Is this typical? Contradicting info.

Simplistic · Mar 25, 2017

I learned that heat causes vasodilation, which in turn improves circulation to that area, which would reduce muscle spasms. Cold is more of a numbing agent and for pain. Ive never experienced conflicting information from my teachers vs the tests. I would definitely bring this up with your teacher!

studentbear, CNA · Mar 25, 2017

I learned that heat causes vasodilation, which in turn improves circulation to that area, which would reduce muscle spasms. Cold is more of a numbing agent and for pain. Ive never experienced conflicting information from my teachers vs the tests. I would definitely bring this up with your teacher!

That makes perfect sense to me, thank you. I've had muscle spasms in the past and found that heat was more beneficial in my experience, but if nursing school has taught me anything it's to rely on what has been taught and not necessarily what I already know lol. It's helpful to know you haven't experienced conflicting info.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Mar 25, 2017

That makes perfect sense to me, thank you. I've had muscle spasms in the past and found that heat was more beneficial in my experience, but if nursing school has taught me anything it's to rely on what has been taught and not necessarily what I already know lol. It's helpful to know you haven't experienced conflicting info.

How were the questions worded though? Was one addressing pain and another reduction of the muscle spasms?

studentbear, CNA · Mar 25, 2017

How were the questions worded though? Was one addressing pain and another reduction of the muscle spasms?

I believe both were about reduction of the muscle spasms.

shan_elle · Mar 27, 2017

I am about halfway through my first semester of nursing school and as part of my coursework I am taking fundamentals which includes an online HESI component. I am feeling confused because we just took our second exam and one of the questions was about applying cold for muscle spasms. The correct answer (as taught in class, which I got correct) was that it is appropriate. For the HESI adaptive quizzing, however, the correct answer for that is that cold application for muscle spasms is not appropriate. When a classmate asked our professor why our lecture and HESI were contradicting each other, she told us "well, it's not correct for HESI but it is for our class." This same professor has a tendency to contradict her own powerpoints while teaching, but that's for another day...
Is this fairly standard for nursing programs? I feel like it's confusing enough having somewhat contradicting information class to class with different professors (for example, sometimes info doesn't line up between our pathophys class and health assessment.) But for a class's content to not line up with a resource being utilized for that same class feels frustrating. Have other students experienced something similar? Should I speak to this professor about it or let it be? I'd like to at least go to the professor and clarify when cold application is appropriate for muscle spasms so that I know for clinical practice/NCLEX.

In my program, receiving conflicting information from time to time is pretty standard. My advice is to critically think through it, use your best judgement, research it, and realize that in "real life" or in different situations the "right" answer may change. In the question you're referring to it sounds like they're trying to gauge if you understand the affect heat/cold have on the body and blood vessels. When the right answers are confusing or contradict each other, rather than getting hung up on right or wrong, try to understand the root of what the question is asking. Focus on the big picture and don't sweat missing a few points here and there.

During one of our lectures the instructor specifically told us that using sugar water to treat infants' pain is no longer indicated, yet the opposite answer was the right answer on the exam. When brought to the instructor's attention she insisted it was correct and aligned with what we had discussed in class. Things like this are not worth arguing about or trying to get points back on. Read the latest research, hospital protocol, ask a different instructor who you trust, and figure it out for yourself. Do not rely solely on others to build your knowledge base.