I'm in first semester and our next test is on "nursing process". All the 5 steps and documenting, reporting and conferring.

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to prepare for the this test. All the books I have gone thru deal with particular diseases and right now it is general/ knowing what the nursing process is all about. So, apart from getting all the facts down what else can I do to prepare myself for the test?

I would really appreciate any help in this regard. Thanks!

the nursing process is simply a tool to help us solve problems. here is a simple analogy of how it is put to use:

you are driving along and suddenly you hear a bang, you start having trouble controlling your car's direction and it's hard to keep your hands on the steering wheel. you pull over to the side of the road. "what's wrong?" you're thinking. you look over the dashboard and none of the warning lights are blinking. you decide to get out of the car and take a look at the outside of the vehicle. you start walking around it. then, you see it. a huge nail is sticking out of one of the rear tires and the tire is noticeably deflated. what you have just done is step #1 of the nursing process--performed an assessment. you determine that you have a flat tire. you have just done step #2 of the nursing process--made a diagnosis. the little squirrel starts running like crazy in the wheel up in your brain. "what do i do?" you are thinking. you could call aaa. no, you can save the money and do it yourself. you can replace the tire by changing out the flat one with the spare in the trunk. good thing you took that class in how to do simple maintenance and repairs on a car! you have just done step #3 of the nursing process--planning (developed a goal and intervention). you get the jack and spare tire out of the trunk, roll up your sleeves and get to work. you have just done step #4 of the nursing process--implementation of the plan. after the new tire is installed you put the flat one in the trunk along with the jack, dust yourself off, take a long drink of that bottle of water you had with you and prepare to drive off. you begin slowly to test the feel as you drive. good. everything seems fine. the spare tire seems to be ok and off you go and on your way. you have just done step #5 of the nursing process--evaluation (determined if your goal was met).

here is another person's analogy of how the nursing process works in the real world as a problem solving tool: http://studentnursesource.com/nursing_process.html

the fact is that if you think about it, we rationally solve problems using a form of the nursing process all the time. that is because the nursing process actually has been derived from the scientific process which is a rational problem solving method. think about how you take care of situations that come up in your life. don't you do some kind of assessment or examination of the problem before you make a decision of what has happened? do you then try different solutions and strategies to fix the situation? do you check to see that they were effective? other professions do the very same thing: police detectives, car mechanics, plumbers, dish washer repairmen, etc. they don't call what they do the nursing process, but it is similar. our profession has some fancy things we need to know and work with just as a policeman or plumber does.

the 5 steps of the nursing process as they apply to care planning are:

1. assessment (collect data from medical record, do a physical assessment of the patient, assess adl's, look up information about your patient's medical diseases/conditions to learn about the signs and symptoms and pathophysiology)
   • a physical assessment of the patient
     
   • assessment of the patient's ability and any assistance they need to accomplish their adls (activities of daily living) with the disease
     
   • data collected from the medical record (information in the doctor's history and physical, information in the doctor's progress notes, test result information, notes by ancillary healthcare providers such as physical therapists and dietitians
     
   • knowing the pathophysiology, signs/symptoms, usual tests ordered, and medical treatment for the medical disease or condition that the patient has. this includes knowing about any medical procedures that have been performed on the patient, their expected consequences during the healing phase, and potential complications. if this information is not known, then you need to research and find it.

[*]determination of the patient's problem(s)/nursing diagnosis (make a list of the abnormal assessment data, match your abnormal assessment data to likely nursing diagnoses, decide on the nursing diagnoses to use)

• it helps to have a book with nursing diagnosis reference information in it.

[*]planning (write measurable goals/outcomes and nursing interventions)

[*]implementation (initiate the care plan)

[*]evaluation (determine if goals/outcomes have been met)

here are weblinks to information about the nursing process:

• http://home.cogeco.ca/~nursingprocess/index.htm - this is a beautiful site that defines and explains a bit of what the nursing process is. you can also click on the links at the left side of the webpage to go to various subjects included within the nursing process to find out more about them.
  
• https://nursing.advanceweb.com/common/ce/course.aspx?courseid=504&creditid=1 - nursing process – click on the link to "read the article". this is the actual link: https://nursing.advanceweb.com/common/ce/content.aspx?courseid=504&creditid=1&cc=68974&sid=1837
  
• http://www.mac.edu/faculty/nursingdepartment/200%20level/nursing_process.htm#return%20to%20top - the nursing process – a short introductory tutorial of what it is
  
• http://www06.homepage.villanova.edu/elizabeth.bruderle/1103/nursingprocess.htm - the nursing process

good luck on your test!

Daytonite,

Thanks for your reply. I printed out this info and have it with me since day one of my semester!

I will check out the websites you gave and my question is, in tests what type of questions can I expect?

I have one more question, it may sound silly/dumb but this is my first semester and appreciate guidance.

I will be starting my first clinical on Fri. We are expected to write a care plan for every patient. My question is, I want to use the flow sheet you provided for students (end of your posts) but was not sure, if I should be taking it the day before (when I collect all info) or fill it in when I get back?

Thanks!

in tests what type of questions can i expect?

hard to predict what your instructors will do. generally, nursing instructors will ask application type multiple choice questions that require you to think critically. these kind of questions require you to draw information from previous knowledge you have of any of the sciences you've already taken or what you were to have learned about medical diseases and their treatment and nursing care. the questions don't tell you to do that; you are expected to know you are to do that. you can read information about answering test questions on this thread in the general nursing student discussion forum

• https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/looking-test-taking-stratagies-224581.html
  -
  looking for test taking strategies

i will be starting my first clinical on fri. we are expected to write a care plan for every patient. my question is, i want to use the flow sheet you provided for students (end of your posts) but was not sure, if i should be taking it the day before (when i collect all info) or fill it in when i get back?

you could take it with you the day before. that clinical report sheet is to help you organize what you need to do while you are there at clinicals and working with the patient. you will see that it has room to organize the medications that the patient will get and the information about the patient's history and physical exam. the information that you need to collect from the chart is listed here:

https://allnurses.com/forums/2228927-post5.html

Daytonite,

I'm sorry it took me so long to acknowledge. Thank you very much for all the websites and info. I just got very busy between school, clinicals, home and kids, that I didn't log in for a while.

Inspite of the hectic pace and my own anxiety, the first clinical was a great experience. My clinical instructor is a wonderful person and was like a mother hen, making sure we were alright. I had read all the tips/info given by our members and was prepared with things that usually a newbie like me wouldn't know, thank you everyone!

Thanks again!

Daytonite,

You are HEAVEN sent!! I really enjoy reading your replies. I'm new to this site and in my first year of nursing school. I LOVE your analogy of the nursing process! I REALLY get it now!

I believe GOD has sent you to us "nursing students" to guide us along the way to becoming competent nurses.

Thanks for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge!

Daytonite,

You are HEAVEN sent!! I really enjoy reading your replies. I'm new to this site and in my first year of nursing school. I LOVE your analogy of the nursing process! I REALLY get it now!

I believe GOD has sent you to us "nursing students" to guide us along the way to becoming competent nurses.

Thanks for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge!

I share what I finally realized very late in my program in the hope that others will do better and have more time to focus on other subjects just as important. Good luck in school.