Maternity/NB/L&D/PP/2nd Semester - HELP!!!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 16, 2011

my advice is to get a study partner who is as serious about studying as you are. It helps me to talk things out and "teach" someone else. That way I remember better and when the other party asks questions we can look up the answer together if needed.

With kids you need to focus on growth and development. Remember they are not little adults, but a whole other animal. Fast growth on EVERYTHING

Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2011

I haven't been in school for a very long time, but why is it you don't think your study habits that did so well for you in M/S won't do the same job for maternity? Is it the teacher and the way they present the material? Different testing methods? I don't think having kids makes any difference - I didn't when I was in nursing school and did fine. In addition to the study buddy/ or study groups, I would take advantage of your professor's office hours to make sure you understand what she is teaching.

MyLady23 · Mar 16, 2011

I am in that class right now too: The "Success" Books really help!! Here is a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Maternal-Newborn-Success-Applying-Critical/dp/0803619065/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300296011&sr=8-1

and

http://www.amazon.com/Pediatric-Success-Applying-Critical-Thinking/dp/0803620586/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300296045&sr=1-3

Good luck!!

HappyCat0325, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2011

I actually ordered those two books yesterday because I heard a few people taking about them and figured that it certainly couldn't hurt my grades any!!! Thanks for the recommendation! Just curious....how many hours do you tend to devote to the Success books as opposed to the textbooks prior to the exams? Thanks!

MyLady23 · Mar 16, 2011

Well the Success books are questions - so generally I read the book, go over the matching study guide book and then do the Success questions. These books are great, because they have different chapters, meaning you can only answer questions for postpartum, or only for newborn ect. Even if I have the question wrong it gives you a great rationale WHY it is wrong. Hope that helps

HappyCat0325, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2011

Excellent! Can't wait to get the Success books and get started on the questions before my next exam!

And to answer Heidi's question....I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it just seems like this semester the exams are structured in a different format and the concepts are so different from what we had last semester. It seems like L&D/PP/NB are a totally different beast as compared to MedSurge! Maybe I'm just not approaching the topics the correct way, but it just seems to be a LOT more complex than what I was used to. Anyone else feel the same?

kakamegamama · Mar 17, 2011

I agree w/the poster who suggested you go by your professor's office. Is there a test blue print? What about objectives---if you understand the objectives, and can wrap your mind around them, that will help in the taking of the exam. Know your norms--ie--normal newborn breathing/pulses/etc---if you know your norms you will recognize the abnormals. Ask the professor how she would recommend you study. And, I hope you haven't saved all your reading until the very end before the exam. Hang in there & I'm sure you'll do fine. I would hesitate on the "success" books as another poster mentioned, though. Exam questions are usually from a test bank associated with the text book used, or written by the professors from the material taught from rather than a source that is "external".

HappyCat0325, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2011

We were told by our lecture professor that there was NO BLUE PRINT & NO REVIEW for ANY tests for the remainder of Nursing School! Apparently, some of the first semester lecture instructors gave reviews and they were NOT supposed to, so now it looks like we won't be getting anymore reviews/blue prints for the remainder of school! And no, I definitely do NOT wait until the last minute on reading or it would be an absolute nightmare! I have spoken with the instructor and her advice was to use the Objectives that are provided, which I have. I guess I just need to really "look" into each question and figure out what it is asking for. Thanks for your help!

And just curious....is it NORMAL to NOT get reviews before exams in Nursing School? I thought it was kind of odd myself.

MyLady23 · Mar 17, 2011

We don't get reviews at all. I am at a very good nursing school at a community college ASN program.

Like I said, no reviews, but the exam questions are in NCLEX style. Sure, the instructor writes her own questions, but if you study questions you can figure out easier which one the right answer is. Most of our questions are critical thinking questions.

Of course, the "Success" books are external questions, but the content is the same! And those books help you understand the content, since they show some cases from a different angle then you Professer taught you and help you so better to understand the contex.