Should I prepare or just wait????

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I'm starting PN school in Nov and I'm thinking that I should start reviewing something. I'm a business person moving over to nursing so this is and will be all new to me. I want to ask current students and off course people who have already been through the program...should I start to prepare or just wait? From your experience do any of you wish you would have started learning something or would some of you do nothing different? Any info will be great.

Also, I'm a single parent (1 year, 9, & 11) are there any single parents that went through the PN program facing the same challenges I may face. If so, what did you do to get through and how did you manage? I don't have any family where I live just me and my three kids. I'm scared because my one year old and very attached to me and I'm thinking when it will be time for me to study and do homework he will have other plans for me. Any time management ideas will be great. Thank you all in advance.:bow:

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi and welcome!

Nursing school is definitely something that has an impact on the entire family but it is only temporary and hopefully your lives will be better when its over. Have you gotten in the swing of school by doing pre-reqs? I would find out what NCLEX book your school uses and get one mostly to review the test taking strategies. Good luck.

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Pre-reqs are done w/in the program. I was a student about 5 years ago so this will be kinda new b/c it has been awhile but yet still familiar.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would read things, but not go too crazy. November will be here before you can blink and eye, and you will be up to the tips of your hair in books, papers and a disorganized home. As Jules A stated, get a comprehensive review of NCLEX PN, and review medications, and a few things. Those books have things written up as summaries of the main points.

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Specializes in Nursing home, private care.

I was just like you! I was so anxious to get started that I couldn't hardly stand it. I would also suggest reading, but not stressing about too many details as there will be time for that during the program.

One thing I have learned is when I have nothing to do, (which is rare right not!) it's good to read anything with nursing "lingo" in it. My major issue is learning to document, and speak the medically correct term instead of layman's terms.

The more you expose yourself to the nursing world the easier it will be to adjust! Good luck!

:icon_hug: I'm sending you "nursing" hugs!

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As you have probably heard, there is large volume of reading in the practical nursing program. Being totally new to the healthcare field and many years out of school, I found it helpful to order my textbooks in advance. Even if you only review a couple of the first semester classes, you'll be farther ahead come lecture time and better able to ask questions during claas time. Another advantage was that I saved a couple of hundred dollars by ordering my books online versus waiting to purchase at the campus bookstore. Just make sure you get the appropriate ISBN's from your school to ensure you get the correct textbooks

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SA Girl..... thanks for asking this question. I am also not entering nursing with previous health care experience so much of this will be new to me. I did do a lot of research first though, and spoke to (and even shadowed) a couple of nurses who worked in ICU while my father-in-law was hospitalized for 3 months, so I think I have a good idea that nursing is a good fit for me. I just sometimes wonder if I shouldn't be doing more to prepare....you know?

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I thought I was the only one. I feel like I should be doing something to prepare, but don't know exactly what b/c I don't know what to expect. Its crazy. I guess I'm just anxious and ready to get started. Glad to hear I'm not alone.

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Get your rest, take the kids for their appointments, the car for servicing, the dog to the vet. Get your hair done. Cook and freeze stuff.

Rest and enjoy your freedom while you have it.

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Get your rest, take the kids for their appointments, the car for servicing, the dog to the vet. Get your hair done. Cook and freeze stuff.

Rest and enjoy your freedom while you have it.

lol... wow, that says a lot.

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Just the facts. Once school starts fitting in all of that is hard! You are competing with all the other working Mums for those afterschool and weekend appointments.

I learnt those tips the hard way. Learn from an old bag....

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Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

I would suggest, start memorizing your math conversions, learning the systems, bones & muscles of the body. A little nursing history, will come in handy.

This stuff will come at you hard and fast, and any heads up that you can have before hand will mean less you have to learn while caring for your little ones....

Good luck to you.

JQ

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