This may seem like a dumb question, but they always say there is none

[nububare]

I am currently in Fundamentals and I've been getting acceptable grades usually (low Bs). I want to know how do you learn to critical think, especially when taking tests? We have a lot of questions where there are scenarios and we have to chose the answer that best fits and I always seem to narrow it down to 2 answers and I really would not have that happen to me over and over again. Most times I pick the wrong answer, but it's only after I've second guessed myself at least 10 times. Select all that apply questions really, really, really throw me for a loop! Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :balloons:

[Freedom42]

Interesting. You're right about not reading too much into questions; I simply meant that it would be part of a nurse's routine work to help a patient into a particular position.

I'm using the Taylor text book for fundamentals. It says that only the person performing the procedure can obtain informed consent. Any other opinions out there on this? Does it vary from state to state?

[NaomieRN]

I am taking Med Surg 2, and so far I am doing great. What I would recommend, get a good nclex book, so you can practice and get familiar with the questions. What I have learned, the more I understand the pathophysiology, the better I do on the exams. I focus on what the nurse suppose to do and focus on the ABC and safety. Good luck to you.

[SarasotaRN2b]

Informed consent would equal written consent, which the nurse could do.

In regards to the side-lying position...you are reading things into it...it says nothing about administering a medication or anything along that lines. This could very well be a position may need to be in for surgery, which would be done in the OR.

The biggest thing to be careful about is reading too mention into the questions/answer choices.

Kris

I feel I have to correct myself. Informed consent is more than just written consent. It requires that the patient understand what procedure they will be undergoing. Written consent is the legal documentation that states the person (non-sedated) understands and agrees. It is the responsibility of the nurse to make sure that the patient has given informed consent before a procedure, or that nurse could be held accountable. According to a Fundamentals book that I have Nursing Fundamentals Caring & Clinical Decision Making by Rick Daniels, (p. 148-149), as directed by institutional policy, the nurse may witness a client's signing of a consent form or may be responsible for making sure the signed form is in the chart.

Actually, looking at that question again..Answer 3 reads: obtain signed consent form. Which would be in step with "making sure the signed form is in the chart" from above.

Kris

[APBT mom, LPN, RN]

that also happened to me when i first started... the teachers just always said.. "the answer is on the page" ok.. well duh... i would always get it down to 2 and 8 out of 10 times pick the wrong one... it was hard to me... but it has taken me several semesters... but i try not to think TOO much into it... and what helps me is not to think about situations i have experienced.. like oh yea we had a patient the other day and this is what we did with him... because just like with the nclex... it's the perfect graduate rn world... do what you are supposed to do.. no short cut's always keep patient in mind first... the patient that is the most critical... remember your ABC's. hmmm... i often often often thought too much into the questions let me see if i can explain one of the questions and my rationale:

Something along the lines of:

A patient was getting prepared for a procedure.. as a floor nurse which of the following would be your job to complete:

1. Give the patient all the information and details of the procedure and ask if there are any questions.

2. Set up the room, getting all the supplies needed for the surgery

3. obtain signed consent form

4. assist the pt. to the side lying position.

The correct answer is 3. I just knew it wasn't. they stress and stress how important it is that the doctor is supposed to get it signed. bla bla... the teachers stated that in this question that it meant just to get the paper from the patient and ensure that it was signed... bla

We had a similar question on one of our tests and I thought that #3 was wrong too. So I picked #2. When the teacher explained the answer she said that you are just getting the consent that's already been signed you are not having them sign it.

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

We just did this in Foundations last Wed. The consent is a form the pt signs the day of surgery and the nurse gets it signed. We go into the room and read the handwritten line on top of the form where the Dr has written the name of the surgery/procedure to be done. Then we have the patient explain back to us what their understanding is of what the Dr will be doing to them. If they don't know or are confused about exactly what he is going to do, we go the phone and call the Dr to come up and explain the procedure again to the pt so the consent can be signed. Informed consent from the Dr's point of view is when they go to his office and he says,"I think we should do this", and the pt agrees to let him do it.