using the NCLEX-Prep books for devising test questions. You can get them online or at any "Hastings" book store. The book is devided into subjects that have practice tests. Take the practice tests and see how you do. You will know right away where your strong and weak points are.

Also...if you dont have any experience, you might consider getting a part-time job as a nurse assistant or nurse tech. You wont believe the amount you will learn by just being around other nurses.

Good luck.

This is what I tell all the aspiring nursing students at my school. (I am in last quarter of LPN) If I had practiced answering NCLEX-style questions and developing my critical thinking skills beforehand, I would have been saved a lot of grief.

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Specializes in LTC and MED-SURG.
Perhaps it would be more beneficial to volunteer at a nursing home. LPN hospital jobs are slowly being phased out. Most LPN job opportunities are in nursing homes and other long term care facilities such as hospice and rehab.

Here in the Atlanta area, I keep hearing that LPN jobs are being phased out, however some of the hospitals that stop hiring LPNS soon start hiring them again. I will graduate (hopefully) in March and don't want to work in an LTC, so I am hoping to land a job at a hospital. In my circumstances, I think its best for me to obtain RN licensure asap because I think I would have more nursing opportunities. I think LPN experience is invaluable. I learn more from the LPN's in my clinicals than anyone else

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