Preparing for 1st semester

[Silver_Rik, ASN, RN]

In 13 weeks I start my 1st semester as a nursing (ADN) student. I've returned to school after 25 years (I just turned 50) to pursue this. In the past year I've been taking pre-reqs at a community college (not where I'm going to nursing school, I'm going to an accredited regional public university.)

I'll be working extra hours this summer to save up money so I can cut back while I'm in school (my wife has a good job in IT) but I have some concerns about whether I'm prepared for nursing school. The program I'll be in has a reputation for being easier to get into but harder to get through than others in the area. (NCLEX-RN pass rates are high, comparable to the programs with more competitive admissions.)

A&P - I got a B+ in AP1 and a C+ in AP2. I felt like relative to the other students I was solid, better than many, but don't feel confident that I've really mastered it to the level I think might be necessary to get through nursing school and do well. Math - I used an A in an elementary calculus class from 25 years ago to fulfill my math pre-req. I haven't taken any math since then. I thought the math on the NLN-PAX was super easy, but don't know what level of math skills I'll need to succeed in nursing school.

Should I do any review of chemistry and/or microbiology? I don't really have a background in either (I took gen chem I in college years ago, and did poorly). What else, pathophysiology, pharmacology? What else is important?

If I allocate 10-15 hours per week this summer to prepping for nursing school, is that likely to be enough, and how should I break it down in terms of what I study? I not only want to get my RN but do my best to get a 4.0.

FYI - because of my previous college work, I probably won't have to take anything except nursing courses (36 hours over 4 semesters.) I might have to take a communications class (prob take Summer of 2018 if I do) because my original university recorded it on my transcript as a course in German film when it was really small group communications. I'm going to try to get that fixed.

[Simplistic]

In my honest opinion, you should NOT be studying ahead. Use your free time to relax, spend time with friends and family and doing what you love.

[FutureNurseInfo]

I guess you can brush up on math and chem. However, pharm and pahto should be the core courses in your ADN program anyways. In math I would say you should know basic fractions, decimals, conversion factors and measurements and know how to convert from one to another. For example, ounces to mL, etc.