starting nursing classes in february! :) need some answers

Published

Hi,

I'm starting my first nursing classes on February 1st. I'm super super excited. I'm taking Nursing Fundamentals with skills lab and Pharmacology. I was just wondering if any of you had any tips to prepare for the class. I ordered my books and they should be here at the end of this week/beginning of next week. I already scheduled a study group with the same people I study with now. Should I read ahead? I ordered an NCLEX book because it was required for the class, but should I order the Saunders one? I heard that's a really good one. Thanks for your time! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hi jtrini!

i just finished fundamentals and did very well...havent done pharmacology yet...but ill tell u what helped me tremendously...a book called fundamentals success...please get yourself a copy....i found it MORE useful than my nclex book...i think my nclex book will come more in handy when i take specialty courses like maternity, psych etc.....good luck keep us posted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the previous poster. I just finished Fundamentals and Pharmacology last semester and found Fundamentals Success and Pharmacology Success to be helpful. My NCLEX book has been more helpful this semester with Med-Surg.

If your school doesn't require it, I also recommend the Davis Drug Guide for Pharm. And it would not be a bad idea to pick up a Nursing Diagnosis handbook or care plan book. You will likely need those before the end of Fundamentals.

Definitely read ahead. The volume of reading in nursing is substantial. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just bought myself Saunders! So far I really like it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks for such helpful replies! :)

i looked up fundamentals success and pharmacology success and i'm gonna try and pick both of them up before my term starts. i'll definitely read ahead then too. I think my school made us order and NCLEX because we do HESI exams at the end of every term. I'll probably pick up the Saunders NCLEX before I start med-surg.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm starting February 1st, also..I bet your at Golden West! I am also registered for Pharm and really excited and nervous. No advice for you as I need tons myself. Good luck and happy studying!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

dylansmom,

I'm actually at west coast univ. :) i'm very excited too. Good luck and I hope you're successful as well!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hey jtrinidad86..

I'm taking fundamentals and pharm also at west coast university in the LA campus. Is there any tips you suggest in passing the HESI. I will be taking it in 3 weeks!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hey girl86,

um lol, well they're preparing us at ontario with lots of practice nclex questions. they said spend lots of time on the evolve and ati sites too. I'm taking mine in three weeks too so I'm pretty much in the same boat. I think lots of studying and practicing how to take those kinds of tests because they're trying to mirror the nclex exam to get us prepared for it. i just really hate the rule that you have to pass it with 76 or you repeat the class because you could totally pass it but get below a 76% because the questions are weighted like the nclex (knowledge Qs being worth the least and application and analysis questions being worth the most). I don't think this helped lol because well I've never taken the HESI but this is what I've been doing the past 5 weeks.

It's been a crazy five weeks though, studying for every class plus studying for the HESI and then our med math test is this coming week. Hope things are going well at the LA campus!! =D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

..since we are the first BSN students this campus is not organized at all..... I feel like i'm not prepare at all. For our first exam more than 50% of the class failed... and the second exam i'm not sure how the class did but we will find out this week... I worked on the HESI and ATI crazy..But my scores are around 60 - 70%.. this scares me...i heard a lot of people failed the hesi at your school last term..Is that true?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

my campus is completely disorganized as well, and it's because we are the first group, well I'm in the second group. Yes, it's true many people had to repeat the fund and pharm again, but I don't know what went on. I'm not in that group. All we were told was that the people who passed and went on to med-surg and phys. assessment spent about 7 hours avg on hesi and ati and that the practiced over and over. That's all I know. I can't say and won't say because I'm not a part of that first group so I don't want to say something that isn't true. What I said before was all my group was told.

As for the tests, have you done a test taking tutorial? Those are very helpful. I studied one and it helped me alot. I got an 84 on my first pharm midterm and an 86 on my fund midterm. For me, I studied the assigned chapters, but I practiced NCLEX questions. My scores on HESI and ATI are low right now too, but just taking the test helped me with the midterms. I don't know. I wouldn't worry about what happened at my school, I don't think about it because it has nothing do with me. I mean just keep practicing and studying. I think it will get better. For the first pharm midterm, only about 6 people passed it, and we had our second one this week and everyone did MUCH MUCH better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did the test tutorials and it really helped.. i got a 96 on my pharm midterm and a 86 for my funds midterm only because the teacher curved it. Do you mean they spent 7 hours a day on hesi and ati? For the assigned chapters, i studied the NCLEX questions but they seem a little bit easy....also i purchased the HESI book which is really helpful. But when it comes down to taking the practice exams my scores are low.ahhh this next few weeks will be soo stressful.....I don't mind retake the class if it helps me learn. But i just don't want to pay $9,000!!!!Did you purchase the Saunders book? Is that helpful? Thanks so much for the info.. this really helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion