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Pre-Nursing Major: How Do I Prepare for Nursing School
THE pre-nursing journey can be long and tedious, between taking classes and preparing your application for nursing school. During the time you are not applying for nursing school, there are many things you can do to put your foot in the door of healthcare. What I did to keep myself busy as a pre-nursing major is that I participated in a lot of volunteering events. I was part of the Pre-Nursing Society at my university, and they provided many volunteering opportunities such as passing out sandwiches to the homeless men and women around my campus, participating in speaking events such as safe sex talks, and attending fundraiser walks such as the AIDS/HIV walk in my city. I also was an intern in a YMCA HeadStart office where I got some insight knowledge on the business side of healthcare for children in HeadStart programs. There are PLENTY of things to do to spice up your pre-nursing journey. In this article, I will limit things you can do in five ways. However, always research and look around at opportunities in your area that can help you prepare for nursing school beforehand:
1. GET A CERTIFICATION. There are many certifications you can get to strengthen your healthcare knowledge. You can get a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) licence, which you would eventually need for nursing school, and as a nurse in general. You could also get a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licence, or anything similar to a nurse aide. These licences may land you a job in a healthcare setting faster where you can see firsthand what nurses do, all while being a pre-nursing major.
2. VOLUNTEER. VOLUNTEER. VOLUNTEER! Put yourself in your community and help others as much as you can. As a nursing student, you are expected to help anyone no matter their demographic, gender, age, background, and etc. Volunteering helps you to feel what it is like to put others before yourself. Also, depending on your college, volunteer hours may be required for your nursing application, or it can make it look better. There are so many opportunities such as volunteering at your local food bank, volunteering in a hospital, picking up trash in your community, and more! Do not miss out on the tons of volunteering opportunities out there.
3. ALWAYS BRUSH UP ON YOUR SCIENCES. It is important that you do not lose everything you studied for in your science classes. For example, everything that you learned, or will learn in your Anatomy and Physiology class WILL come back to you in nursing school for sure. Try to review body parts, organs systems, and other important information because in nursing school, no professor will re-teach you those things. They will say a certain term causally and you are expected to know what they are saying. So keep practicing and do not give up!
4. VISUALIZE YOURSELF WEARING SCRUBS. I know this sounds ridiculous, but when I was a pre-nursing student, I would look at nursing students in their scrub uniforms, then I would close my eyes, and imagine if I was the one wearing those scrubs and walking around campus. It always motivated me to work harder. You have to picture what you want, in order to get what you deserve.
5. MAKE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR PROFESSORS. Be the student that is always asking questions, and frequently visiting your professors' office hours. Your professors' will notice your hard work, and determination to do well in their class, even if you may not be doing the best. It is important to establish a good relationship with your professors' because you may need a recommendation for your nursing application, if one is needed. You may also need them as a guide, mentor, or even for other references when you get accepted into nursing school. Professors thrive off the feeling that their instruction and influence helped students get into nursing school. It is important to establish these relationships early on.
-futurenursehappiness