:( Help...it's been a rough day

[HisHands, ASN, RN]

Tonight we had our first exam in Adult I. It was over CV disorders, Respiratory Disorders, and Skin Disorders. I swear, I spent around 15 hours studying for this stupid test. I can recite the entire CV chapter in my sleep I worked so hard. Well, we took the test (50 multiple choice) and we went over about 10 of them after the tests were turned it. I got every one of them wrong. Some of them were really stupid (in my opinion). For example:

You have a 75 year old female patient who is suffering from osteoperosis. Which of the following forms of calcium would you recommend for her?

A. Calcium plus Vitamin D supplements

B. Calcium supplements

C. Milk and milk products

D. Cheese products

I chose option C only because most milk is fortified with Vitamin D already, and the body absorbs nutrients better through food form than through pill form. Well, it was wrong. The correct answer is A. It just frustrates me because I know that Calcium and Vitamin D go hand in hand. And, that's the point of the question... to make sure the students realize this. It just seems not right.

And, the other hard part for me is, our book doesn't focus as much on interventions as it does on explaining what the disorders are doing to the patients body. But, her tests are extremely focused on interventions. It's difficult to shift my brain to gleen the information she wants out of this extemely biological nursing book. I mean, every question was about nursing intervention... absolutely nothing about the disorders themselves. Does this make sense? So, I have a difficult time knowing what the interventions are supposed to be, when the book focuses on the pathology of these disorders. It makes me wonder why I studied so hard.

I just need a little advice on how to figure out the nursing interventions, when they aren't listed in the book.

Thanks as always...

hishands

[TexasTac]

I know many people who have been in your shoes, myself included. My best advice to you would be to buy an NCLEX book and use it to supplement your studying. It will get you in the frame of mind you need to be in to answers questions in Care I. I personally use the Saunders NCLEX book.

Don't get discouraged, it will all be okay in the end. Just also incorporate the NCLEX book into your studying and you should see a difference in your test grades. :)

[CHATSDALE]

i know how you feel..not one of us can truthfully say we haven't been in your shoes

BUT you will get through this and as they say in 100 years no one will care one way or the other...you will learn what is important...and you will learn what is expected on teste

you will be a great nurse

[HisHands, ASN, RN]

i appreciate your encouraging responses. i have the saunders book and will definitely be spending a lot more quality time with it.

do you guys have any suggestions on helping with critical thinking skills? that seems to be the big shift from last semester to this one... and i really want to be the best nurse i can be.

~hishands

[prmenrs, RN]

Hypothesizing here: I think she's trying to help you do 2 things: Pick the BEST answer out of a choice of GOOD answers, and take what you have learned in the book about the disease, and think it through to what that means to your nursing care. e.g.: a pt has trouble breathing because of his lung disease; how will you help him get through the day? Meals, fluids, O2, hygiene, meds, etc.

Don't know if that makes sense to you, hope so.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I think she's trying to prepare you for the types of questions you'll find on the NCLEX. You'll thank her later, believe me.

For now, just keep in there kickin'. Saunders is my favorite too, because it teaches you why one answer is best.

[SarasotaRN2b]

You have a 75 year old female patient who is suffering from osteoperosis. Which of the following forms of calcium would you recommend for her?

A. Calcium plus Vitamin D supplements

B. Calcium supplements

C. Milk and milk products

D. Cheese products

I chose option C only because most milk is fortified with Vitamin D already, and the body absorbs nutrients better through food form than through pill form. Well, it was wrong. The correct answer is A. It just frustrates me because I know that Calcium and Vitamin D go hand in hand. And, that's the point of the question... to make sure the students realize this. It just seems not right.

And, the other hard part for me is, our book doesn't focus as much on interventions as it does on explaining what the disorders are doing to the patients body. But, her tests are extremely focused on interventions. It's difficult to shift my brain to gleen the information she wants out of this extemely biological nursing book. I mean, every question was about nursing intervention... absolutely nothing about the disorders themselves. Does this make sense? So, I have a difficult time knowing what the interventions are supposed to be, when the book focuses on the pathology of these disorders. It makes me wonder why I studied so hard.

I just need a little advice on how to figure out the nursing interventions, when they aren't listed in the book.

Thanks as always...

hishands

Okay, I'm not a nursing student yet, but I would think that while your answer is good...wouldn't you have to also consider that a patient can be lactose intolerant and giving milk and milk products may actually cause additional problems?

Kris

[SmilingBluEyes]

this is just t he sort of question you will see on the NCLEX, so do get used to it. Best wishes, and you are not alone. We all went through that frustration in school.

[truern]

You have to understand the disease process in order to know what interventions to use. Maybe she's teaching you to think like a nurse and consider what you can do in that role??

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

It's very frustrating, but so is NCLEX. Good luck to you.

[Lawnurse]

What reason did your professor give as to why A was the correct answer?

Did her age have something to do with it?

I'm curious to know because nutrients are better absorbed through food rather than supplements - and with food there is no chance of overdose, and no chance of confusing the calcium pill with any of her other pills.

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

I agree with the others that these questions were given to you in NCLEX format. All are good answers, but you have to decide which one is best. Critical thinking is one of the most important things when it comes to NCLEX.

Dont give up and good luck!