911brat

I agree to the monitor tech as well. It's a quick course, great pay and experience with patients, staff and the medical field. It's also possible to do many of these options; 6 week course (EKG); 6 month EMT course. Then you would have multiple certs. Also, I would start with CPR/AED for Healthcare Providers and First Aid certificates. Have fun

yeah, one would think nurses' assistant would be the typical route, but I have done both, and I chose EMT; for past 15 yrs. The EMS field is awesome! I warn you though, it gets in your blood, heart & soul. The patient care, on scene's, the adrenalin, helping others at there worst times, along with crazy long hours, eat when you can and physically demanding. As well as emotional and psychological, can you deal with traumatic injuries, mci's, death on a daily, hourly basis? A lot depends on your location city vs rural, your population on how busy the ems/911 system is in your city. Mine averages (600-800) 911 calls in 24 shift. No posting on corners, or hanging at stations, for us. So that's my thoughts and opinion. I know nurse assist., is just as awesome just with different duties/experience. Have fun deciding and learning.

Mrsgoodgame., I love hearin all the positive things about the program, as you and Christine have said it's very hard, in depth, fast and have to give it your all, but so worth it! I'm so excited to start this Monday! I'm nervous as well just because it's been ALONG time since school for me :) and have been wanting to do this for years. I'm even wondering what to expect for my first day!? Lol.,Thank you ladies for your encouragement and words of wisdom! Your school experience advise is so helpful n greatly appreciated!

OK mines [email protected] 7 more days!!!! haha

Yeah I know, I sent a private message with my email etc., But Apparently I sent it to myself hahaha. So I'm not sure if you got it? Do you live in Modesto, Merced?

Well that was smart to get supplies then! Duh for me haha :) let's keep in touch, study etc

I'm using my phone to post, so I appologize for any errors or spelling- darn thing keeps jumping ahead on me and won't let me back space or correct :)

Oh right on, I've had pts there. I wk for ambulance co., farther south. So ya quit ya job, nice! I'd like to do that too :) between commute, study & life, mines jobs going to be difficult to do. We get our books the first day probly along with a boat load of hw & reading. Haha!! Yeah! Im going shopping for supplies tommoro and heard recording lectures is a great way to study, so I'm going check one those out. Curious to how big of a back pack, book bag etc were going to need besides using our vehicles for a locker. Lol

Yeah that's true! I bought the a&p book we will be using in class on line, but. Been so busy working haven't had much time to get very far in the book what made you decide on the lvn program? Are you in the medical field?

Hi, Im starting my program this month so I can't comment on which coorifice is the hardest, but I'm opposite of you! I'm nervous about pharm., & a&p but not vitals & assessments. I have yrs of experience in ems tho.. Anyways, vitals aren't hard at all! The best is to practise on your family,friends and students. The more bp's ya take the more comfortable you'll feel, respiratory & heart rate is just counting # per minute, or seconds & multiply. You'll be able to do 'em in your sleep :). (A hint tho I've seen happen in the field) When doing a manual bp there is No odd numbers for a blood pressure, always even #'s. Just practise, you'll do great!!

Sanisbltz, Hey there, I'm going there too, but I'm in the evening class. Are ya ready for all the hw & studying :) Im excited to start and a little nervous. I hear it's alot of work but well worth it! There's good info/help here on this site from students/nurses! Well the count down begins...10 days to go! haha

Nurselovejoy88, good luck you can do it! Your almost done!!! I'm just getten ready to start the 17th! Yikes! :) best wishes!

Hey raven, Ive yet to no how you feel, I start mid October and Its going to be extremely hard! The amount of reading, h/w, skills, clinical, etc I hear are overwhelming! But, you really want to be a nurse so do whatever it takes to make that happen! You know studying is key along with some down time. I have found a lot of useful posts on this site with study skills, test taking, references and textbooks. As well as helpful students and nurses. I hope you continue your education and would like to hear your progress! Oh how bout a study buddy or group from your class? Hang in there :)

That's awsome! I'm sure you'll do great! I start a crash course of prereqs in 3 wks and program in January! So excited and researching as much as possible about nursing process etc.. Would like to go into class knowing some vital info besides EMS! Improvise adapt & overcome! You know!! :)

Exciting career! I did volunteer FF/EMT for years and now a full time EMT with ambulance. I work 48-60 hrs a week, 3-4 on with 3-4 off! I've been advised that while in an excelled program (LVN private school) it would be very hard to have enough study time with little home/family/personal time! I guess it all depends on the city your in and the ems call volume, were I work there is NO down time for sleep/study, we run the whole 12 or 24 hour shift! When my program starts Monday thru Friday I would only be able to work weekends and when would I study? Huge dilemma for me! But nursing is my goal therefor, I'll have to sacrifice somewere! Like iv been told.. It all sounds and looks good on Paper, a well planned out schedule of classes, work schedule, study schedule all back to back, but doing it all in time frames without thoughts of unplanned events, illness, life...will eventually take it's toll! Only you know how much you can handle with dual careers/educations. Also, trained as an EMT/Firefighter is so different than nursing, I now have to Learn how to treat the whole patient and recovery etc., vs acute illness/injury with my patient for max of half hour to an hour. Both fields are similiar but so different :) wish you luck in both fields and want to hear your outcome!

Awsome info! Thanks! I have read almost all the posts throughout this whole site, and it seems all the experienced students say it's almost impossible to read all the chapters for each class! When I start I'm sure I'll say the same lol! I wonder why the instructors would assign so many knowing that Reading all of them is unlikely going to happen? I'm hoping to have a study system and routine in place, if not I no I'll feel dissorganized, caotic and learning will be stressful for me! And I'll waste time trying to reorganized my material and thoughts! Like now, I've started notes and flash cards for a&p, and wonder if I need both or wasting time doing both( repetitive writing does help tho) but I don't want to loose to much time on each chapter! Trial n error for the first few weeks I guess until I find my groove haha =}. Writing a schedule, plan and calendar would deem helpful I suppose. Any thoughts ?

HeiseC, I want to try recording lectures, do they pick up background noise or other students talking? Can you recommend a good recorder? I do the same study skills as you like writing notes etc.,a few times, making funny/odd sayings for memorizing skills, terms, etc, makes it fun! Thanks so much Geneva007, Your blogs are excellent. your compassion for life, nursing and a mom touched my heart! Thank you very much!

Right on!! blogs, study tips web sites! And my iPhone battery keeps dieing haha!! I can't stop researching all this awsome info! =}

Sugarmagnolia- Aww nice! thank you I will look it up and buy it today if there is one for fairly good price =} I can try to find out which book my program uses as well but I'm sure the more books the better! I hear there's 3 different ways to calculate/convert and finding the one that works easiest is best.

Christine, you make Calculations look sooo easy! I Dont have books yet, (Except A&P) so I'm teaching myself from web sites and it's alittle frustrating but exciting when I get an answer correct (math is not my strong subject!) I found "unit conversion" ie., mcg->mg->g->kg = •/• by 1,000 ..and X for the opposite.?? Does that look correct? I probably sound funny LOL.. but all this is so new to me and I want to learn asap! So thank you =}

All this has helped so much, thanks! Since I haven't started yet (in 3 wks), I can start with new study techniques and focus on the main ideas! Also, does highlighting & writing in your books help or hinder your reading/studying? Ive done that before and by the end of class my book was darn near all yellow and written in haha!! ( it did help in a way to be able to grab my book and focus on what I felt was important. I also write all notes on paper or index cards, and still trying to decide which I prefer for studying because I can only write so much info on a card! So, thinking cards would be good for terminology, mneumonics and pharm., I think once I get through a few months of my program I will find my nitch and what works best but until then Id hate to waste time writting too too much! :) as you can see I'm very excited and wound up tighter than a clock to learn hehehe!! So thanks everyone for the great tips, I've started a note book on study skills, tips, web sites, books and iph., app's oh and coffee! Tootles..=}

Hey there, would you kindly share the apps you find helpful? :) Im starting LVN program in 3 wks and until I receive my laptop my phone is my research lol! I would appreciate any sites, apps & tips on starting my new education! So excited but nervous!

Well I'm curious as well to see some study tips, I too read & disect the chapter and it takes forever! When I get to the summary my notes are pretty much the same..lol but writing helps me to retain the info but not enough. When I do "study & review" questions I don't remember all the answers.. Grrrr!!! Frustrating :/ I start school in October so I've been trying get jump start atleast on 1 book! Good luck to you and hope some tips & techniques are added :)

Oh ok, we have cc Delta here in Stockton Ca.

Oh my goodness! Ridiculous! If hair is presentable, clean and professional the color should not matter ie.., brn bln blk red as well as high/low lights! I've never heard of that and no plenty of students with various colors! Good luck n hopefully you can keep the color you prefer! Keep us posted!