Help! Advanced patho is kicking my you know what!

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Specializes in Pediatric RN.

Hey,

I just recently started an FNP program and I’m currently taking advanced pathophysiology as one of my classes. My teacher doesn’t teach, she just reads the power points to us so I spend hours studying on my own by listening to recorded lectures, reading the power points, referencing the textbook, watching Youtube videos, and making flashcards on quizlet.com. I have taken two test so far and although I have a “B” which is just passing. I’m very unhappy with my grades because they don’t reflect the effort I’m putting in. While I’m taking the exam, I feel like I understand and that the questions are fair then I get my grade and I’m shocked. Any pointers and type on how to study and What supplemental materials I need because clearly I’m doing something wrong. I currently work and go to school full-time and but my schedule allows me to put a good amount of study hours in on my days off. Please help! Maybe this isn’t for me ??

Thanks for reading

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You say you get your grade after an exam and you’re shocked. Reminds me of the time I had an A going into the final and came out of the class with a C. I was so plummeted into shock because that grade was going to kick me out of the running for admission to the program, that I failed to go to the instructor to review the exam. Years later it occurred to me that something weird could have been at play, like the scantron misread, but I never checked to find out. Since this instructor is not teaching as you report, I wouldn’t necessarily bother to approach them because you are likely to be even more disappointed.

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Specializes in PCU, cardiology.

Hi Gr8fulRN!

When I took advanced patho, I found that I did better when I wasn't memorizing, rather working through things. Make sense of the pathways, the body maintains homeostasis rather artistically and eventually makes sense! I implemented this method to students while working as a tutor, and it seemed to be helpful for them as well.

Instead of Quizlet, maybe grab a whiteboard or blank paper and write out pathways. I like to use the RAAS mechanism as an example (sorry if you haven't made it to this point yet). Start with a picture of poor renal perfusion, and an arrow leading to the release of renin from the kidneys and angiotensinogen from the liver, which then combines and becomes angiotensin 1, once ACE is released by the lungs, angiotensin 1 becomes angiotensin 2 and so on and so forth.

This is also a helpful way to set you up for pharmacology, when you will learn how medications act on these pathways to create outcomes. In my previous example, ACE-inhibitors are used to block the conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, preventing the vasoconstriction of arteries and sodium retention. Good luck.

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Specializes in Pediatric RN.

This was very helpful, thanks. I just got my grade from this week’s test and again didn’t do well as I felt I was doing. The questions seemed fair to me so I’m surprised again. I have a good average in the class but still surprised. Due to COVID, we were treated in blackboard and had 50 minutes to answer 60 questions. I’m going to skip quizlet because I didn’t think it was helpful and focus on systems and homeostasis. Thank you!

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I hear your frustration! For Advanced Patho, I got a study buddy, which really helped. Someone could ask me in real time open-ended questions and I had to actually think about them, which is a lot different than reading multiple choice answers.

Are you able to find a study buddy?

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
On 3/24/2020 at 11:02 AM, LauRN3367 said:

Hi Gr8fulRN!

When I took advanced patho, I found that I did better when I wasn't memorizing, rather working through things. Make sense of the pathways, the body maintains homeostasis rather artistically and eventually makes sense! I implemented this method to students while working as a tutor, and it seemed to be helpful for them as well.

Instead of Quizlet, maybe grab a whiteboard or blank paper and write out pathways. I like to use the RAAS mechanism as an example (sorry if you haven't made it to this point yet). Start with a picture of poor renal perfusion, and an arrow leading to the release of renin from the kidneys and angiotensinogen from the liver, which then combines and becomes angiotensin 1, once ACE is released by the lungs, angiotensin 1 becomes angiotensin 2 and so on and so forth.

This is also a helpful way to set you up for pharmacology, when you will learn how medications act on these pathways to create outcomes. In my previous example, ACE-inhibitors are used to block the conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, preventing the vasoconstriction of arteries and sodium retention. Good luck.

This is great advice! I had an excellent instructor for patho and she made it clear that memorization was just the first piece - knowledge relies on having deeper understanding. You couldn't score high on her tests with out understanding how things worked forward/backwards and inside-out and vice versa. She was a strong advocate for making the information your own - draw a picture - teach some one! (if you didn't have some on to teach - explain it to your pet - if you don't have a pet explain it to your house plant! Write a story! Create a play or interpretive dance that is accurate! Take a research article on the subject and rewrite it/verbal lecture the contents at 3 different audience levels -- child, lay person, fellow health care worker-- you get the picture!) Connect what you are learning in patho to what you are learning in pharmacology and health assessment. What signs/symptoms would concern you - what to they reflect pathological? What drugs would you use to treat? Why do these drugs work? How to they alter physiological pathways to restore homeostasis? It makes studying for all 3 courses easier and forces understanding in all 3!

Seriously one of the most challenging courses/instructors I've ever had but I appreciate that she held us to such a high standard and really forced us to learn the information - it's made me much more confident in my practice and in my own ability to teach myself from research articles.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I recommend signing up to learning platforms. After I discovered learning platform/websites/ Youtube artists like (Ninja Nerd Science) it wasa game changers. Watch videos online and sign up for learning platforms. DM me for specific websites I like.

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Specializes in Pediatric RN.
On 3/25/2020 at 9:44 PM, Gr8fulRN said:

This was very helpful, thanks. I just got my grade from this week’s test and again didn’t do well as I felt I was doing. The questions seemed fair to me so I’m surprised again. I have a good average in the class but still surprised. Due to COVID, we were treated in blackboard and had 50 minutes to answer 60 questions. I’m going to skip quizlet because I didn’t think it was helpful and focus on systems and homeostasis. Thank you!

Thank you for your response.

On 3/24/2020 at 8:57 AM, caliotter3 said:

You say you get your grade after an exam and you’re shocked. Reminds me of the time I had an A going into the final and came out of the class with a C. I was so plummeted into shock because that grade was going to kick me out of the running for admission to the program, that I failed to go to the instructor to review the exam. Years later it occurred to me that something weird could have been at play, like the scantron misread, but I never checked to find out. Since this instructor is not teaching as you report, I wouldn’t necessarily bother to approach them because you are likely to be even more disappointed.

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Specializes in Pediatric RN.
5 minutes ago, strawberryluv said:

I recommend signing up to learning platforms. After I discovered learning platform/websites/ Youtube artists like (Ninja Nerd Science) it wasa game changers. Watch videos online and sign up for learning platforms. DM me for specific websites I like.

Hi,

I don’t have the option to send you a PM but thanks for the advice. I’ve learned a lot from Ninja Nerd Science and some other youtubers. Kindly share the ones you like because I’m currently studying for my final because I got a “B” on my 3 exams so far. The final is a large chunk of our grade and I’m worried...I’m also looking for practice questions but haven’t really found a website that provides questions that are focused on the chapters that I’m learning.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I recommend osmosis.org for videos. I paid $99 for two years and they currently have 50% off I think. It helped me get an A in Advanced Pathophysiology. After I read the chapters, I would watch the videos and then take notes. They have their "high yield notes" with most of their videos so I would copy those and quiz myself using them as study sheets then look at those sheets when I didn't get the questions I asked right to myself.

Also, I purchased the question bank from apea.com which helped a lot.

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Specializes in Pediatric RN.

Thank you. I’m currently reviewing for the final so I’ll look into the question bank

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On 4/10/2020 at 8:48 PM, strawberryluv said:

I recommend signing up to learning platforms. After I discovered learning platform/websites/ Youtube artists like (Ninja Nerd Science) it wasa game changers. Watch videos online and sign up for learning platforms. DM me for specific websites I like.

Hello there. I am currently taking med surg and pharmacology. I tried messaging you about the learning platforms and channels that you like but I am not able to.

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