Med Surg NIGHTMARE

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So, I am in my 2nd semester graduating in May 09. We just had our 1st MedSurg Midterm (lecture, not clinical). I SWEAR I must have failed (the census from our class is most of us failed). It was one of the toughest exams I have ever taken.

Here is my concern: There is SO MUCH to know in Med Surg!!! Our book is seriously about 1500 pages!!! After you graduated did you remember all the diseases, treatments, nsg dx, rx's etc. for every disease you learned about? I'm freaking out b/c I feel like I will NEVER remember everything!!!! That's makes me feel like I will be the worst nurse ever.:crying2:

HELP!!!:uhoh21:

Specializes in Med Surg, Peds, OB, L/D, Ortho.

I remember one of my instructors telling us the we won't remember all that we were taught but....we sure will remember how to find out! You will have lots of resources to help you with the details. Good luck and try not to worry!;)

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Why then do schools assign 200+ pages of reading each week? Why not just TELL nursing students that they aren't expected to know everything on those 1500 pages? Why not just TELL them that it's a *reference tool* that they will learn how to use as students and will continue to use as nurses? Sigh!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

No, you don't need to know everything, but you don't know what you will need so the object is to learn as much as you can. Eventually you will recognize patterns and things will fall together. Use all your resources, not just the textbook. For instance, get online to about.com and find out about diseases in lay language. When in clinicals ask the nurses about a disease and incorporate the nursing process. How do they assess for that condition? What would be the plan of care? What interventions? How do you evaluate? ASK everything and everybody. I cornered a med student once while I was in nursing school and got him to tell me about gastroparesis. He helped me understand in a few minutes! Good luck. Please do not be discouraged. This info gets repeated until you finally know it.

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Hi All,

I wanted to post a "thank you" to each of you, but I'm studying for Patho right now (exam tomorrow) and it would take forever.

But, I wanted to thank all of you because you have certainly put my mind at ease. I love these boards!!!!!:bowingpur

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Oh...I feel silly. That was the first time I used the "Thank You" button and it didn't take any time at all!

Back to dysrhythmias!!!

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I have come to discover that nursing school is more about learning how to take an exam rather than understanding the material. Of course you need to learn and understand the material at hand, but far more emphasis is placed on taking an "NCLEX" exam, which is understandable considering you need to pass the NCLEX to become licensed. I think the entire idea of teaching students to take an exam rather than learn the material is kind of silly... but it is what it is.

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Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

We were always told we wouldn't remember everything but would know how to access the information we needed. Don't think anyone here remembers Everything, We just know the info we need for our particular area of nursing and look up what we don't use on a daily basis.

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

Right now you are learning it in a book, someday you will come face to face with those things you are learning about. Truthfully you can know all about something, but until you experience it, you will not Truly understand it....and it will come to you....it wont be something you once memorized, but something you KNOW....it becomes part of you...and be right there on the tip of your brain

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