I start clinical in Sept 2010.. should I start reading or studying now..

Nepenthe Sea · Feb 22, 2010

It might not hurt to find a list of the most prescribed medications and start typing up the drug names, usual route and dosage, indications for usage, action of the drug, and nursing interventions. You could keep these in alphabetical order for easy reference. I used my Davis Drug Guide to find all of that information. If I had known what exactly went into writing our care plans, I would have done that the summer before I started clinicals. I started out in a LTC/rehab facility, and I kid you not, every one of my patients was on AT LEAST 25 medications! Those care plans left me with about 2 hours of sleep on clinical nights, and it would have saved me alot of trouble if I could have cut and paste from the medication info I already had. I know that several other students did put together a database of info for the top 100 or 200 meds when they had time. Just by finding all that information and typing it up, I think you would learn a bit about the meds.

Also, we had to write the pathophysiology of all the primary and secondary diagnoses of each patient. Again, at the LTC facility, each patient had, like, ten different pathophysiologies to write up for my care plans. I saw the same diseases and disorders over and over again, though. You could take some of the more common diseases and type and save them (diabetes mellitus, BPH, hypertension, anemia, etc.). That was another thing that would have saved me time. I don't know how different your care plan may be from my programs, though, so I hate to tell you what would have helped me if it won't help you.

I have a book called "How to Survive Clinicals", published by Kaplan. It is a small book, but had lots of good info in it that might help more with clinicals in general. Hope that helps!

finallyonmyway · Feb 22, 2010

Hi Nepenthe Sea,

Thank you so much for your response. That's a great idea about looking up the medications ahead of time. I will start to look up some common diseases also.. There is so much information to take in.

I will check out that book you mentioned.

thanks

Th0r · Feb 22, 2010

Yeah look up a few of the big diseases and common medications for em. Id recommend CHF, Diabetes, COPD, and checking out fluid and electrolyte balances to name a few.

jo'ee · Feb 22, 2010

This is awesome information. I am also done my prerequs (although I am working toward my bsn this semester) and would like to keep my brain fresh.

Great thread!!

Thanks to all who responded!

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2010

Before I started I studied things that I thought would stand me in good stead -- pathophysiology and medications pertaining to things like:

Type 2 Diabetes

Pneumonia

Asthma

Emphysema

CHF

Dysrhythmias

That is just for starters.

Also, I took pharm in the summer before I started -- I am so glad I did because it wasn't hard but it took a lot of time (especially for the piddly number of credits).

Good luck!

Psilant · Feb 23, 2010

Go ahead and start working on ABGs and Acid-Base Balance. I don't know about other schools, but mine has this stuff on EVERY test. It affects EVERY system!

As far as care plans go, I use All-in-One Care Planning Resource by Swearingen. You still need to know what you are talking about, but it helps to give you a 'nudge' in the right direction.

And I agree with the others on the meds. It can be very time consuming!!!!

NGeorgia · Feb 23, 2010

Dosage calculations! I like the Made Incredibly Easy series

Music in My Heart · Feb 23, 2010

I would start learning some of the basic lab tests, their normal values, and what the abnormal values signify.

CBC, BMP, ABG, cardiac enzymes

finallyonmyway · Feb 23, 2010

Thanks for all the great tips. You all are so helpful:)