What should I do to get ready for Nursing School starting this Fall?

[cmariehill]

I'm just going to start at the beginning: This June I got the dreaded rejection letter from the program I applied to, but I was put on the alternate list. Considering this school is the only (of a measly two) college with a Nursing Program in my area currently accepting students and is EXTREMELY hard to get into, let's just say getting put onto the alternate list didn't exactly give me hopes of anything. At that point I started looking for jobs so I could work and take some of the extra point classes part time. As soon as I get the job, not even 3 days later (last Monday) the program Director calls me and says that they were offering me a spot for this Fall. Now don't get me wrong I was excited, happy, surprised, ECSTATIC, but I was also VERY, VERY scared. I had in my head it would be at least another year before I would get in, so knowing I now only have a month and a half has kind of put me at a stand still. I don't have ANY clue as to how I should prepare.

I want to know which books I should get, which materials I should have, what study techniques I should start learning, anything and everything about successfully getting through nursing school: I want to know. I figured the best way to find that out is through other nursing students and people who have already gotten through it.

I do have somewhat of a background in healthcare. I got my CNA last year, did training at a Nursing home, and then worked in Home Health Care for 7 months. So I think Clinicals won't be a huge deal for me, it's the learning and understanding all the material that scares me.

Anyways, sorry for the huge post, but I'm sort of freaking out here.

Thanks ahead of time for any help, I appreciate anything I can get!

[cmariehill]

Haha well I don't get much sleep now (I have a very busy 3 year old and I've been working for a while) but I'll definitely sleep in every day I can. Thanks for the advice, I need all I can get! And I've heard an NCLEX book is the best way to go, so I'll be getting one.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

I could add that if your school uses Certified Background for all your documentation, get started on it fast because I had a hell of a time w/ them. Their website was down for two days due to a power outtage, nothing could be uploaded, and anything that was sent via fax those two days needed to be refaxed, so rather than wait I overnighted my documentation (copies, of course). They have yet to upload it, and they received it Friday. So I uploaded it myself today and fortunately I am only waiting for my second PPD to be read on Friday and all my clinical requirements are done. There is a deadline for this documentation, so my advice is do not procrastinate and do not assume that certified background is approving everything you upload! I uploaded my health form and it was rejected because the attached vaccination record was not part of the upload. The reason I only uploaded the health exam portion is because the clinical requirement on certified background lists it as "Physical Exam form", and has all the vaccinations listed separately on page two of the form. That means that even though all the vaccinations are filled out on ONE FORM from my doctor, I have to upload that same form to my clinical requirements, like, SEVEN TIMES, once for each vaccination requirement. It's a little crazy. Or maybe it's just the way my school is requiring it. And we also need Liability Insurance, CPR certification (ONLY AHA certification, not the Red Cross one that I already had). I would start your Hep B vaccines (it's a series of three) and get busy looking for your vaccination records. If you don't have them, you have to have those titers drawn to check your immunity and the results take a couple days.(and are about a hundred bucks each.) Also, my school requires two PPD, three weeks apart. So you really put your organization skills to the test before you even have orientation!

[cmariehill]

They don't use that for our documents, I just have to turn them in in person. But it has been VERY crazy getting everything together in such a short time. They told me on July 8th I got in and everything is due on July 31st. The only Vaccines I need are chicken pox (VERY expensive) and the TB PPD. I've already had all my Hep B vaccines and the rest of the requires ones. I have managed to BARELY fit in all of my appointments needed (Physical, Varicella, TB, drug test, fingerprints, background check) and recertification of CPR so it lasts the full 2 years (which will only be happening ONE day before deadline, but I had no other choice). And I've been doing all of this around starting a BRAND new job (training is this week and next week and orientation was this Monday) that I got and committed to 3 days before they called me to let me know I was in the program. So just in all of this craziness I've definitely learned some organization skills haha

[NorCalKid]

Don't sweat it. 3 weeks is more than enough time to get everything in. Just make a list of everything you need and start checking them off as you get them done. And enjoy your summer.

I know where your coming from. I found out like 12 days before school started (wasn't even an alternate) when I was backpacking in Asia. Booked a flight home the next morning and started making appointments. You'll get through it.

[mostdesired3]

...super helpful thread! Thanks a million ☺

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I am going to go a bit "out of the box" based on my experience with nursing students.

Work on increasing your reading comprehension speed. You can easily do this by just reading.... a LOT. If you don't have an eReader, get one & keep it with you and read whenever you have a spare moment ..... read anything that interests you. Doesn't have to be 'academic' or study-related. Any reading will do. You can actually improve your reading ability by quite a lot in a very short amount of time. This will have an enormous payoff in nursing school - and for the rest of your nursing career.

Congratulations on your accomplishment. Keep us posted on your progress.

[bubbly79]

Such good advice. I'm a little intimidated but excited. :) do you guys have plans on.how to transport everything?

[priorities2]

Congrats on getting in =)

My school provides lockers for us in the NS which is connected to the hospital. I assume others schools also provide lockers so you don't need to schlep things back and forth? Something you may want to ask about!

[twigszoo]

Such good advice. I'm a little intimidated but excited. :) do you guys have plans on.how to transport everything?

I have heard that you dont neccessarily need to bring all of your textbooks to class. Maybe one or two would be required at most for the day. If you have a car you could also keep some of your books in there to get in between classes so you aren't breaking your back.

[bluestorm]

My classmates use a large rolling scrapbooking bag or rolling sewing machine bag

[mylru]

learn to drink haha. no seriously, do some nursing test questions, you may not know what it is talking about, but you can get a feel for nursing questions, they are different than any other college tests. Also try to free up your schedule if possible, like work, daycare etc. I remember having class 2 days a week all day, having lab one day, then having clinicals 2 days a week, one which was a Saturday! basically I had one "free" day that I spent studying and doing homework and projects. It is difficult but certainly doable!

[Tonks57]

Congratulations on getting in! So awesome. My biggest piece of advice is to relax while you still can. I wish someone emphasized that more before I started. There is no time to just relax anymore. It goes so fast, just give it everything you have! Good luck :)