Starting LPN Program in August

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I start nursing school in August, I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I am not a big reader and I know that its a lot of heavy reading. Anybody would like to share some study techniques/advice that may help me during school. Thanks

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

The best advice I can give you is stick with one resource. If the teacher pulls mostly form one Author, stick with that. When I was in nursing school, I completely overloaded myself with material. At times, it just wouldn't stick. Learn to concentrate on major topics. Don't put too much effort into memorizing EVERYTHING, because not one person on this planet can do that. And most importantly, don't beat yourself up if you fail tests. Move on from that because there will be chances to make it up. :) Happy schooling.

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the best thing i did in lpn school was get in a study group. one other student and i studied every night, to the point that on tests we even missed the same question. if it weren't for the fact that in the classroom we sat on different sides of the room, the instructors would swear we copied off of each other.

repitition is the key. use flash cards. they are a pain to make but are so helpful. good luck and keep us posted.

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If they allow you to tape the lectures, do it. You can listen to them in the car while traveling to and from school. If they don't allow you to tape, tape yourself reading your notes and listen to that. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

Congrats to you! I'll finish my LPN program in August (Lord willing). My advice is to know your stuff inside and out when you sit down to take one of those tests. They are multiple choice (in most programs to mimic N-CLEX) but they are hard. Really focus on anatomy. You'll have it almost all over again when you get to Med/Surg. Do your best always. Instructors are tough. I think most will cut you at least some slack if they know you're trying.

Finally, watch TV, spend time with your family, go out on the weekend, and have as much fun as possible before you start. Your life will be consumed by school if you do it right. The only reason I'm on here now is we are on break ;)

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Definitely make sure you have enough time to dedicate to the cause. I hate reading so much at one time too (1/2 way through my program); this last test I decided I would kinda wing it b/c my grade was high enough to do it, & I read 1/2 the chapter, skimmed the other 1/2; I passed, but it was my lowest grade for our MedSurg 1 course. (that happened today BTW) My advice is to try & find some time away from it, but when you hit it, dedicate yourself to doing it ALL THE WAY!! Also, try to find out if they will tell you your learning style (Visual, Auditory, Tactile..) or you may know, but if not, I'd try to find a test to take before you start, so you know your learning style. Know what you are studying meaning: if there is a guide to what the test will cover, read over it first, answer the questions, then read the material. If you have questions about what something means, try using other resources to find the answer yourself (sorry, Mawnka). Resources are a HUGE part of nursing, & nothing will ever be in one place = if you have to pay for a book, chances are you will use one more than the others for a course, but you bought the others for a reason. Get familiar with the program (if you have a schedule of what when be covered, order & when) and skim through it, so you know where things are located. I hope this helps you. Good luck to you.

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1)Read the chapters before you go to the lecture 2) Attend all the lectures 3) Review the chapter after the lecture and underline important information 4) skim the chapter again before the exam 5) ask questions about anything that is not clear to you 6) do the practice questions that you have access to either in the workbook that comes with the text book or the disk etc.

Good Luck!

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Thanks guys so much for the advice, I really do appreciate it :)

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Specializes in Surgical Floor, Pain management.

My friends and I had a sort of pact when we started our LPN program - "No Nurse Left Behind".... When one of us started to slack off or struggle, the others helped get her back on track. Find some study buddies and attack the program like your life depends on it. When you've waited as many tables as I had when I finally went back to school, failure was not an option. :) Good luck on staying motivated! Try to enjoy it, school will be over before you know it.

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I am about to graduate in september (yeeeaaahhhw). I've never been a fan of studying, i just pay super close attention in all of my lectures and I can retain almost all of the information given, I look over any concepts I may be having trouble with a couple of times before my tests, I find that writing things repeatedly helps me beat them into my brain (i.e.-lab values, meds, etc.). Some of the girls in my class insist on making note cards that are small and convenient to carry with them (like in their purse), you can take the note cards out and have a quick review whenever you have a spare moment during a busy day(like if you're standing in line waiting at the bank or the store), and it seems to help a lot of people. Before we actually started our classes, we had a 6-hour orientation-type thing, during which they gave us a whole packet full of suggestions for studying, it was helpful. I think the best thing you can do is to try different study techniques and find which one is the best fit for you.. And try not to stress out! Best wishes to you!!!

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I am starting my LPN classes and clinicals this fall and I am so nervous! Can anyone tell me what to expect my first quarter of classes?

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First of all if there was a selection procedure to get into your program, Congratulations !! I was extremely nervous myself when I started. I'm not sure if your program is structured the way mine was, but most likely you'll have a day orientation to the facility & program as well as picking up your books. You may be given a schedule for the month/quarter or semester so you will know what material will need to be covered. My school has monthly contracts where we are responsible to have tested on certain information by each month end. Then, you will most likely go into basics: Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology and Nursing Concepts (that's what it's called in OKLA). Concepts is basically introducing you to the world of nursing, how certain things are constructed, laws & ethics, growth & development (psychosocially), etc. You may go into Foundations of Nursing (again, course in OKLA) = this is where most of the labs were located for me. We would read about a certain body system & the nursing care involved pertaining to that skill. For example, catheterization, assessment, suctioning, inserting NG tube & tube feedings, venipucture (blood draw).... Later came pharmacology & IVs followed by Medical-Surgical Nursing. MedSurg is a detailed course on nursing care for each body system & specific care geared to diseases that occur in those systems. Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Newborn Care, and Mental Health all follow. Most likely at the end, there will be a transition course to prepare you for the NCLEX exam and getting a job. Sorry, I went a little further than the 1st quarter, but I hope it helps. If you have any more questions after your orientation (if you have one) ask your instructor for an overview of the curriculum you will cover in the program. This will allow you to know what's coming, and possibly "get ahead". Again, I hope this helps and eases a bit of anxiety :)

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