Help with Pediatric Class

Hello -

I am new to this forum, but I have found some great stuff in the discussions. I am really struggling in my pediatrics class because alot of the material is based on the fact that you something about children-- any hints as how I can make it through this class without having a breakdown? I bombed my first test-- and I am still awaiting my test results from Test 2 -- I think I did much better

Can you elaborate a little more on what exactly is causing you trouble? It would make it easier for me to help you and give individual advice.

As to making it though class without a breakdown, you can accomplish this the same way you did for all other clinicals. Make sure to get a good nights rest, eat well, and exercise. Study and dont cram, and make sure to always have time for you.

I hope you did well on your second test :)

Test #3 -

I am having a problem understanding the difference between muscular atrophy and muscular dystrophy. I understand want an atrophied muscle is but I do not understand the disease in peds.. please help

I felt that peds was rooted heavily in growth and development. When taking the exam, if given the age of the child on any questions remember to consider the developmental stage of the child when choosing your answer. Peds seemed to be more application than knowledge in my program and that is why so many of us struggled with it. We would study the power points, know all the patho behind the diseases and then bomb the tests because we didn't know how to apply the material.

Test #3 -

I am having a problem understanding the difference between muscular atrophy and muscular dystrophy. I understand want an atrophied muscle is but I do not understand the disease in peds.. please help

Look here to learn about Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA Type 1.

http://www.fsma.org/

And look here for Muscular Dystrophy:

http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/

Hopefully those websites will help explain the differences to you.

I have a patient with sMA Type 1- he is a trached patient on a ventilator, has no bowel/bladder control, and requires all feedings via G-button as he has no muscle tone to swallow. He requires oral and tracheal suctioning, and is either in bed, a stander, or a wheelchair. He has minimal head control and is stable for only a short minute without being on the ventilator. He is nonverbal.

Muscular Dystrophy (and someone can correct me if I am wrong), you begin to see signs between ages 1-3 and the patients muscle tone declines as the disease progresses. With muscular dystrophy you still have muscle tone, but it declines.

Does that help at all?

I felt that peds was rooted heavily in growth and development. When taking the exam, if given the age of the child on any questions remember to consider the developmental stage of the child when choosing your answer.

Big time! That's how our Peds theory was. In almost every question, we were expected to know where the child was at (or supposed to be at) developmentally.

Hello -

I am new to this forum, but I have found some great stuff in the discussions. I am really struggling in my pediatrics class because alot of the material is based on the fact that you something about children-- any hints as how I can make it through this class without having a breakdown? I bombed my first test-- and I am still awaiting my test results from Test 2 -- I think I did much better

One book I have been referred too is Pediatrics Made Incredibly Easy. Try that and GL!

Hi!

Remember, a is a prefix meaning without, dys is a prefix meaning impaired, difficult or painful. So, muscular atrophy is a decrease in size of muscle tissue, (wasting), without tone or structure and dystrophy, is wasting away without function. Clear as mud? I always enc. my students to review prefixes, roots, and suffixes for their NCLEX. sue. p.s. in the real world of pediatric nursing, I would think it really didn't matter. If you are assessing your pt, I think the evidence would be the same? hugs.

Thank you.