How to remember all those signs and symptoms

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2008

What may be helpful is first start by making a table. The first block of s/s should be for the ones that they all share in common. Then the rest should be different for each thing. For example, both hypo and hyperkalemia cause cardiac dysrhythmias, muscle weakness, nausea and fatigue; but the main difference is that hypoK is associated more with progressive weakness leading to flaccid paralysis while hyperK is associated more with muscle cramps.

You can remember magnesium and calcium best by associating them with muscles. Think of them as sedatives: too much mag and calcium will cause "sedative" like effects on the patient, while not enough will have a excitatory effect.

Try making a chart and see if that helps. Focus on what is different, or what stands out for each of the imbalances. Also, just know that in reality, we don't diagnose our imbalances based on s/s; we always get chemistry panel on the patient to see what his levels are (also many people are asymptomatic or their s/s are so subtle you may not pick up on them).

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2008

Also I wanted to reassure you that renal is probably one of the most difficult pathophysiologies to learn, and many people struggle with fluid/electrolyes in school. You are not alone!!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 15, 2008

I really didn't fully comprehend fluid and electrolytes until a few weeks before the boards. As previously mentioned, make a chart to make comparisons. When I took it in fundamentals, I was fortunate that the exam really didn't focus on any of them except potassium (and I think even then, I got it wrong). Before the boards, I kept reading the information over and over and OVER again until it made sense.

sziq1 · Apr 15, 2008

Thanks i will try the chart and see if that helps. I remember going over them really fast in patho my first semester but now in 3rd semester we are going more in depth in the actual renal class. Acid base was kind of a problem at first but I think I finaly just taught myself. Our teacher is pretty new (only 2nd sem. teaching) and not too many people like her and she manages to just confuse us more, most of the time. Oh well only 3 more weeks and this semester will be over and I will only have one more semester to worry about and then I am done. Thanks goodness!!!

jjjoy, LPN · Apr 15, 2008

For me, memorizing various lists of symptoms feels very ineffective, especially since they are often the same symptoms, just in different combinations and to different degrees. Instead, I learn best in context. For learning symptom clusters, I do best if I can actually SEE a few patients exhibiting the symptoms-to take a mental snapshot, if you will. As a student, we didn't get nearly enough exposure to the different diagnoses first hand so I would draw cartoon pictures of patients with different sets of symptoms. And then also understanding the pathophys behind the symptoms so that the whole thing fits together. Sometimes, I found the level of explanation of pathophys not in depth enough for me to feel like I really understood it. Someone here noted that they'd reference other medical books when the nursing text explanation didn't satisfy them. I think that's a great idea for certain learning styles. Hopefully, you'll find a system that works for you!

leslie :-D · Apr 15, 2008

Someone here noted that they'd reference other medical books when the nursing text explanation didn't satisfy them. I think that's a great idea for certain learning styles. Hopefully, you'll find a system that works for you!

i always used my mosby's dictionary for pathophys.

it used to drive a couple of my instructors crazy, since i wasn't getting the full scope of nsg care.

but i can actually say that it was my Bible during school.

leslie