How do YOU use Sheehy's Manual?

[hardworkinmama]

I see this book recommended often & I've had it for months now. I'm just not sure how to use it best. I tried reading it like a book but that didn't really work for me. I'm halfway through residency now, but I'd love to hear how other nurses utilized it. I was thinking of writing down the diagnoses/cc's I see each shift & reading up on them. Looking forward to some suggestions! Thanks!

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

That's one way to use it. Use it as a reference to everything you see to gain knowledge. You will eventually work your way through the book.

Are you going through the ENA orientation program? I seem to remember that using the book as a study guide.

[hardworkinmama]

No not an ENA program. I'm in my hospital's critical care residency. Ok, I'll just plan to refer to it in that way. Thanks!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I used it as part of the online ENA orientation that emtb2rn referenced, back in 2008 when I did an ER nursing fellowship as a new nurse. I think it might be useful for you to pull out various cases from your day and read on the corresponding areas in the book; that way it's reinforcement vs. just cold reading.

[BelleKRN]

Thanks for posting this question. I've been trying to read the Sheely book in preparation for my transfer to the ED in a week. It has been hard to get through it. I agree that it will probably be much more applicable if I apply it to the cases I see.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I chucked it. Seriously. A nursing diagnosis list doesn't help you prioritize problems or patients. It wasn't for me at all.

Try a CCRN review book, and Zimmerman's "Triage Nursing Secrets." Definitely know how to do the best nursing assessment, and reassess, reassess, reassess (you'll learn a lot, and catch emerging problems quickly)