I originally was thinking about ABSN programs, but I realized that this applies to anyone who is starting a program in the spring.
1. Get your BLS for Healthcare Providers CPR certification out of the way. You don't want to be running around trying to find a class right before you start school! The certifications are good for 2 years, so just make sure you'll be covered for your entire school career; it just makes things easier down the road to not have to re-up while you're still in school.
2. Start your vaccinations and titers. The Hep B vaccination, for example, requires 3 doses, and the last dose has to be 6 months after the first. A lot of schools will let you start clinicals with just the first two, but they are going to want to see evidence that you've had the third not long after that. So if you get that done now, it's one less thing to think about.
3. Start researching what student loans are available, what's out there, etc. This industry is in flux right now, but if you get a spreadsheet going now, you can just update it as you get closer to starting school.
4. Research the best places to buy a stethoscope, PDA, and any other equipment your school requires.
5. Figure out what kinds of shoes you'll be able to wear and watch for sales on them. I really like Easy Spirit shoes, so I subscribe to their email updates and they tell me when they are having a sale.
6. Get a Saunders NCLEX book and start looking it over -- no pressure! Just get used to the format of the questions. I wouldn't buy textbooks right now, though, because schools tend to change book requirements. But get your booklist as soon as you can and start looking for cheaper copies. :)
7. See if you can shadow a nurse. That will relieve a little bit of the uncertainty about the hospital environment before you start school. Or volunteer at your local hospital a few hours a week between now and when school starts.
I'd love to hear what others have done to start preparing! That Spring start will come so fast!
Specializes in 0 as RN, 3 in ICU and Tele as Tech.
I just wanted to add these to the list of what I am doing because I am crossing my fingers in hopes of starting Spring 09':
- - I started researching PDAs because some nursing schools requires them, some don't but I believe they may be especially helpful rather than tugging around fifty million books. Many on this forum love the Palm TX but I found the HP Ipaq to be a better format for me (in my opinion).
- -Start researching some of the programs for the PDA such as skyscape, Tabers, epocrates, pedic(sp?) and others so that you may know the price and can budget accordingly.
-- Find out what CPR certification your school takes because some of them will only take the AHA rather than the American Red Cross because it's viable for two years.
- - I started researching scholarships, specifically nursing and/or healthcare, keeping track of all of them on a spreadsheet so that I will know what is available other than loans.. I already have alot from starting another degree that I did not finish
- - Spending quality time with the kiddos and hubby because you all may not be able to spend that time with each other after school starts. I am also making it a priority to set aside one day a week as we do now for family fun day so that the kids will still have that.
- - Research prices of scrubs, stethescopes, and shoes... been keeping a spreadsheet of those. Some schools offer kits with the other essentials that is cheaper than buying them yourself such as penlights, etc. It was suggested to me though to be a good pair of trauma shears rather than the little scissors by nursing students and nurses.
- - Get advice from others in your program if you are able as to what to expect, who to avoid, the "norm" stuff that goes on everyday so that you may have a heads up.
- - If you want, research CNA schools to attain certification so that you can work in a hospital while in nursing school to get your feet even wetter. Although some hospitals allow nursing students to work as Student Nurses after the second semester.
- - Relax , because once it starts they say you have no life for two years. I'll be making the best of those two years.
That works too. So does oatmeal/grits or anything else that does not require a lot of preparation. I swear I do not know how the man lived before he met me....I think it must have been a diet of mac & cheese and cereal :chuckle
My uncle swore he was going to die of tomato soup poisoning after my aunt died. The cat ate better than he did!
Make the daycare arrangements NOW even if you do not know your schedule yet. At least get them a guaranteed spot at your place of choice otherwise you may have difficulty getting them into where you really want them to be.
Specializes in 0 as RN, 3 in ICU and Tele as Tech.
Speaking of kiddos.....
Make the daycare arrangements NOW even if you do not know your schedule yet. At least get them a guaranteed spot at your place of choice otherwise you may have difficulty getting them into where you really want them to be.
Agreed, or find someone or somewhere that will allow drop ins and/or flexibility care. Some child care centers and providers won't allow flexibility, so having one in mind or geared up already would be good!
This is something you gardeners may want to do. It occurred to me that next spring and summer, I won't be able to tend to my garden the way I like. I won't have time to fuss with annuals -- picking them out, planting them, etc. in the spring. So I spent the last two days digging a new perennial bed. (My back!!) Perennials are on sale now, since it's already August, but they still have time to set nice roots before the fall and winter. That way, they will come up next spring and summer. I will have already done the work, and I'll still get to enjoy flowers. (OK, I will still probably find some time to plant a FEW annuals. LOL)
Depending on the location of your school, they may also require for you to have a TB skin test completed too.
One of the schools I'm applying to requires
(Td) Tetorifice/Diptheria
(MMR) Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Hep B
(Varicella) Chicken Pox - - my school requires the 2 immunizations or a positive titer, they won't accept proof that you've had chicken pox.
and of course the TB skin test as I mentioned above.
The other school I'm applying to requires me to carry health insurance coverage - - Wouldn't be an issue, but my insurance is currently through my employer.
Don't forget your fingerprint clearance card (takes from 3-5 weeks)
I have one school that requires a separate background check in addition to the fingerprint card - separate fee & waiting period.
CPR- BLS card through the American Heart Association. A lot of Community Colleges offer the 1 day class. (Check with your home owners insurance or your auto club, some will reimburse you the cost of the class)
I don't know this first hand, but I've read in other forums that different schools have different dresscodes depending on what the nursing students will be working on. Even going as far as specifying color of scrubs.
I've heard good things about Nike Shox and I see a lot of people wearing them. I wanted to get some for clinicals, but my school doesn't allow fabric sneakers.
Check BIRKENSTOCK... those shoes are great and veeery comfortable!
I won't have time to fuss with annuals -- picking them out, planting them, etc. in the spring. So I spent the last two days digging a new perennial bed. (My back!!) Perennials are on sale now, since it's already August, but they still have time to set nice roots before the fall and winter. That way, they will come up next spring and summer. I will have already done the work, and I'll still get to enjoy flowers. (OK, I will still probably find some time to plant a FEW annuals. LOL)
TeeRN2Be
332 Posts
I just wanted to add these to the list of what I am doing because I am crossing my fingers in hopes of starting Spring 09':
- - I started researching PDAs because some nursing schools requires them, some don't but I believe they may be especially helpful rather than tugging around fifty million books. Many on this forum love the Palm TX but I found the HP Ipaq to be a better format for me (in my opinion).
- -Start researching some of the programs for the PDA such as skyscape, Tabers, epocrates, pedic(sp?) and others so that you may know the price and can budget accordingly.
-- Find out what CPR certification your school takes because some of them will only take the AHA rather than the American Red Cross because it's viable for two years.
- - I started researching scholarships, specifically nursing and/or healthcare, keeping track of all of them on a spreadsheet so that I will know what is available other than loans.. I already have alot from starting another degree
that I did not finish
- - Spending quality time with the kiddos and hubby because you all may not be able to spend that time with each other after school starts. I am also making it a priority to set aside one day a week as we do now for family fun day so that the kids will still have that.
- - Research prices of scrubs, stethescopes, and shoes... been keeping a spreadsheet of those. Some schools offer kits with the other essentials that is cheaper than buying them yourself such as penlights, etc. It was suggested to me though to be a good pair of trauma shears rather than the little scissors by nursing students and nurses.
- - Get advice from others in your program if you are able as to what to expect, who to avoid, the "norm" stuff that goes on everyday so that you may have a heads up.
- - If you want, research CNA schools to attain certification so that you can work in a hospital while in nursing school to get your feet even wetter. Although some hospitals allow nursing students to work as Student Nurses after the second semester.
- - Relax
, because once it starts they say you have no life for two years. I'll be making the best of those two years.
I'll add more if I think or do anymore.
Good luck to everyone applying or starting!