Can Anyone tell me the hardest things you had to learn and memorize in lpn Training?

LPN01112005 · Apr 15, 2005

Hello everyone.....=) I plan to start a nursing program in September I just wanted a little insight on what to expect. Any info would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you

Fluid and Electrolytes in Med-Surg 1. Advice: Get a great book, such as Fluid and Electrolytes Made Easy.

In the real world, alot of stuff will become more familiar to you after you graduate and are working. I've had several "ah-ha" moments since I've been working as a nurse, where something I didn't quite "get" in school became absolutely clear to me.

ham22 · Apr 15, 2005

meds! i had an instructor who would quizz us on all of our patients meds right in front of everyone. i have never felt so dumb. i mean we were expected to know every little detail about it right down to the actual breakdown in the body. it sucked! sometimes a patient could have 20 meds or more! the most i ever had was 22. mr poor friend got 42 once! ridiculous!

oh yeah, we couldn't buy the ready made med cards to study from either, we had to make our own! :bugeyes:

good luck to you!

CarmenNJ · Apr 15, 2005

Hello everyone.....=) I plan to start a nursing program in September I just wanted a little insight on what to expect. Any info would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you

I would say definately the hardest thing was Electrolyte Imbalance/Fluid

The compensated and uncompensated stuff still confuses the heck out of me. Metabolic Acidosis and Respiratory Alkalosis blah blah blah

Good luck lol

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2005

I 100% agree. AWFUL :uhoh3: AWFUL

I would say definately the hardest thing was Electrolyte Imbalance/Fluid
The compensated and uncompensated stuff still confuses the heck out of me. Metabolic Acidosis and Respiratory Alkalosis blah blah blah
Good luck lol

ncstudentnurse · Apr 16, 2005

I agree with the Acid/Base and Electrolytes.

We also had to memorize & make our own drugs cards. If you didn't have the "right" answer, you couldn't pass meds that day. I'm talking about knowing ALL the side effects! I always went with N & V first!

HannasMom · Apr 16, 2005

I agree too, Acid/Base and Electrolytes. UGH!!!

dknunges · Apr 16, 2005

I to think the hardest thing was fluid and electrolyte, the next hardest was making all the med cards and learning every med the patient was on. By the time I got through I had a stack of med cards (4X6 pre-printed) 6 inches thick..

blondiii · Apr 17, 2005

In one word, Pharmacology. Also OB is harder than it looks on the surface... lots to deal with there, double trouble. The clinical application of the classroom material was very difficult at first. Hmmm, also organizing my care between patients has been no easy task. Charting is tedious too. Hey wait, getting the assessment done in one blow was hard for me too. I kept doing one thing, going out of the room, then going back. whewww. The whole program is very satisfying though, so far. I love it. (not done yet....in August I hope) Good luck to you.

dbsn00 · Apr 18, 2005

HATED pharmacology :madface: I'm so bad at math & I was terrified that the dosages & calculations would be the end for me (thank God for one of my classmates who saved me from the number monsters). We also had to make our own med cards & were drilled on them (it's true, most of the time you can't go wrong with N & V as a side effect!). I'm going back to school this fall & I'm already getting freaked out about pharmacology ... :chair:

lil' girl, LPN · Apr 22, 2005

Had to be the drug cards. Trying to remember 30 different drugs and knowing what class they were in, what they did, what the side effects were and what nursing you would do. Blah!!