A Quick Question for Fellow Students

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

I suppose I'm just curious to see how similar or different my programs is, so I just wanted to ask. What clinical skills did/have you learned in your 1st med/surg course that you were able to do in clinical but weren't in fundamentals?

Thanks anyone for answering!

[Tree5981, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I was able to do IV's, put in and take out Foley catheters, NG tubes, hang IV bags, IM and SUBQ injection. I'm sure there is more but i can't remember all of it. :)

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

thanks for the reply! was that in your fund. or 1st med/surg? That seems about everything we've done minus starting IV's which we learn next semester :)

[Tree5981, ADN, BSN, MSN]

That was in Med/Surg. In our Fundamentals we pretty much focused on CNA skills and care plans. Med/Surg was when we started more RN skills. And then Med/Surg II was ICU and Trauma which was putting everything we learned for the past 2 years all together.

[nalaa83]

In my Fundamentals I was able to do Peg Tube feedings, Trach Suctioning, Ostomy Care, NG Tubes,Wound Care (wet-to-dry), Pressure Ulcers, Foley Cath and of course vital signs and complete head-toe-assessment. In med-surg 1: I was able to hand IV's, injections (IM,Subq,), give meds, finger sticks, Prime tubing..theres more but I can't think right now...

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I haven't gotten to med surge yet. In fundamentals here we can do things as our skills are signed off. We can do injections, finger sticks, pass meds with the instructor present, G tube feedings, VS, head to toe assesments, wound care. In med surge we will get to start IV's, hang IV bags, foleys, NG Tubes, not sure what else!

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

fundamentals we learned: all meds (po, sq, im, ivp, IVPB, ng/peg tube, inhalers, topical), insert/dc foleys, I&O, ADLs, transfers, dressing changes, vitals, assessments, glucose monitoring, enemas, d/c peripheral saline locks

med surg: we added tach care/suctioning, ostomy care

we never get to learn to insert IVs.

im in specialties now and weve just added things that are unique to the specialties... man do i ever know how to check a post partum fundus now! haha

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Anything IV related or central line related. Everything else was learned in our "fundamentals course." We are now "skills complete" The rest of this semester and the the majority of our critical care semester focus on different scenarios with the human patient simulator. Our specialty course (Psych, OB, Peds) doesn't have a lab component.