why is med/surg a hard class to pass??

2bmalenurse23 · Nov 20, 2011

healthstar,

Critical Care sounds difficult but im allways up for a challenge

2bmalenurse23 · Nov 20, 2011

LeighaChristineSN,

Thats sounds about right, i hear so many folks say they fail off @ med/surg. I actually like studying the pathology of the disease process. I guess i just need to prepare my self for an intense semester!

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2011

My class if filled with straight A students --- in the pre-nursing classes and become B and C students pretty quickly in nursing school. People struggle to answer questions with more than one good solution. Memorizing will only help a little. Knowing how to deal with each unique situation posed to you is the key. Know your signs and symptoms, know the most common drugs or drug classification for the conditions you are being tested on. Know the most common side effects. Know what is normal and what needs medical (doctor) attention. Know what your priority is.

When testing, look for the key words in the question. Don't get confused with what the question is asking. Get an up to date NCLEX test guide.

I will say I love med-surg and enjoyed the tests much more when I had actually taken care of a patient with a disease we were studying.

Mentalageis16 · Nov 21, 2011

I don't understand why NCLEX kind questions would be relating to critical thinking. To me, a lot questions do not clearly hint you what you need to dig out of your memory in order for you to pick the right answer. You may open up a book to do ATI questions, but the result is the same, either you know what you know, or you don't.

Also, when answering questions, I feel if you understand the potential answers (ABCD) well enough, then it won't be a problem for you pick an answer, if you have 50/50 of understanding, you would probably end up picking the wrong answer.

So, either you understand the materials close to 99% or you if you are lucky, then you would be able to answer that question. It's like saying when taking A&P, if you understand 90% of the book you read, you will sure to get an A, because it's straight from the book. but in nursing, if you don't have 99% comprehension of what you just learned, and you can't apply that to reality, then it's like you never learned.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2011

" i don't understand why nclex kind questions would be relating to critical thinking. to me, a lot questions do not clearly hint you what you need to dig out of your memory in order for you to pick the right answer."

in answer to your unasked question, it's because nclex-style questions seek to discover something about your judgment about the meaning of a set of data points. that's a fancy way of saying, if i tell you this, this, and this, what does that mean and why do you think so, and what should you do with it? you can't just memorize that. you have to know what pieces to pick out of your memory, sure, but it is equally important to be able to know how they relate to each other and how/why to prioritize or to seek more information. this is why it is so often possible to discard 2 of the 4 choices out of hand but agonize over the remaining two. if you really understand the nursing and physiological processes involved, you'll have a much better chance of knowing how the nurse should act. and all that comes down to reasoning and critical thinking. hope that helps.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2011

Med-surg is difficult to pass because for me it was a lot of information, all of which was important, coming at a very fast pace. I mean lightening fast and relentless. You have little time to catch your breath between exams. I agree with other posters regarding Fundamentals being deceptively simple. By the time you get to med-surg be prepared to go all the way. It is nothing like A&P, micro, etc. Nursing exams, being based on the NCLEX, are a learning curve altogether.

Good luck and it's really good that your are looking ahead and planning :yeah:

JulieL · Nov 22, 2011

I agree, get an NCLEX book that has the rationales for ALL the answers, so you will know why the "right" answer is considered to be the best one, and also why the "other right" answers are not the best choice. You will learn alot that way. Read it in your spare time, like leave it on the kitchen table and read a page when you are having coffee in the morning.

Answering those questions is the way to become a licensed RN!!!!!! My main goal, at the moment. An NCLEX book is a good investment. Quiz your classmates, too.

anonymousstudent · Nov 23, 2011

I actually find med/surg to be fairly straightforward. I still have to study, but not all that much. Fund. was so very hard for me. I think that if you can get the hang of the patterns in med/surg you'll be fine. Good luck!

2bmalenurse23 · Nov 23, 2011

Thanks everyone for all the great advice!!. I will certainly be buying an NCLEX review book and also a Pathophysiology (made easy) book for better understanding. I wanna be prepared early so that when all the info is being thrown at me I can grasp it quick and easy. I have been taking Pre-reqs for 2 1/2 years and boy o boy it has been a journey. I am super excited and super nervous all at the same time. Before I can begin fundamentals of Nursing, I first have to pass a Dosage Calculations Exam in January. I have been studying a Dosage (made easy) book and i am really beginning to grasp the concepts and formulas. I thank everyone for all of the awesome input!

orientbeachgirl · Jan 8, 2012

For me Med Surg started out great, but about 3/4 of the way through the rotation I just felt burnt out! I studied so much in the first part of the rotation because I was so worried about passing (because of what others had told me). It is just a lot of material to learn and in great depth. On the floor that we did clinicals there were so many different conditions and diseases that we had not even learned about in lecture, and our instructor expected us to be up on everything! It just got to be overwhelming to me. I passed and I celebrated!! Pace yourself! I don't know how to tell you to do this but if you can figure out how to pace yourself...do it! Good luck! And I agree with the advice about reading the NCLEX question rationales, I have done this since my first nursing class and it has been a huge help to me! Partner up with a good positive study buddy too, we helped get eachother through the harder spots, and motivate eachother at the end!

leqwedz · Mar 31, 2014

i'm in this boat called med surg.and not knowing will sink you nice and slow..and you must..must understand what the pathor' of disease and what other body systems it affects..aahhhh i hope i'll get it.it's so had they have made it into 3 parts in my school.Med surg 302,401 and 402.go figure but this are the only 3 classes standing between me and NCLEX.yahooooo...good luck to everyone.

SleeepyRN · Apr 3, 2014

I haven't had a chance to read the responses yet, but what I saw in my classmates was a complete lack of understanding of anatomy and physiology. If you don't understand physiology, you can't get a good grasp on pathophysiology, let alone how to use nursing judgement.