Starting nursing school... Need advice!

Published

I am starting nursing school in the fall and I'm wondering if I should brush up on some A&P. It's been a few semesters since I took A&P 1&2. Any recommendations on what I should focus on?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric ICU.

I'm assuming that you'll be starting out in Fundamentals of Nursing, which in case you'll have a brief overview of A&P within it, and it's pretty basic information and concepts. With that being said in my BSN program, the last class we were required to take directly before starting fundamentals was pathophysiology. It had been 4 years since I had taken A&P and I too felt a little rusty and worried if I would be able to remember what I needed to when the time came. So I went to a book store and bought the book Pathophysiology Made Easy. I found it so helpful! It has basic A&P information related to each specific system, while also having the pathophysiology "made easy" for said systems. It helped me tremendously with my patho class, and then I continued to use it in my fundamentals class the following term in which it also helped me a great deal in that class as well with the things that I wasn't grasping for whatever reason. It's easy to understand, wasn't too expensive, and I found it helpful. I would also recommend buying at some point a book like "Med-Surg Success" (it's one that I bought and own and use. Invaluable, in my humble opinion, for a student RN), which is a book that helps you breakdown, dissect, and understand how to answer NCLEX style questions with rationales for correct and incorrect answers. NCLEX style questions are like no other questions you've seen in any other class up unto this point. They are very different than anything you've seen, and although you may not specifically need this book in fundamentals of nursing just yet, you will need it for your following terms/semesters, and the sooner you learn how to breakdown and answer these types of questions, the better off you'll be. Best of luck in your program!

P.S. As a side note/personal note, I would also recommend for now, making sure you relax, get rest and sleep and sleep in, and spend as much stress-less free time as you can with you family and whatever close friends you spend time with. Do that stuff now, and as excited as you are about starting your program, (believe me I know I was there and excited too and it was hard to get it off my mind) don't think so much about it. There will be plenty of time for school on your mind. Trust me! Hahaha. Enjoy your summer, and again, much luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just wanted to thank you for reminding us to relax and enjoy the summer. Too excited and feeling guilty that I am not doing anything actively for the nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for the advice! It really does help! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric ICU.

Also, I mentioned the book Med-Surg Success. A peer of mine mentioned to me that there is a book that precedes it called Fundamentals Success. I didn't know of it, though I didn't really need help in fundamentals, I think my previous experiences sort of helped me, but nevertheless she said that she got it and it helped her a ton. I helps with learning to switch your mind over to learning how to answer this new type of questioning that you guys will have. You might want to look into it. Anything that gives you the upper edge, right. Also remember, everything in nursing school builds off of each other, everything! It all plays a vital role. And your A&P's, pathophysiology, and Fundamentals of nursing, will literally be your foundation of nursing. So always keep that in your mind, and pay attention. The things you learn in fundamentals you'll take with you forever, and you will see certain basic concepts from it (ADPIE, Maslow's) on exams throughout nursing school and beyond.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Physiology: Review blood flow through the heart, respiratory system, endocrine, digestive system & neuro

Pathophysiology: heart failure, COPD, diabetes, Crohn's/Ulcerative colitis & stroke

You will be learning so much more in nursing school. However, if you have a strong grasp on the physiology of the above, you'll be ahead of the game (especially heart failure).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just wanted to let you all know I got med surg success (with CD) for only $4.99 on half.com! Wait for the good price!

While you wait you can look at a lot of what's in the book here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=-b7ZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&focus=viewport&vq=nurse&output=html_text

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCT, RN.

I was actually considering rereading my A&P books prior to starting this fall.

I asked a few of the current nursing students who have already begun the program and they said it was just mainly about knowing the basics of how the different body systems work and functions and it's less about knowing every little detail.

I imagine as long as you have a good grasp on how the body works as a whole and how the different systems work separately, you should be fine.

I'm still going to read over some before the summer is over, but it's good to know that it isn't imperative to know every little thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion