First Med Pass

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2006

You're a student, so just remember that you're on a learning curve. They're not expecting you to know everything about the medication pass when you do it for the first time. Take a deep breath and always ask if you're unsure of some aspect. Good luck! I know you'll do well.

flwannaB · Oct 4, 2006

I know it's very scary but take comfort in knowing that your instructor will be with you the entire time. It is his or her license you will be under so your instructor will not allow you to make mistakes. Remember your vitals for heart and HTN meds and remember accuchecks for insulin. Brind your drug guide with you incase you are asked questions.You will do fine. You are a student and the instructor knows that. :wink2:

Vman · Oct 4, 2006

you recieved 2 replies with great advice. i would add the knowledge u will gain will be priceless. u will see some serious diseases/disorders/conditions first-hand....not read about them in a book. when it comes time during your course when these conditions appear in your studies, u will be familiar with what is being discussed...not in the dark, and u may know more than the info your book.

do not be worried about this clinical....look at it as an "added bonus", the more u see and do, the more u will learn.

nursesaideBen · Oct 5, 2006

Thank you everyone for your wonderful encouragement and advice, I appreciate it more than you can imagine! :icon_hug: I'm going to TRY and relax, and reading these posts have put my mind at ease for the most part, thank you so much!

JentheRN05, RN · Oct 5, 2006

I was terrified my first med pass. I 'memorized' everything there is to know about every drug I was giving.

As time goes on - you won't need memorization for talking about meds because it will actually make sense in how they work. That takes time.

My biggest suggestion for ANYONE in nursing school is don't just READ about a disease process, understand it as if it were one of your parents who have the disease. Read everything you can on it.

Understand the body - and how it works is the first step. If you understand how it's supposed to work then when something goes wrong - everything will fall into place.

Like - example here. Simpliest example I can think of.

A person has bronchitis - severe enough to be put in the hospital. Well how are healthy lungs going to work? Thats the first step in the process. When you know that gas exchange down in the little alveoli is what really matters then the gunk that builds up in the lining of someone with bronchitis gets then you realize that the gas is not going to properly exchage.

You must realize (by breaking down the word - Bronchitis) that it is an infection of the lung. What do you see with infections? Usually anyway? A fever - irritation/redness. How do you fix an infection? Depends on the TYPE of infection (bacterial/viral/fungal etc), must do a smear of the gunk coughed up. Then they gram stain it and you get results and vualla? IE antibiotic prescribed (or not if it's viral of course)

But then you must deal with the symptoms too. You must get rid of the gunk. How do you get rid of thick slimy gunk? Well - you need to thin the gunk of course - so that you can make it easier to cough out. How do you thin the gunk? Well - what is the gunk? Mucus. How do you thin mucus? Mucolytic :)

It's called critical thinking my friend, and it will definately take time, but you will NO doubt get there. For now - since it's going to start soon, memorization is your key. But from this point forward, trust me - if you learn this little lesson sooner than later you will be at the head of your class. And be very comfortable on clinicals.

This took me until mid junior year to figure this out. Hope this helps you and others early on. Unlike me who took forever to figure it out.

Yes I'm a true blonde, but that is irrelivant lol:jester:

TX_PSYCH_LVN · Oct 9, 2006

So yeah, next week I do my first med pass I was nervous enough but after today, I'm petrified. Today my instructor announced that starting next week we'll be on PCU instead of Med/surg meaning I won't be doing my first med pass on Med/surg but on PCU instead. I am so worried and so nervous that it's all I can think about! I mean, don't get me wrong th pts on Med/surg are sick but the ones on PCU just have SO much going on with them... am I overreacting? What if anything can I do to help ease my anxiety, thanks all.
-Ben

Just remember the 5 R's; Right patient, Right med, Right dose, Right time and i believe the Right route. And you can always double check yourself over and over and your last 2 double checks should be by the patient before administering. Just trust in yourself you are getting closer to becoming a Nurse. Yes LVNs are nurses too.