What to study before Nursing School?

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So I am applying to nursing school for spring of 2016. Right now I'm just reviewing my anatomy and physiology, but is there something I could start studying right now that would help me start off nursing school? Any topics I should try to learn, recommended websites, or books? I like to get ahead and I have so much time to study so it would give me an upper hand and also beneficial for me.

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Specializes in Critical care.

If you aren't strong or confident with med math work on that- you could get a used old edition of calculate with confidence very cheaply

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Specializes in ICU.

No. You are not going to understand anything until you are in the program. Finish your classes up now and relax. I can't tell you how many times I tell people to relax before the program. There is nothing you need to get an upper hand on, I promise.

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I'm four weeks ago from finishing my final three pre reqs and have 2 and a half months off before I start the 22 month program at Hopkins.

I intend on relaxing and arriving mentally and physically strong to tackle the accelerated program.

Don't risk burn out!

By the time I finish my pre reqs I'll have been studying for 8 months for GRE included! I took them three at a time and it's been intense!

We all need a break

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Study!?.. Study NOTHING! like mentioned above nothing nursing related will make much sense and A&P is the section in nursing books the instructor says to skip! I would relax because believe me you will have plenty to look at, learn, and study when nursing school starts!

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Specializes in PACU.

A and P, maybe but there is nothing else to really start without beginning lectures. Just enjoy the time off in between.

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I think you're good just reviewing the A&P. I had started reviewing abg's, isontonic, hypertonic, hypotonic solutions, electrolyte imbalances, and some other things and not only was it confusing but we haven't learned that yet even in fundamentals and intro to pt care.

A&P is pretty big in my program though. Next semester I have pharmacology so over the winter break I'm going to learn basic med math.

Maybe if you don't already know these things it's good to learn before school: Vital sign ranges, pulse points, words to describe normal and adventitious breath sounds, chain of infection, and medical terminology.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Memorizing details without having any basics about the whole picture is confusing, a waste of energy and will make you feel unnecessarily stupid.

At most I might suggest looking at medical terminology. Nursing/medicine has a language of it's own. It does have some basic prefixes and suffixes that will be used over and over to make different words.

Hyperthermia for example is a combination of hyper (excessive) and thermia (state of heat) to make a medical word for the condition of an abnormally high body temperature.

Hypothermia combines hypo (below) and thermia (state of heat) to make a medical word for the condition of an abnormally low body temperature.

If brady means slow and cardia means heart what would the word bradycardia mean?

It's fun to make up words too, to insult the bradycerebrums you encounter.

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Get the Saunders Q&A NCLEX book (the yellow one) and study chapter five on test taking strategies. Nothing "nursey" about the chapter, but a lot of good points on how to answer nursing school exam questions.

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Specializes in Cardiac PCU/Med-Telemetry.

I say relax and enjoy it while you can. I wanted to study ahead but I am glad I listened to others and just relax. Trust me you will do enough studying that you would regret not enjoying thst time.

However, if you do want study then review A&P and maybe medical terminology.

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In the words of Frankie goes to Hollywood, "Relax don't don't do it."

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