[rayofsunshine]

I will be starting Med-Surge 1 in the spring and am wondering if anyone can tell me what to expect. I heard that it is a faster pace than Fundamentals and that more is expected of me. What does that exactly mean?

[Daytonite]

You have learned a lot up to this point. You are now going to start putting a lot of it together in med/surg. You will be starting to study various diseases, their treatment and nursing care. Diabetes is usually one of the big ones the shows up in the first med/surg class. So, with it as an example you will need to know your anatomy and physiology of the pancreas, the pathophysiology of the pancreas, and now you will procede to learn how diabetes, specifically, is treated. This will encompass medications, diet, activity, etc. Then, you will need to introduce nursing care into the equation. The goal always being to assist the patient to return to some sort of normalcy and function. There will be other diseases to study as well. Just a hint for you. Always ask yourself "why". Why did the doctor order this particular medication for the patient? Why is this a treatment for this disorder? Why are you doing what you are doing for the patient? This will help form a nice circle of understanding about what is going on. Surgery is a medical treatment for some diseases. There will be general nursing things you will learn to do for all surgical patients. Again, try to answer "why" questions. Why do you have a patient cough and deep breath after surgery? Why do you want the patient moving as soon as possible after surgery? As part of learning the answers to those questions you will want to find out just exactly what happens to a patient once they go through those surgical doors into the OR. If you haven't been exposed to care plans yet, you will be this next semester. They are, in a nutshell, the written expression of the logical progression of disease treatment as I've explained above.

Here is a wonderful Internet link for you to help give you some explanations on diseases
http://www.ehendrick.org/healthy/index.htm
Here is a web site to help you find everything you want to know about lab tests
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
And, here is a site to help you learn about medications
http://www.rxlist.com/


Good luck! Remember, you are not the first to go through this. Many thousands of us did it and so can you. It's just that it's time to start putting things together and really thinking about what is going on and what it all means.

[rayofsunshine]

Thank you so much for all of the good advice. I'm printing it out to keep with me!!!

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

You have learned a lot up to this point. You are now going to start putting a lot of it together in med/surg. You will be starting to study various diseases, their treatment and nursing care. Diabetes is usually one of the big ones the shows up in the first med/surg class. So, with it as an example you will need to know your anatomy and physiology of the pancreas, the pathophysiology of the pancreas, and now you will procede to learn how diabetes, specifically, is treated. This will encompass medications, diet, activity, etc. Then, you will need to introduce nursing care into the equation. The goal always being to assist the patient to return to some sort of normalcy and function. There will be other diseases to study as well. Just a hint for you. Always ask yourself "why". Why did the doctor order this particular medication for the patient? Why is this a treatment for this disorder? Why are you doing what you are doing for the patient? This will help form a nice circle of understanding about what is going on. Surgery is a medical treatment for some diseases. There will be general nursing things you will learn to do for all surgical patients. Again, try to answer "why" questions. Why do you have a patient cough and deep breath after surgery? Why do you want the patient moving as soon as possible after surgery? As part of learning the answers to those questions you will want to find out just exactly what happens to a patient once they go through those surgical doors into the OR. If you haven't been exposed to care plans yet, you will be this next semester. They are, in a nutshell, the written expression of the logical progression of disease treatment as I've explained above.

Here is a wonderful Internet link for you to help give you some explanations on diseases
http://www.ehendrick.org/healthy/index.htm
Here is a web site to help you find everything you want to know about lab tests
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
And, here is a site to help you learn about medications
http://www.rxlist.com/


Good luck! Remember, you are not the first to go through this. Many thousands of us did it and so can you. It's just that it's time to start putting things together and really thinking about what is going on and what it all means.

Wonderful post, Daytonite

[crb613]

Originally Posted by rayofsunshine

I will be starting Med-Surge 1 in the spring and am wondering if anyone can tell me what to expect. I heard that it is a faster pace than Fundamentals and that more is expected of me. What does that exactly mean?

I would also suggest you get a good book on fluids & electrolytes. The made easy series is good....this will not go away & keeps repeating its self in everything. Good luck

[SNKerri]

I would suggest lots of flash cards, high lighters and coffee. We had med-surg 1 our first semester and it isnt bad if you keep up with the reading and make sure that you review and anatomy and phys that you are unsure of! GOOD LUCK!

[auntie2_12]

I too will be starting Med Surg in the Spring and looking for advice, thanks alot daytonite, I am also printing it for use during the Spring semester, I am really anxious about going into Med Surg because most people that I have spoke with say it is hard, I did good in A & P so they think I will be OK but it will be harder for students that just squeaked by.



I can do all things through Christ that strengtheth me. Phillipians 4:13

[lisamc1]

Excellent post by Daytonite. I would just like to add that a big part of your tests will be about prioritizing care of your patient with a certain disease. You may find that there are 2 or more correct answers to a question but you must figure out which one to do first. Understanding how to prioritize your nursing care will help you through a majority of those question. Once you understand the disease you can then ask yourself questions about Maslow's Heirarchy and the ABC's and put them in order of importance.

[Daytonite]

Originally Posted by auntie2_12

I too will be starting Med Surg in the Spring and looking for advice, thanks alot daytonite, I am also printing it for use during the Spring semester, I am really anxious about going into Med Surg because most people that I have spoke with say it is hard, I did good in A & P so they think I will be OK but it will be harder for students that just squeaked by.



I can do all things through Christ that strengtheth me. Phillipians 4:13

Anything worth achieving is worth working for. Ask questions about subjects you are studying come up, post to this forum. Some of us old baby boomers have some good experience to impart to you. Also, I have been developing a pretty good list of links to certain kinds of nursing information.

[BunnyRN]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

Here is a wonderful Internet link for you to help give you some explanations on diseases
http://www.ehendrick.org/healthy/index.htm
Here is a web site to help you find everything you want to know about lab tests
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
And, here is a site to help you learn about medications
http://www.rxlist.com/


Good luck! Remember, you are not the first to go through this. Many thousands of us did it and so can you. It's just that it's time to start putting things together and really thinking about what is going on and what it all means.

Very good websites!!!