Block IV advice...

Hey folks,

I remember writing a thread on what to do to prepare for Block I. Now, I am going into Block IV, and would like some advice. This is the beginning of critical care, high risk OB, and high risk Peds. Does anyone have advice for those of us just starting? We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. WOO HOO!

CrazyPremed

Block 4 was fast and furious. In M/S we covered respiratory (respiratory distress, venitilators, ards, chest tubes, abg's), cardiac (acs, angina, mi, heart failure, valvular disease, aneurysms), don't sweat the EKG stuff you'll only need to read basic rhythms (afib, vfib, vtach, sinus tach, sinus brady etc) neuro (cva, tia, iicp, spinal shock, autonomic dysreflexia), and burns. OB covered all of the high risk stuff (pih, infection, moms with cardiovascular disorder, gestational diabetes, and labor and birth complications). Peds covered cardiac(vsd, tetralogy a fallot, pda, coarctation of the aorta, chf), shock, burns, trauma, drowning....

If you can take M/S last I would recommend it since the material will be fresher on the final. For me, M/S was the most challenging which was a suprise because M/S has always been my comfort zone. I think that if you are able to see a pt on a ventialtor early in the semester it may help you to understand the respiratory content. I didn't have a pt on a vent until after my respiratory exam. After I cared for that pt all of the lecture material finally sunk in.

Also, at MCC it seemed like the questions on the exams went one step further. Prior to block 4 the questions were mainly application type questions. Block 4 questions were more analysis type questions (NCLEX only considers application and analysis questions as passing questions on the board, recognition and recall type questions are at the failure level). The Saunders book really helped in blocks 1-3 but it didn't help me much in block 4. I just started preparing for NCLEX with Kaplan and I wish I had done so prior to block 4. Kaplans questions are written very much like our block 4 test questions. Also, another book that would be very helpful is "Prioritization, Delegation, and Assessment" , I think that it is by Lacharity....If you have any questions please feel free to pm me.....

ttyl,

Mary

I agree with Mary. It was fast and furious. Try and be as outgoing as possible in clinicals. Ask lots of questions of anyone that will talk to you....techs, unit secretaries, RNs, docs, etc. I found that were areas that surprised me and others that I found overwhelming. Go with an open mind.

Also, stay as organized as possible. A lot of forms and assignments are due at different times and it is easy to get behind. Stay on top of all the timelines as best you can.

Most of all, enjoy it...it's your last semester. Now will be the time to plan for pinning and everything that goes with it. It will be here before you know it.

Almost forgot, this is when you'll be interviewing for jobs too. It gets really busy!!!

At Gateway, I felt Block IV was used as a weedout. We lost about 5 out of 30 students. Tests were noticeably harder. At the risk of getting flamed on this board , I actually felt like I was in college for the first time in nursing school (rather than a weird high school-like period) - tests were very challenging. In fact, so challenging that the instructors had to ease-up towards the end or too many people would have failed.

We had that same problem and lost 6 people out of 23. The important thing is to stay on top of everything, one missing assignment can fail you. Also, study for the tests like you've never studied for anything before, you want to go into the final knowing you'll pass no matter what grade you get. Organize yourself before starting, get a calendar and write out when all your assignments are due etc (we were told at orientation when everything would be due) and do assignments ahead of time if you have time. You never know when you're going to have to rush a kid to the hospital (been there) or have your car not working etc. anything that can throw your schedule off. If you stay ahead of the game you won't have to worry. Don't be intimidated by ICU, I was really nervous going in, but actually loved it!! Start interviewing EARLY!!! I told a lot of people this and few listened to me, but I ended up with three job offers in the specialty area I wanted to get into, and the people that didn't start interviewing early had a hard time finding ANY job. And for those that aren't starting block four yet, know that you can take your 285 class through Rio (much easier) so that you only have to focus on 281 during block 4.

Last- ENJOY, everything comes together and makes sense and you start feeling like a nurse!

Keli

new grad L&D nurse!! (soon to be RN)

Block 4 help...I have the Kaplan 2008-2009 and Saunders. Did anyone find the Saunders helpful for content for exams? I am at Gateway and they keep saying it is intense and the questions are harder. Does anyone know what Nclex book would be helpful outside of Saunders for the "tough" NCLEX questions? I bought the Priority book...just don't have good resouces for OB and Peds. Thank you!

Saunders is a useful review book. Didn't really help me on the exams at Gateway - but good for NCLEX. Not sure exactly what your question is, though?

I went to gateway and used saunders nclex review book all four blocks. It helped me to ace my exams.

Thanks, I wasn't sure about using Saunders for Block 4. In the other blocks, I reviewed it a little but relied more on the Illustrated NCLEX book that came with our books, and that seemed to work well. I was asking in the sense that our instructors keep saying the questions for block IV are not going to be anything like the questions for the other blocks so I wasn't sure if my Saunders would work either. Great to hear it helped for the NCLEX. Did you find the questions to be out of the usual NCLEX style for block IV? Much appreciate the response!