dmax32284

Strong knowledge of A&P is a must IMO, especially F/E, acid/base, cardiac, and renal. People that barely got by in A&P struggle in nursing school. I think chemistry is also important personally, although it wasn't required as a pre-requisite at my school. If you aren't already, go work in a hospital as a CNA, its painfully obvious who has experience in an acute setting and who doesn't.

Best thing you can do IMO is to seek out opportunities every chance you get. Personally, I let my instructors know what I want to do, as well as nurses on the floor. I also prep well, have my crap together, and don't take forever going through my assessments/medications/etc like some of the other students in my rotations. This gives me time to follow nurses, observe more, and practice skills. ***If you are allowed*** to do things other than work with your patient, make friends with wound nurse/IV team/etc and let them know you would like opportunities to practice skills if possible. Know your stuff. Be confident that you know your stuff and that you can perform the skill. Patients won't worry about you if you aren't acting like you don't know what you are doing or you are nervous. If you are in a clinic environment that doesn't allow those things, or a have an instructor that doesn't and/or plays favorites, then impress them. If they aren't confident in your ability they aren't going to give you opportunities. (I'm not an instructor so this is obviously just opinion) Lastly, if you are able to work and handle school, try to get on a unit that may allow you to practice some of these skills. This will likely be somewhere other than an impatient floor - think ER, CV lab, pre-op, dialysis.