Med Surge 2

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Oct 29, 2020

Start by asking yourself "What is the question looking for me to recognize?" For Example:

A patient with heart failure is taking Losartan and Spironolactone. The patient is having EKG changes that presents with tall peaked T-waves and flat p-waves. Which of the following lab results confirms these findings?*

A. Na+ 135

B. BNP 560

C. K+ 8.0

D. K+ 1.5

What information in the question is it trying to lead you to?

Spironolactone can cause high Potassium and "tall peaked T-waves and flat p waves" is an indication of high Potassium. So, either of those two clues will lead you to the correct answer C.

JKL33 · Oct 31, 2020

On 10/28/2020 at 12:57 PM, Marilyn said:

I get so anxious at times I go blank

It won't hurt to have a general wellness check-up and an opportunity to discuss this with your doctor. It's imperative to understand the "how"s of answering questions, but what you are saying is that despite a fair amount of preparation you have every ability to become overwhelmed with test anxiety (or some other anxiety-related condition) to the point that you can't recall anything. Since it's important to hopefully have some improvement in this problem sooner rather than later I think you should consult experts.

Keep studying in the mean time, and try not to get discouraged.

?

KrCmommy522, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2020

I had bad test anxiety and would stress myself out so bad. And I had a huge issue with changing answers. I’d always answer the questions, then go over the test when I was finished to make sure I answered all the questions and didn’t miss any, and I would end up second guessing myself and changing answers. And EVERY time when I’d see the ones I got wrong, 99% of the time I’d see it was ones I changed and I had it correct the first time! I’d get so mad at myself! I kept trying to stop myself from changing answers, but I could always convince myself I needed to change it. Finally, I just stopped going over my test at the end (I made sure to go slow while taking the test to make sure I didn’t skip any somehow and I never skipped any to go back to them later, which could lead to me changing answers on other questions). While I was taking the test, I made sure to think the question through - figuring out what exactly the question was asking, looking at ALL the options (I also had a bad habit of seeing an option that looked right, like option B, selecting it, and never looking at C or D ?‍♀️). I’d then look at each option individually. Seeing if any of them were answering something that wasn’t asked or that would require information that wasn’t given to know or didn’t have anything to do with what was being asked. Then, I’d look to see if any had something wrong in them. Like, if the question said something about the patient having a high HR but an option was related to a low HR. If so, I’d cross that one out. Once I did that, I’d look at the options left to determine which one was answering the question. For me, I just made sure to work through each question completely, then move on to the next one and forget about the last one. It seemed to help me. And I never went back through, which kept me from changing my answers. But, it sounds like you’re having extreme anxiety, so it might help to see your doctor to discuss it like the other person suggested.

Marilyn · Nov 4, 2020

Thank you all! I took my second med surge exam last week. I took my time and read each question carefully and if I started to get overwhelmed I paused and calmed myself down. I passed the exam with an 84% C. Now I must remember no changing and to take my time and think through the questions.

KrCmommy522, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2020

1 hour ago, Marilyn said:

Thank you all! I took my second med surge exam last week. I took my time and read each question carefully and if I started to get overwhelmed I paused and calmed myself down. I passed the exam with an 84% C. Now I must remember no changing and to take my time and think through the questions.

Yes!! ?? You got this!

Just Peachy · Nov 6, 2020

med surg was hard for me too. I am getting to return to module 1 and excited just to be in nursing again.

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Jun 23, 2021

I’ve often said that a nursing major is way different from your high school friends’ college experience.
You will not be able to take a course, pass the exam, sell the book, and move on to something else next semester. In nursing you will always be held responsible for everything you learned before, and at increasing levels of understanding and application. This is why it is indeed possible for some people to skate along marginally and then flunk out last semester, because they just couldn’t make that last incremental jump.
this also applies to your practice after you graduate- you will always be expected to keep learning and applying at higher levels.
It may be helpful for you to look at what you’re learning this semester through the lens of how you understood related concepts last semester, and then to marvel at how much more you know now. I was always saying, “Dayem, I wish I’d known this last year when I …”