I'm starting NP school in September at MGH (Boston). Does anyone have advice on what to do to prepare for the next six months? Books to read, stuff to get, things to do? I've not had much luck at getting CNA training in time to be useful, but I volunteer in the ED at the Brigham and Women's hospital for some exposure.
I'm feeling dangerously unprepared even to begin school-any advice you might have would be awesome.
Specializes in Pediatric Neurosugery and Neurology.
I agree with everyone who says enjoy the time. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started my BSN or MSN program.
Personally for me, I wish I would have taken a review course before my clinicals started for the NP program. I had worked as an RN for about a 2 years, but personally I think it would have helped out a lot.
How excited you must be! I know in all probability relaxing and taking time with your family and friends isn't likely going to happen. I suggest getting a handle on physical assessment is a safe starting point. A book like Bates is an excellent choice. Being able to perform a head to toe assessment is going to be critical and that skill that takes time to develop. Bates has an assessment and history taking book I think around $30. But be careful...don't spend too much money on books before starting your program...these can get pretty expensive. Possibly locate the current book list from the school and see if there is a physical assessment book recommendation.
If you can get a position in the ER or hospital that would be advantageous so you better understand the patient flow, processes and have some credibility when you graduate.
I'm entering a direct entry accelerated MSN program that includes a RN. Over the next three+ years or so I will get an RN and then an MSN for Family NP.
Before even beginning anything, I'm looking to get started. Books to read, equipment to purchase and practice with, stuff like that.
Wow, 3 years from nothing to RN and FNP? You might want to start by learning vital signs, like how to check a pulse and blood pressure and what not. To tell you the truth, I really wouldn't know where to start. That just blows me away how they can take someone without any experience as a RN and expect someone to operate at an APRN (advance practice registered nurse) level in 3 years time. Is that right, or am I misreading something?
I donno. We'll see what happens. Why don't you ask on the advance practice message boards, the professional associations, the hundreds of schools seeking out direct entry students, as well as all the existing NPs and PAs. But, I appreciate your sarcasm and complete lack of help in furthering the thread. In addition to that, I share some of your implied concern.
I donno. We'll see what happens. Why don't you ask on the advance practice message boards, the professional associations, the hundreds of schools seeking out direct entry students, as well as all the existing NPs and PAs. But, I appreciate your sarcasm and complete lack of help in furthering the thread. In addition to that, I share some of your implied concern.
Actually I was not trying to be sarcastic, just realistic. After 20 years of being in the health care field and being so close to graduation myself, it bothers me related to how much I have not been exposed, have not seen and how I rely on those years of experience to get me through my days. To conceptualize going from baseline to a place where I would be responsible for the primary health care needs of people spanning the life cycle in three years makes my brain hurt. To that end, I would really have no clue how you would prepare.
I donno. We'll see what happens. Why don't you ask on the advance practice message boards, the professional associations, the hundreds of schools seeking out direct entry students, as well as all the existing NPs and PAs. But, I appreciate your sarcasm and complete lack of help in furthering the thread. In addition to that, I share some of your implied concern.
Also, if i was trying to be sarcastic, I would of had advised that you get a copy of Harrison's, 17th Edition and cover the first 2700 pages or so within the 392 chapters. Then when your done with that you could move on to some light reading for OB and Peds.
Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.
What I did, before entering my clinical portion of my BSN. Go to EMT basic school! You'll be a step-ahead of everybody who is not an RN/CNA and get a lot of useful skills w/o the redundant clinicals you are going to have to go thru in your quasi BSN year.
If you pass national EMT, any ER would be looking for you, even part-time! You'll be exposed to a lot of patients, RNs, MDs, etc and pick-up medical terminology/tests/physical exams, etc, worth more than your part-time salary.
Be careful using the word "dangerous." Everyone in your class is going to be nervous. The faculty will assume you haven't had a lick of exposure, that's the purpose of the qBSN portion. Hopefully, you'll have top-notch, supportive, empathetic faculty. Those who are willing to "go the extra mile" to ensure you are mostly prepared for graduate nursing education.
Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
I'd find a job working around CNAs, RNs, etc. Before I started NP school I had worked a year as an RN and continued to work while in school for the next almost 3 years. So by the time I graduated I had been an RN over 3 years... I can't imagine going direct entry... not that it is not possible.. it certainly is.. but the idea of going straight through in 3 years is a daunting thought to say the least...
If I were you... come to think of it.. I would relax for the next 6 months and enjoy your family. Talk to nurses, CNAs, RNs etc. There are books out there about what RNs in our country go through nowadays... Nursing Against the Odds, by Suzanne Gordon, Tending Lives, by Echo Heron, etc. As an NP you will also be a registered nurse. Learn about what it means to be a nurse
tuckers19
12 Posts
I agree with everyone who says enjoy the time. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started my BSN or MSN program.
Personally for me, I wish I would have taken a review course before my clinicals started for the NP program. I had worked as an RN for about a 2 years, but personally I think it would have helped out a lot.