Preparing for Nursing School in the Fall

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What do you think I should be doing one month before I start nursing school? What are some ways I can prepare myself? What books would you recommend?

PDA or Palm?

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I am not a nursing student until fall either, so I can not give the best advise. I am going to take the last week or so before classes start and walk around campus to get comfortable with my surrounding (I am a transfer student in a BSN program), buy my books etc. I am not sure if I am going to get a palm or a pda,but my friend has a palm and really likes it. Right now I just have a pocket pdr from a drug rep.

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If I were you, I would take a look at an APA manual. Doing papers using APA format was a huge shock to all of the students in my class in year one since no one had a clue what APA was. Also, I would study doseage calculations...if you are bad in math such as myself (there are zillions of web sites on doseage calc's). Other than that, it was my experience that there really is no preparing for year one...except clean your house, see your doc, make those dental and eye appts, (since you will have no time for that after school starts).. make sure you have a great computer with loads of computer paper and lots of ink...you will need it. As I head into my second year and while I have the summer off, I am doing a zillion med calculations, studying up on all the procedures we will be expected to learn, practicing my injections (bought a kit), practicing my BP's cuz I suck at that and basically mentally preparing myself for the TONS of work I will be doing this upcoming year. Oh....and I bought a PDA and haven't touched it once all during year one...who knows maybe it will come in handy for year two.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Trauma.

Walk around the nursing depratment and get a feel for computer labs and rooms. Pretty simple.

Walk around campus if it is new to you to figure out where everything is and especially parking lots. Have to know the schedule and where you will be able to park!!

Take your nursing books and sort of skim through them all. Skim over each chapter or atleast the first half of the book.

Was SO HELPFUL for me:)

Wait on the PDA, because that should be included in your tuition or your nursing schedule. Should be.

I bought a drug book, but with my PDA, I don't use it. It might be a waste of money if you get the PDA.

Try and meet other nursing students REGARDLESS of they're ahead of you. Even better if they are, get instructor advice:)

Good luck..

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I am also starting nursing in the fall. We attended a workshop last month, we were given a packet prepared by our lecture instructor. Included in the packet was dosage calculation worksheets, conversion charts and a list of chapters that needed to be read by orientation. In the bookstore were four packets that we needed to purchase and be familiar with before the first day of class. One of the suggested readings is a Test Success which is test taking techniques. I started going through it and has some interesting concepts on how to answer multiple choice questions. I think it will be helpful. Hope that helps........

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Thanks for all your comments.

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I'm glad you started this thread. I, too, start nursing school this fall! I'm very excited and have been wondering myself if there was something I should be doing. Which I really haven't had time to look at anything else since I am trying to hold an A average in A & P one. Which that might not happen! lol Anyways, glad you posted this! Can't wait to see more replies!!

Rebecca

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