How to study Medical-Surgical Nursing?

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Finally! finally! The first semester of nursing was over, and I made A. :)

The following spring, we will have Medical-Surgical, and I bought one of the text-books online. Oh, my goodness, it is 1772 pages!!!

I am an organized person. I like to plan and be prepared ahead for anything, other wise I will get frustrated. But How can I go over this "dictionary" in three weeks???

Please, please, please, gives me any idea! Thanks!!!

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Specializes in Tele.

See if you can talk to someone that has already had the class to get what the assigned readings are. Do not just try to tackle that whole book....you'll fry your brain and most likely you use that books over two semesters (we do, anyway). Read to understand, not to memorize. That's a big mistake with Med-Surg. You have to really understand the pathos of the diseases and if you can do that, you can rationalize the s/s, needed meds, etc.

Good luck! :)

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Thanks Annachu,

My head seems doesn't work in the afternoon since I keep studying in the whole morning. I have spent 3 days in cardiovascular system, but I still haven't finished 50 pages in that chapter. LoL!

I like the pathos even though it takes me a long time. And I like to take notes as I read the book, which makes me move forward even more slowly.

You are right. I need to learn to skip the book, but every single point seems very interesting, and I can't put it away.

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I just finished med-surg 1 a few weeks ago. I used Saunders & I bought a book called med-surg made incredibly easy. Honestly, the only time I opened up my book was when I truly didn't understand something. Reading that book page by page is impossible and will fry your brain. I also studied my lectures & re-listened to my lectures over and over....I would even listen to them in my car! The class is tough, but its nothing that cant be handled. Good luck :)

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Specializes in Neuro Intensive Care.

You won't know what to study until class starts. My Med Surg is divided into three semesters, each semester focusing on different diseases. Perhaps you can asks a previous student what is focused on this upcoming semester? If not, then just enjoy your break!

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I just finished med-surg 1 a few weeks ago. I used Saunders & I bought a book called med-surg made incredibly easy. Honestly the only time I opened up my book was when I truly didn't understand something. Reading that book page by page is impossible and will fry your brain. I also studied my lectures & re-listened to my lectures over and over....I would even listen to them in my car! The class is tough, but its nothing that cant be handled. Good luck :)[/quote']

med-surg made incredibly easy was recommended to me as well.

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Get a good NCLEX review book. I used Say deed and studied mainly from that.

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Thanks guys! You help me a lot!

I summarize the following tips for my Med-Surg. See if there is anything else I need to add; please let me know. Thanks again for your kindness!

1. Ask a previous student what is focused on the upcoming semester

2. Buy a book called Med-Surg made incredibly easy, and try to understand the pathos of each disease

3. Get a good NCLEX review book - e.g., Saunders

4. Skim through the chapter before the lecture day

5. Record the lecture & re-listened lectures over and over

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When studying for exams, I always ask myself "what would I need to know as a patient if I had this disease?" For me, that was helpful to remember the disease and the main facts about it (prognosis, treatment options, etc.) and guides what care you'd do as a nurse. Remember, as a nurse we act as a facilitator of learning to the patients. I've seen many classmates study minute details of diseases but not have the big picture on what the disease was and what it did to the body. Sometimes I read the dumbed down information on diseases on websites like webmd or mayoclinic til I get the overall picture and then I go to my class notes to study.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Saunders!!! I recommend all nursing students to use this book. I also used concept maps too.

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Thanks for your valuable advice! I will learn to do concept map about each disease.

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Saunders!!! I recommend all nursing students to use this book. I also used concept maps too.

Yes, I have heard about this book many many times. I order it online now, and I will get it before class begins.

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