If you’re starting healthcare training soon, your preparation should begin long before the first day of class. Summer is the ideal time to build habits for success, as you can use these months to get organized, strengthen your studies, and develop routines you’ll need later.
Prism Career Institute offers the Medical Assistant (MA) program at our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and West Atlantic City, New Jersey campuses, as well as the Practical Nursing (PN) program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here, we explore how to prepare for healthcare training in the summer before your program starts.
Pre-Program Prep: What Should You Do the Summer Before Nursing School Starts?
Summer is an ideal time to prepare for the hustle and bustle of nursing or medical assistant school. Some helpful items you should add to your to-do list include:
- Understand expectations: Knowing what each program expects, such as clinical or externship requirements, lectures, lab work, and foundational knowledge, aids your transition into PN or MA coursework.
- Review study methods: Consider the way you best learn and study, whether it’s through visual aids, flash cards, note-taking, or other methods. This will help you know what works for you and what doesn’t.
- Look into financial aid: Determine your eligibility for scholarships or other forms of financial aid to help you cover the cost of healthcare training. Planning ahead with small saving strategies or understanding payment options before the first day ensures everything is in place.
- Define your goals: It can also be helpful to define your goals and motivations for nursing or medical assistant school, so you know what purpose you’re working toward once training starts.
Although you should start preparing in the summer, it’s important to also rest and relax while you still have time, so you don’t get burnt out once school starts.
Gear Up: Must-Have Supplies for PN and MA Students
Gathering your supplies before the semester starts helps you feel organized and ready for both classroom and work. Both PN and MA students benefit from having access to core clinical tools, simple study materials, and reliable tech to stay on track. Supplies to shop for include:
- Essential tools: These include supportive shoes to help you stand during labs and classes. You’ll also want a watch to track time, notebooks, pencils, and folders for assignments.
- Textbooks: If your classes require textbooks, make sure to get those in advance so they’re not hard to find. You may be able to get used or online versions to help offset the cost.
- Technology: Having a dependable laptop for access to online lectures and homework is necessary. You may also need a printer or access to one for assignments.
- Scheduling tools: Get a planner or calendar app to help with organization, assignment management, study schedules, and other commitments.
Buying your supplies during summer sales and comparing online prices can help you save money.
A Head Start on Studies: What Can You Learn to Get Ahead Before Your Program Starts?
Preparing for nursing or medical assistant school in the summer doesn’t have to be hard. You can start with simple things like:
- Researching key skills: Identify the key skills you’ll learn in the program and familiarize yourself with them to help you get started smoothly when training begins. Key subjects to review include anatomy, physiology, and basic medical terminology, which help you recognize the fundamental concepts you’ll encounter in your coursework.
- Using online resources and videos: Watching short videos or reading lessons on body systems, patient care basics, and medical terminology can help you dive into studies and make early coursework feel more approachable.
- Gathering helpful reading materials: Building a resource of medical books is also a helpful step in preparing for healthcare training. You can ask your professors for recommendations or look for introductory nursing/MA texts. Whether they’re borrowed from the library or purchased used, they will help you understand basic body systems before coursework begins.
You may also want to review the program curriculum, individual syllabi, and other important details to make sure you’re ready once classes begin.
Prepare for Healthcare Training at Prism Career Institute
Use your summer wisely by getting a head start on your future. By enrolling at Prism Career Institute now, you can get your application and financial aid squared away, allowing you to focus on preparing for success in our Medical Assistant or Practical Nursing programs.
We support your transition into nursing or medical assistant school through our career services, financial aid opportunities for qualified students, and campus resources. To learn more about how to prepare for healthcare training at Prism Career Institute, contact us or apply online.