Suggestions please!

purplekath · Jun 21, 2005

Deb - good on you for being so enthusiastic! My first bit of advice is to do NOTHING while you have the free time...but if you're anything like I was, you're NOT going to listen to that cuz you're so excited. Right?

Sooooo....have you got your sphigmo and stethescope yet? When I first started nursing school I never had enough time to practice taking routine obs (esp blood pressures)...so why not read up on how to do it, and practice on anyone you can collar? Practice taking pulses on all the pulse points - you'd be surprised how tricky some of them can be (try the popliteal - that's roooly tricky!) Just get into the habit of really LOOKING at people -- observing their colour, how they "seem" to you etc. Sounds silly I know, but the more you can do this sort of stuff in your sleep, the more time you'll have for the book pounding when the time comes.

As for reading, just read anything nursing-wise that you are interested in and get the hang of the terminology. I guess it's all about making that transition in your mind - from "I wanna get into nursing school" to "I am nursing now"! I found that reading a lot of nursing stuff just for the fun of it was one way to start thinking like a nurse. One good place to start is with a "fundamentals of nursing" type book - if you know the one your school is going to have you get, so much the better. When you start, you'll appreciate being ahead in your reading, or just being able to read it a second time and understand it better.

Best of luck in your new career!

alexillytom · Jun 21, 2005

Deb - good on you for being so enthusiastic! My first bit of advice is to do NOTHING while you have the free time...but if you're anything like I was, you're NOT going to listen to that cuz you're so excited. Right?
Sooooo....have you got your sphigmo and stethescope yet? When I first started nursing school I never had enough time to practice taking routine obs (esp blood pressures)...so why not read up on how to do it, and practice on anyone you can collar? Practice taking pulses on all the pulse points - you'd be surprised how tricky some of them can be (try the popliteal - that's roooly tricky!) Just get into the habit of really LOOKING at people -- observing their colour, how they "seem" to you etc. Sounds silly I know, but the more you can do this sort of stuff in your sleep, the more time you'll have for the book pounding when the time comes.
As for reading, just read anything nursing-wise that you are interested in and get the hang of the terminology. I guess it's all about making that transition in your mind - from "I wanna get into nursing school" to "I am nursing now"! I found that reading a lot of nursing stuff just for the fun of it was one way to start thinking like a nurse. One good place to start is with a "fundamentals of nursing" type book - if you know the one your school is going to have you get, so much the better. When you start, you'll appreciate being ahead in your reading, or just being able to read it a second time and understand it better.
Best of luck in your new career!

Thanks for the suggestions. Really, I can't sit and do nothing. I am truly getting antsy. I haven't bought my sphigmo or stethoscope because my school hasn't given me any idea yet about what I need. I assumed I would need a stethoscope but I don't know if there is a particular one that I will need. I have some idea about the book that we will be using but don't know for sure. I've been checking prices on fundamental nursing books on ebay and I just may buy a cheap one so I can start reading. I'm told I should receive a packet from my school by the end of the week.

purplekath · Jun 21, 2005

Yeah I know - it IS exciting to be starting out on a whole new life! I got a bunch of nursing books on ebay before I started. They were really cheap and great reading. Not too useful for essays etc (too old) but they helped me to get a handle on some of the terminology.

Another thing you could do is to go online and work out some of the first drug calcs you'll need - oral dosing, drip rates etc. It's so much better to be able to do those quickly in your head than to have to work them out on the spot when you get into clinical.

Nathalie · Jun 21, 2005

Some SN on here told me to get the "Saunders NCLEX-RN Review" and start looking at it. I went out and bought it yesterday. $42.75. Its a really big intimidating book but I here its the best. Also they said to get "Test Success for Nursing" I think is the title. I put that one on order because they ran out. I know there is a thread on this website that someone sent to me but I cant seem to find it. It has a whole bunch of info on it. Try to find it. Good Luck. I start Nursing School In January 06

Nathalie · Jun 21, 2005

There I just found it after I posted the other reply. It has everything on there. Hope it helps!!! :)

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28203

Nemhain · Jun 21, 2005

Good Morning Everyone,
I finally start my nursing classes on 8/31/05. I was wondering if any of you nursing
school veterans have any suggestions about things I can do to prepare. Are there any books that you can suggest for people like me who are just entering nursing school? I am going to purchase a medical terminology book so I can brush up on some of the language. I'm so excited right now and I want to soak up as much info possible while I have some free time.
Thanks,
Deb

Learn the steps of the nursing process. Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Implement, and Evaluate. Read up on what it is. Most of my classmates were completely confused about this. "Huh? Process?"

alexillytom · Jun 21, 2005

There I just found it after I posted the other reply. It has everything on there. Hope it helps!!! :)
https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28203

Thanks Nathalie,

That link just has a bunch of websites. I was really just looking for suggestions that would help me prepare for all of the new sights and sounds that I will see when I start

my classes. I really appreciate your posting the link though. I'll be sure to place it in my bookmarks. I'm sure it will be useful.

Deb

alexillytom · Jun 21, 2005

Learn the steps of the nursing process. Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Implement, and Evaluate. Read up on what it is. Most of my classmates were completely confused about this. "Huh? Process?"

Thanks, Nemhain!! I will be sure to read about the nursing process.

RN_Jen · Jun 21, 2005

Good Morning Everyone,
I finally start my nursing classes on 8/31/05. I was wondering if any of you nursing
school veterans have any suggestions about things I can do to prepare. Are there any books that you can suggest for people like me who are just entering nursing school? I am going to purchase a medical terminology book so I can brush up on some of the language. I'm so excited right now and I want to soak up as much info possible while I have some free time.
Thanks,
Deb

I hear ya! I start my classes on 8/29 and I'm like a little kid waiting for Christmas!! I ordered my stethoscope and went to the school today to get books, but they haven't put out the books for the fall semester yet.....very frustrating! LOL I know I should just enjoy my summer because it will be my last one for a couple years, but I'm obsessed!! :bugeyes:

alexillytom · Jun 21, 2005

I hear ya! I start my classes on 8/29 and I'm like a little kid waiting for Christmas!! I ordered my stethoscope and went to the school today to get books, but they haven't put out the books for the fall semester yet.....very frustrating! LOL I know I should just enjoy my summer because it will be my last one for a couple years, but I'm obsessed!!

Jen,

My school is so late sending out the syllabus and welcome packet, that I'm afraid by the time I get it I won't be able to find affordable used books. My budget is pretty tight so I need to do comparison shopping so I can get the best deals on everything. I am so afraid of being unprepared.

#1rnstudent · Jun 21, 2005

Don't do anything nursing-related. Just enjoy your time off, without stress or hassle of careplans, patient homework, etc. :)