Preparing for NP School

allnurses Guide · May 2, 2014

As much as you can do on A&P, pathology, physical assessment, and pharmacology.

zmansc, ASN, RN · May 2, 2014

I prepared by working. Every patient I could, I read/took a history, did an assessment, tried to determine what orders I though should be done on them, compared them to the orders that the provider did, asked questions of the provider when they weren't busy. Reviewed the labs/images when they came back, tried to determine the plan, and see if it is different from the plan the provider gave. In short, I used my time when I'm working as a RN as a simulation lab, or a pseudo clinical rotation. It forces me to apply my patho, pharm, and assessment skills. It forces me to attempt to do what I want to be doing one day, and it shows me what I'm working towards.

Now, before someone jumps up and screams, no you can't do this on every patient, but you would be surprised how many you can do it on. And, I'm sure at some facilities the docs would not be happy to answer your questions, but at mine I have met universal acceptance on this. Well, ok, not universal. A couple of them were initially hesitant, but once they realized why I was asking questions, their attitudes actually turned around 180 and they became very helpful. Turns out if you listen and learn, most people with knowledge want to share it!

Then when I went home, I would take home a few questions to follow up on. If I still don't understand something, then I research it. That way I get a focused A&P, patho, pharm, etc study on a specific situation and I think it sticks better for me that way. I still try to do this when I pick up an RN shift. It helps to focus the brain, and quite frankly I think I provide better RN care this way than if I'm not focused this way. Busy shifts, don't always go this way, you just don't have enough time to do two jobs at the same time, but most shifts I can get some of this into.

mtsteelhorse · May 2, 2014

Great suggestion by zmansc. I'm reading some basic "Incredibly Easy" books to brush up on very rusty topics like pathophys. It's been a lotta years for me and I'm nervous about jumping back in. I'm also trying to apply it to my nursing job and glean more from each patient. Good luck!

adventure780, BSN, MSN, RN, APN · May 7, 2014

assesment skills, practice them whenever you can, practice on family, friends and your patients , whenever we get admissions i try to do physical assesments, also look up anything you aren't sure of including how meds work and anatomy and patho

lecolourfiend, BSN, RN · May 7, 2014

I will be in the part-time online FNP program and recently purchased a silly "E-Z" A&P book for review. So far so good, it's all coming back much quicker than I anticipated. I have also contacted a few NPs in my area and am scheduling days to shadow them. P.S. --- I've been reading a blog by "newFNP" which makes reference to a "BostonFNP" -- is this you?

lecolourfiend, BSN, RN · May 7, 2014

Thanks zmansc. --- Since I have yet to start school, I find it difficult at times to determine what orders will be given to my patients, so instead I've just printed off their H&P and gone through and looked up any information/diagnoses I was unsure of. I can only do this when I have a little free time, as I often have up to 8 pts at once. My review of A&P is also helping and things that I had completely forgotten are coming back to me. It's a great feeling!

lecolourfiend, BSN, RN · May 7, 2014

Thanks adventure780 --- One of my friends is currently enrolled in the part-time online program at Simmons in the March cohort, and she told me to take this time before school to simply relax and not worry about "pre"studying because once school starts, that's all I will be doing. I'd love to take her advice, but I would prefer to be on top of things and not too rusty :)

adventure780, BSN, MSN, RN, APN · May 7, 2014

the thing is you can never be too prepared, but brushing up is fine, just don't get too intense, relax while you can, cause when it starts you will have to hit the ground running

zmansc, ASN, RN · May 7, 2014

Thanks adventure780 --- One of my friends is currently enrolled in the part-time online program at Simmons in the March cohort, and she told me to take this time before school to simply relax and not worry about "pre"studying because once school starts, that's all I will be doing. I'd love to take her advice, but I would prefer to be on top of things and not too rusty :)

I agree with you and your friend. You don't want to be too rusty, but at the same time you might as well enjoy some time with your friends and family as well. The biggest complaint my cohorts and I have is that we are missing out on our families lives. It's a trade off of course, and well worth it, but don't miss out on too much now, because you will definitely be missing out on things once the program starts.

lecolourfiend, BSN, RN · May 8, 2014

zmansc --- That's why I decided to go back to school now at a young age, as I have yet to start a family of my own. I think this will allow me to be 100% dedicated to the program. I just don't know how "prepared" I should be before starting classes --- Is "reviewing" A&P and Patho enough or should I be viewing this content as something I need to be able to recite back and have completely memorized. I guess I'll find out the answer once school starts!