Avoiding Med-Surg Class?

[Donald11]

I keep hearing on these forums about how hard Med-Surg class is and was not sure of whether LPN programs usually contain this class. I have seen a couple of LPN programs have Med-Surg I and Med-Surg II, but others do not have it. Should I go with the programs that do not have it?

Below is the list of nursing classes from the school I am leaning toward. It is a community colelge in the Bronx:

CLINICAL COURSE SEQUENCE

Semester III, FALL Term

NUR 110 .....................................Clinical Nursing I ...........................................6.0

NUR111......................................Pharmacology I...............................................2.0

NUR 112 .....................................Maternal / Child..............................................2.0

Total Semester Credits ............. ........................................................................10.0

Semester IV, SPRING Term

NUR 120 .....................................Clinical Nursing II ..........................................8.5

Now, I don't see anything that resembles a Med--Surg class. I also looked up to see what is covered in Clinical Nursing I and II, and here are the course descriptions:

NUR 110 LPN Clinical Nursing I

This course introduces students to the basic

nursing knowledge, skills, behaviors, and

role expectations required of the practical

nurse as a healthcare provider; selected

components of the nursing process include:

Identifying patient problems, planning,

intervention, and evaluation, enable the

practical nurse to function effectively as a

member of the healthcare team are

incorporated in classroom and clinical

learning experiences. The conceptual

framework of basic human needs of

culturally diverse patients and families are

integrated throughout course content.

Selected nursing skills are mastered in the

clinical simulation laboratory prior to the

clinical rotation.

NUR 120 Clinical Nursing II

This course introduces the student to the

roles, functions, and responsibilities of the

practical nurse in the care of adult clients

with medical / surgical health problems

throughout the life cycle and those

experiencing psychiatric - mental health

problems who have the potential for

enhancement of their mental health. Special

emphasis is placed on interpersonal

relationships and ongoing development of

the student’s capacity for self-awareness and

reflection. Students are encouraged to write

intensively. Learning in all domainscognitive,

affective and psychomotor is

fostered throughout the program.

So my question is whether I would be correct in assuming that the program lacks any med-surg classes or are the classes in the program, but under a different name? Thank you in advance.

[guiltysins]

Clinical Nursing II is Med-surg, they just don't call it that.

medical / surgical health problems throughout the life cycle

That class will probably be a split clinical of med-surg and psych from what the description says. Every nursing program must have a med-surg clinical because it's the foundation of nursing. A nursing program is required to have that because technically its adult nursing, you can't be a nurse without taking an adult nursing class right? My BSN program calls the med-surg classes Nursing for the Ill Adult I & II

[anonymous1919, LPN]

Oh yeah, you'll have Med/Surg no matter what LPN program you go into.... it just may not be called Med/Surg. My Med/Surg class was broken down into Adult 1, 2, 3, and 4. It's unavoidable and you shouldn't want to avoid it anyway. It's basically a class that goes through every body system and their problems. Like right now I am doing Cardiac and Integumentary and learning about all the diseases people get with in those systems..... you can't go through nursing school with out taking those classes... those classes basicaly ARE nursing school lol

[RhodyGirl, RN]

There is no way to "avoid" med/surg. It is the basis of your nursing knowledge, and must be learned. :)

My school calls it Adult Health 1 (endocrine, cardiac, respiratory) and Adult Health 2 (GI, GU, cancer, etc...), but the titles and how the content is covered will vary by program. I'm not sure how LPN programs cover the material, though. You'd have to speak with someone from the particular school.

[Donald11]

Thanks. I thought that maybe some LPN programs did not have the class since it was primarily for RN programs. I am just wondering why Med-Surg seems to have such a repuation on the forums for being extremely difficult? Is it really that bad? If I do a non-accelerated program, will it be any easier (being that I have more time to absorb the information)?

[guiltysins]

Thanks. I thought that maybe some LPN programs did not have the class since it was primarily for RN programs. I am just wondering why Med-Surg seems to have such a repuation on the forums for being extremely difficult? Is it really that bad? If I do a non-accelerated program, will it be any easier (being that I have more time to absorb the information)?

I haven't taken it yet but from what I see it's difficult because it's a very broad subject that contains a little of everything. Labor and Delivery, is pretty much just that. While everyone is different and some people may have some out of ordinary cases, they all pretty much lead to the end result of having a baby. Med-Surg is ICU, Emergency, OR ect and pretty much any adult problem you can think. Med-surg floors are usually where nurses have the most patients at a time, all with very different problems and you have to know and understand them all.

Everyone is different and some people found it more difficult than others because they hated it. Don't let them freak you out. I think the acceleration might help a little but probably not that much.

[RhodyGirl, RN]

Thanks. I thought that maybe some LPN programs did not have the class since it was primarily for RN programs. I am just wondering why Med-Surg seems to have such a repuation on the forums for being extremely difficult? Is it really that bad? If I do a non-accelerated program, will it be any easier (being that I have more time to absorb the information)?

It's really not as bad as people make it out to be. I took Med/Surg 1 last semester and got an A- in the class (BSN program). I paid close attention to what my instructor told us to focus on, read the chapters, and read through the class powerpoints. We also have ATI (computerized comprehensive testing at the end of each semester) books that are a good study resource.

Don't let people scare you. Med/Surg is the basis of nursing and as long as you have solid study habits, you'll be fine.