[Mrs Wms-future RN]

I finally made it through my first semester. I am trying to prepare for next semester in advance, starting Jan 1st. For those who took Med Surg, where there any workbooks that helped you pass the class successfully. If so, please share. Thanks

[Alert&Orientedx0]

Hi I don't have any advice on med surg but I just wanted to share some relief with finishing my first semester also! I start OB, Psych, & peds Jan. 7. Good luck!!!

[Daytonite]

I posted a whole bunch of weblinks to help students find medical and surgical information when they are studying these subjects. They are posted here:

• http://allnurses.com/forums/f205/medical-disease-information-treatment-procedures-test-reference-websites-258109.html - Medical Disease Information/Treatment/Procedures/Test Reference Websites

You might want to bookmark this thread or bookmark some of these websites as you are going to find them very helpful in learning about the various diseases and surgeries.

[pooshx2]

There is a book called Med-Surg Success by Colgrove and Callicoatt that I found to be really helpful this semester (my 2nd which was medsurg). ISBN 10: 0-8036-1576-0. I saw it in one of our 2 medsurg instructors offices on their bookshelf early in the semester. I personally liked the questions a great deal, I just wish it had come with a cd. When you look up the answers, it also had the rationales which was really helpful. Good luck!

~Erica

[locolorenzo22]

Any really good disease book will help...clinicals will be where you learn a lot...when you start rounding with doctors it's a wake up call....get on the good side of any one you can and many of them will be willing to teach or explain why they are ordering what they are ordering....
Personally, I got a 10 minute lecture about the immune system during my first clinical round...it was me, staff nurse and charge nurse....staff nurse had to go do an surgical admit....charge nurse had to go answer page....was me and doc all by myself! (with round, suprised eyes)..."What's his WBC level?" "Um...let me see doctor, it's right here on the lab sheet, slightly elevated at xxxx" "Ok, well let's start him on x, x, x....." Doc, I'm just a student I can't take your orders but I'll make sure the staff nurse charts them....ok.
At station "Do you know why his WBCs are high?" "No sir, why is that?" "Well during an infection WBCs go up and blah blah blah(spaced out here for about 8 mins, nodding and going "hmmm." "that's why we're doing x...." Ok, thank you very much!
Seriously, ask as many questions as you can and don't overlook the CNAs..they know a lot of the background info!!!