Starting my LPN program in September!

sanchezlpn · Dec 8, 2011

Good luck! You can do this. I graduated this year and have landed a great job on top of it. What to do to prepare, well, where are your weaknesses? Like are you not so good at english, math, etc., because normally you will have to take a pre-exam to get in. After this, alot of studying, note taking and if you are not good at note taking, start preparing now. Where I went we could not use recorders, so I had to get used to active listening and note taking all the time. Read, read and re-read your stuff if you are not sure of something, listen carefully and DO ask questions! Don't be afraid of asking anything! Even if it sounds crazy, its not! Learn learn and learn as many medications as you can! Good luck!

nursing gal

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Dec 30, 2011

i am waiting to get into the program right now, so i am not all too experienced on giving advice or tips to prepare, but i did want to stop by and wish you the best of luck and that you succeed in all you work towards! :)

dallende3 · Jan 2, 2012

I also start In 2012, im excited, nervous and scared. Im currently a chha and a medication aide. One of the teachers had told me sometimes old classmates sell their book and every year is different because of the editions and some use the old or newer editions. Did you do your financial aide yet? (tperrix3)

Glenna, LPN · Jan 2, 2012

If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about your other classmates having prior experience. You guys aren't competing against each other. Matter of a fact I would take advantage of their experience and learn from it. There are always two sides to every story. You learn textbook and from your classmates you will learn real world. In my LPN program I had many classmates who had no experience and were able to learn and do just fine in the program and I have full faith you will do an awesome job.

Since you don't know where you will be starting off while in your nursing program I'd start by buying yourself a really good NCLEX-PN book (pearson, saundars, kaplan ect) and start reading and answering practice questions while on study mode that way you get rationals. When you take tests in your program they will be NCLEX style questions which help you prepare for when you actually take your NCLEX when you finish your program. When you play with answering questions I wouldn't worry too much about how many you get right or wrong, just learn from your mistakes. Make sure in the NCLEX book that you buy you read the sections that tell you how to answer questions and what to look for. I hope that makes sense. Good luck!

LJB1015 · Mar 12, 2012

I start the OCVTS program in September as well. I don’t have any experience in healthcare, at all. I was very concerned because when I went to the entrance exam, they asked who had experience in the field, and it seemed like I was the only one in the room without my hand raised. Did you go to your interview already? When I went to the interview in January the instructor who interviewed me said not to worry about not having experience. She said they assume you don’t have any skills and that’s how they teach you, and that no one gets special treatment. So don’t worry about the experience thing.

My sister in law graduated from the program a few years ago and she told me if I have the time now to start memorizing some A&P like the bones, muscles, organs, ect. She said if you can memorize the major things now, it’s easier to focus on the details in class. She said also get a Math for Meds/Pharmacology book and start practicing now. I’m actually going to Barnes & Nobles today to see what I can find. Best of luck to you! =]

mermcm83 · Mar 16, 2012

I have 4 more weeks left, and all I can say is read read read, and read to understand! Nursing is primarily about interventions, and what would you do for this patient...it was tough, but it was doable. God bless, you will do great, we need some new positive loving nurses out here.

Sheryl18 · Mar 17, 2012

I went in with zero experience, I had worked in a library, lol. I ended up graduating top in the class, you will learn everything you need in school. You could possibly start watching you tube videos of bed baths, handwashing, transfers any type of CNA videos you can watch. I went in blind not knowing anything, so if you have somewhat of an idea of things you'll be doing that will help, those are skills that you will learn in fundamentals and you will be doing them in clinical right off the bat. You could start reading a bit on A&P like the others suggested. Just don't get too caught up in trying to learn everything now and putting so much pressure on yourself, once school starts you will be under alot of pressure, so try to enjoy yourself now and take it slow.

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Mar 18, 2012

[color=#2f4f4f]i know how you feel! most people in my class have experience as a cna, emt, pharm tech, etc, etc. that really worried me, because i have no experience at all! i've never worked in a doctor's office, and most of the people in my class have worked in one and are currently working somewhere in the healthcare field. i was terrified for clinical to start, but the further you get into the program, you'll feel more confident in yourself. the other student's in your class may have experience in certain fields, but as my instructor told me, nursing is a whole new ball game and that some of us may be more knowledgeable than others right now, but come next semester we will all be lost! lol, so don't worry about those that are experienced. i let it bother me for quite a few weeks into my program, but then i learned to focus on myself and my grades! you eventually learn to block those worries out. i was good to go by week 5! congratulations and best of luck to you! :)

tperrix · Apr 4, 2012

Thank you all so so much for your responses! I love the support everyone gives on this site

(I had to change my username from tperix3. for somereason it wouldnt let me log in)

I will prepare with all of your advice, you guys are great. Im so excited to get going with school and talking with all of you during my whole process

dallende3 I didn't file for financial aide yet, im waiting on taxes to come back. Who did you interview with? I know there are two classes that will be going on at the same time, but i'd love to talk with you before and during school!

tperrix · Apr 4, 2012

LJB1015 Who did you interview with? I interviewed back in February, I think with Mrs. Wilson? ahh, I forget already! I was so nervous for my interview, I can barely remember it.

I would love to talk to you about your preparations for school and see if maybe we are in class together. I have no medical experience either, but I am so excited to start. (nervous too!)