Advice on Med Surg

[ashulee89]

Hello All,

I've been reading alot of questions on Med Surg that have been posted in the past and decided to post some questions of my own to see if I can get any help. I am currently in the online nursing program. It has been very challenging to read and learn things on my own. I am in the second semester of four semester and med surg has proven to be extremely difficult. As of now I am passing Med Surg, but barely. My biggest fear is to get to finals and figure out that I have to make a 90 to pass the class. My question is about studying. I am a visual learner. I highlight alot, I make lists for EVERYTHING or else I don't feel right lol. I've heard about concept maps, anyone out there use them for studying? How well do they help you out? Also, our tests are VERY detailed. I took the respiratory test last week and it was asking about things that were never assigned. Granted, the question was still about the respiratory system but was more detailed than I had expected. I understand theres no way to learn everything, especially that detailed. So what do I need to do in order to help bring up my grades a little? I have the mary ann hogan book for med surg and I study the content and take the pre and post tests. Will those nclex questions help me? I guess the main thing that confuses me is that the things I am being told to study are way more vague and broad than the actual test. Is this where critical thinking comes into play and I'm supposed to make an answer based on that system? Sorry for so many questions. I'm really just trying to grasp this whole thing and better understand how to take these tests.

Any advice is appreciated. :)

Thanks

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

for visual learners there's nothing better than the anatomy coloring book and the physiology coloring book. these are not jokes but college-level resources and are available from your favorite online bookseller for hard copy or download. check 'em out.

and in answer to your question, yes, that is precisely where the critical thinking thing comes in. you should be getting to the point where your mind knows enough about a system and other aspects of assessment and care to put together what looks like a vague hash into something meaningful. that's how patient care is-- it is rarely, if ever, cut-and-dried.

the other problem nursing students have at your place in time is that now is the time they have to start thinking like a nurse, and it's a completely different way of looking at data. answering questions that are fact-based but also require some deductive reasoning is not something you've had to do in your previous schoolwork. this is what's called synthesis, putting it all together.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I had an instructor recommend reading a pathophysiology book to help it all "come together". If you understand on a more basic level "what's happening" it might make it easier for you to understand the WHY of what you're doing, which in turn gives your brain yet another pathway to retrieve the necessary information.

I haven't read this particular book, but something along these lines might be helpful: Amazon.com: Pathophysiology Made Incredibly Visual! (Incredibly Easy! Series) (9781609136000): Lippincott: Books

[knittygrittyRN, MSN, RN]

I love the Memory Notebook of Nursing series Amazon.com: Memory Notebook of Nursing: A Collection of Images and Mnemonics to Increase Memory and Learning (9781892155184): Joann, R. N. Zerwekh, Jo Carol, R. N. Claborn, C. J., R. N. Miller: Books

They illustrate tons of information and I find it really helpful to look at the pictures as cues. (I'm not sure why some of the listings on Amazon are for so much money but I'm sure if you look elsewhere you can find them for cheaper).

[Aerielle]

I am also a visual learner! I don't highlight my textbooks because it gives me a headache when I read it over again..but I do highlight my lecture notes/notes I take down on my own in a color coded fashion! It also makes it more fun to study! :)

I am doing fairly well in pathophysiology right now and I think it's because of the way I am studying this time around.... I make a GIANT flow chart/concept map/poster for EACH disease!

You will need lots of blank paper (I take it from my printer!) , some tape, and all colors of the rainbow sharpies/markers! :)

1. Make a giant heading on the top of the page for whatever disease/condition.

2. Then you will want the following headings:

a. Etiology/Risk factor for the disease - just some common ones, because sometimes there are too many!

b. Pathophysiology: For this part, I draw "flow charts". Example for DKA: Insulin deficiency --> Stress response --> glucagon release --> glycogenlysis + gluconeogensis ---> increased BG --> osomotic diuresis --> electrolyte imbalance..etc.

** I also find it helpful to throw in the normal physiology process to compare it to the pathphysiology **

c. Clinical Manifestations: Include the patient's signs and symptoms, what lab values would be related to the disease.

d. Immediate Nursing Management: (I'm in 2nd year and our focus is acute changes in patients) What are you going to do your patient RIGHT AWAY?? What drugs do you anticipate will be ordered by the doctor? What is the mechanism of action of the drug? Where does the nursing intervention/medication take place on your pathophysiology flow chart?

e. Nursing Care/Patient Teaching/Related Pharmacology: After the acute phase passes, what are you going to teach your patient to prevent this from happening again? What should you be monitoring for after the patient becomes more stable? etc.

If you run out of room, just tape more paper to expand the size of your giant chart...If find if everything is on ONE big page, it really helps me visualize how everything is connected to each other - this also really helps me develop some critical thinking!

I wish I could show you a picture but I don't know how to upload it without using a link...

Good luck!!!