Any advice for Peds and Psyc Nursing ?

Published

Hi !! I am a 3rd semester RN student GETTING READY TO TRANSITION INTO SENIOR LEVEL:p:yeah:in a few days..My 4th semester will consist of Peds and Psyc. I am just wondering if someone can give me a heads up on these. What seems to be the hardest part about it ?? I think that this is the semester that fails almost everyone. Any advice is greatly welcomed!!

Thanks!!!:redbeathe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I thought Peds was very similar to medsurg and I studied in the same way for it as I did for medsurg. But psych was different. The class lectures were not helpful for me. So I did rely on ATI book for it. That book really breaks down the info. very well. The psych ATI's primary resource was the book we used in class, so it worked out for me very well. Hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am going in to 3rd semester and I have already had my psych rotation. I can say that it is very interesting. My advice is to understand your meds really well- Expected side effects/adverse effects(NMS, serotonin syndrome), levels of certain drugs (lithium!), anticholinergic effects...

Know your vocab words! Anomia, Aphasia...They pop up everywhere.

And really know your defense mechanisms...You will find that many psych disorders are really just severely exaggerated defense mechanisms. A good understanding here helps a lot!

Also, practice your therapeutic communication skills now. In 7 weeks of clinicals I learned that using silence and really listening to your patients goes a long way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

for pedia, the only hard part i can think of are the cardiovascular disorders(especially the pathophysiology) atrial septal defect,ventricular septal defect,av canal defect, congenital obstructive defects, valve stenosis,tetralogy of fallot, mixed effect.... and so on(theres much more i cant remember)

so you might wanna get some extra time for that...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiovascular, School Nursing.
I am going in to 3rd semester and I have already had my psych rotation. I can say that it is very interesting. My advice is to understand your meds really well- Expected side effects/adverse effects(NMS, serotonin syndrome), levels of certain drugs (lithium!), anticholinergic effects...

Know your vocab words! Anomia, Aphasia...They pop up everywhere.

And really know your defense mechanisms...You will find that many psych disorders are really just severely exaggerated defense mechanisms. A good understanding here helps a lot!

Also, practice your therapeutic communication skills now. In 7 weeks of clinicals I learned that using silence and really listening to your patients goes a long way.

You said it all! I just finished my psych semester and everything you stated was about 85% of what we focused on. My instructors were huge CAM therapy advocates, so the other 15% of the WHOLE semester was spent on CAM therapies. A little bit much, wouldn't you say? :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I haven't had peds yet but from what I have been told, it can be difficult dealing with the parents.

As for psych, I didn't think it was difficult, just really dry and boring. Some of the patients I talked so I had a difficult time understanding (schizophrenia, garbled speech) but other than that psych wasn't that hard.

Good luck and congrats on making it to your senior level! Hang in there, just one more year left :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion