So excited to start nursing school! How to prepare this summer?

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Hello all!

This is my first time posting on here, but I've been poking around the forums for about a year now.

So I will be starting my BSN program in August and I absolutely cannot wait! I did extremely well in my pre-reqs and feel that I have a very strong grasp on my A&P. My uniforms just came in and finally got all of my textbooks.

I am one of those types of people who loves school and studying. I always try to get a head start during the summer, mostly because I am excited to be able to learn so much. I'll be taking Foundations of Nursing/Roy Theory + Skills Lab, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology I, and of course clinical later in the semester. I already have all of my books and have been skimming through them. However, I am worried about not being prepared to answer the NCLEX style questions. I'm not sure how to prepare ahead time for these if I don't know the content yet.

Any suggestions/tips are appreciated! Not just about the NCLEX style questions, but just what to study now for these classes while I have the time in the summer. I want to be as prepared as I can possibly be!

I also should mention that I've been volunteering at two hospitals for the past few months, as well.

Thank you!

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Just relax :) You will thank yourself later that you did.

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My advice...enjoy your summer!

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Getting a head start on learning some dosage calculation and dimensional analysis will help you.

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I wouldn't recommend studying too far ahead/reading too much into it, you won't have the context and you might end up spinning your wheels.

Enjoy your time off. Take care of your health (get your eyes checked, teeth cleaned, anything else you need to do). Learn how to pre-cook healthy meals and get into a good exercise routine. It'll be here soon enough.

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Listen to the other posts and enjoy your summer while you can. If you feel you need to get a head start on reading, maybe post a separate question including the school you're attending and ask if anyone has a recent syllabus.

I'll be taking 2 nursing courses this fall and working full time and was able to get the reading list for at least one class so I can get a head start on some of the material. Sometimes, you may be able to email your instructor and they can tell you at least what you'll be starting on if they cant tell you all of the details

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Hi there! I totally disagree with just sitting around especially if you are highly motivated like me. Here is a link to what I have suggested to other students who what to be ahead of the game. https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/what-to-know-1106099.html

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions!

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Don't make nursing school your whole life...find the balance between work and play. You don't need to sacrifice all your free time in nursing school. I like studying too. Maybe you can double major in biology and nursing like I did. Really though there's not much to do to prepare but get your supplies, get some experience and talk to nurses, practice NCLEX questions, have a good A&P foundation...sounds like you have all those except maybe the NCLEX but for that get a used book on amazon or free app. If you know you are weak in an area, like say math, go over nursing things for that area, like drug calculations. You said you're strong in A&P so study whatever is your weakness. Maybe you aren't too familiar with drugs, then go over commonly used hospital drugs such as anticoagulants, antibiotics, analgesics, etc.

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Purchase a good NCLEX review book like Saunders. Read over the fundamentals sections throughout your summer when you have time. Even though you might not totally grasp the content, when the professor goes over lectures in class you will at least be familiar with the topic.

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I agree that the OP should relax and have fun before nursing school starts. However, if the OP wants to do some prep, I recommend self-study on medical terminology. That course helped me so much in my BSN and MSN program. You can buy "The Language of Medicine" by Davi Ellen Chabner, which is a self-study book. I thought it was a lot of fun. You can get an older edition cheap on Amazon. I used the 8th edi (they're up to 11 now). Good luck!

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Purchase a good NCLEX review book like Saunders. Read over the fundamentals sections throughout your summer when you have time. Even though you might not totally grasp the content, when the professor goes over lectures in class you will at least be familiar with the topic.

I have the Saunders book, and as a first semester ABSN student, I have to say it's a great tool! It wasn't super relevant until about halfway through this semester, but I use it as a supplement to my instructors ppt's. It's condensed into what you need to know, and the practice questions in the back of the sections have really prepared me for those NCLEX style questions. Even if you don't fully understand all of the information in the chapters yet (chances are you won't), it's still extremely helpful.

I find my Saunders book especially helpful in subjects where my professor just doesn't teach/blasts through the ppt and tells us to "read the book", or when the teacher isn't the best at creating ppt's.

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Specializes in SRNA.

I start my ABSN program in 38 days and I'm doing no form of studying. I'm working, spending time with friends, blowing off steam here and there in the gym.

I will be doing as much studying once I start and refuse to make nursing school my entire life haha.

Just relax and take some personal time off (:

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