What do you wish you had studied/learned more?

[redshott]

Hi everyone! I'm a pre-nursing student and am currently living overseas. Moving back to the US summer 2013 and applying for a BSN program (eventually going into military nursing).

My question is: is there anything that you wish you had studied more to either prepare you for nursing school or, for those who have graduated, helped you in the "real world"? Since I'm limited on classes over here, I was thinking about going ahead and getting some books or study material to maybe go ahead and prepare myself. I've taken A&P 1 and 2 before but will have to retake it because of time since I took it. Thinking about Microbiology stuff? Thoughts/advice? Thanks!

[Ansumana]

Well I cant think of anything that I wished to study more because I like perfection when it comes to grades. So I personally study anything I could. And how long have you been out if school? If its like 4yrs+ I believe you have to retake them. But for any useful advice, taking A&P 1&2 before nutrition and microbiology really helped as the basis to micro and nutrition have mostly been derived from A&P 2.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I can mostly think of ways I wish I had studied, rather than specific material. I do wish I'd invested more time in making/reviewing flashcards, since that sounds like a good way to study during the actual nursing program. Ditto recording the lectures - I think it would be super-helpful to have that on my iPod while I'm exercising or cleaning the house or something. But as far as the actual material...I guess we should all just try to keep up with the classes and recall that stuff that professors preface with, "This will be important when you're a nurse!"

[Stephalump]

Everything in A&P! I think I learned a pretty good amount but I'm one of the few people in the class who had a big time gap between taking it and entering nursing school and it shows. It's been about 7 years since I took A&P1 and 3 since I took A&P 2. I did take a refresher course for the first one but it was pretty much a blow off class.

Specifically I'd look at fluid and electrolytes, cardiac, renal, and respiratory for sure.

[i♥words]

Anything A&P; not the memorization but the understanding of processes. Like Stephalump said, fluid and electrolytes and respiratory system, renal system, cardiac system, etc. Those categories are probably on the top of my re-study list as soon as I have time (which basically means next summer :)). I took A&P 1 and 2 last year and this year I'm taking nutrition and micro and the majority of it is building off of what I learned in A&P. So even if you get a couple of basic books about A&P, maybe not an actual textbook (because those are tedious and confusing and expensive), you will be better prepared for the actual class.

[Cherry02]

Only been in nursing school for a month, but I agree about A&P. Your life will be easier if you know your A&P very well. Knowing microbio has been pretty helpful too, actually...especially for pharmacology.