Critical Care Stinks!

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I just started my first 300-level course, critical care or, as my ADN program calls it, complex nursing strategies. I HATE IT! It's only eight weeks long, but the volume of material is becoming overwhelming. We have six(!) exams in eight weeks. We had our first exam this morning and the class average was a FAILING 75%. I studied A LOT and only earned an 81% after three questions were thrown out. I don't need an "A," but I don't want to go into the final with a borderline grade. Anywho, I'm hoping the three instructors will address the poor grades tomorrow. If not, I've decided I will politely tell them that they need to address the fact that the class average was a failing grade (and, according to the primary instructor, this was going to be the easiest exam for the term). I understand that critical care topics are covered on NCLEX, but I can't understand why anyone would want to make so little money for such a high degree of responsibility. I'd rather work in pharm sales! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME VENT! ALLNURSES ROCKS!

Meant to say DIPLOMA program!

Specializes in Critical Care.

Your inexperience and lack of education is showing.

Specializes in NICU.
Your inexperience and lack of education is showing.

The OP says he's venting. How about educating the OP or NOT making a post that comes across so judgemental and condescending?

Specializes in ER.
Your inexperience and lack of education is showing.

That may be true but none of us were born nurses and she is entitled. I was scared to death the first time I took BLS, and ACLS, and NALS, but a few years later it's no sweat- or not much.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

As one progresses in school, volume of material does become overwhelming at times. Learning to manage that is important for helath care professionals need to be able to recall that info at an instant to be able to help patients during patient's healthcare crisis.

Take a look at how your organizing study/readings. Study groups often help during this class. Mine helped in dividing up suggested readings beyond text and summarizing material. Bouncing questions and concepts off each other helped. Taking time out when just so overwhelmed can't think anymore: destress with comedy DVD, walk in park, long scenic drive, work out, playing with kids....whatever works for you.

Nursing is combination of touch, toughness, truthfulness and terrifying moments. It's what makes us NURSES.

Specializes in Tele, ICU, ER.

I remember the "critical care" portion of my nursing school being complete crap LOL.

Seriously, you might try breaking down the material into managable bits, and finding the parts you know in it. What I mean by that is, everything you're learning about critical care builds on something you already know. When you talk about hemodynamics, you already know quite a bit about the heart - now you are taking it a bit further. For each subject discussed, find the portion of it you know already, and then build the rest of it piece by piece. This method really helped me.

Hope this helped!

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Critical care was definitely difficult....new and overwhelming at times. When we did clinicals on critical care unit, I was in awe of the nurses and had great admiration of two of my fellow grads going right into ICU. It was scarey to me because I didn't understand a lot of it and thought I would never be able to learn it.

First off, Nicu_RN_in_Cali, thank you for coming to my defense against Pompom. I was under the impression that ALLNURSES was a forum for nursing students to share ideas and, if necessary, vent. I happen to be a younger male with an undergraduate degree in music (as well as part of a master's from Juilliard) who lived in NYC for five years and served in the Peace Corps. Most people, Pompom, would consider me to be both experienced (in life) and educated.

For those of you who supported my post, thank you! I am struggling with critical care, but I am doing everything I can to keep my head above water.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

You're correct about Allnurses and you didn't deserve the flame. We're all inexperienced and uneducated when we where in school.....duh.

Critical care is indeed an awesome resposibility. But med-surg ain't no picnic either. LOL

Good luck and hang in there. :)

Thanks, Tweety, for the encouragement! I'm currently working on my first care plan for critical care. I'm planning on working on a med-surg floor when I'm done. Be well!

You're correct about Allnurses and you didn't deserve the flame. We're all inexperienced and uneducated when we where in school.....duh.

Critical care is indeed an awesome resposibility. But med-surg ain't no picnic either. LOL

Good luck and hang in there. :)

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