New Grad In MICU/CCU--Weak In Patho--Will That Hurt Me?

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Hello All,

I am a new grad and I was just hired onto a MICU/CCU unit and I am REALLY concerned about my pathophysiology knowledge. I took an online summer patho course--which I regret to this day--I did not learn much at all:banghead:.

I will be starting a critical care consortium course in late July for 6 weeks and then I would be working with a preceptor for 12-16 weeks thereafter. Will this help?

Basically, I am trying to find out, if I am weak in patho will that hinder my performance?

I welcome any advice--Thanks!:nuke:

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.
Hello All,

I am a new grad and I was just hired onto a MICU/CCU unit and I am REALLY concerned about my pathophysiology knowledge. I took an online summer patho course--which I regret to this day--I did not learn much at all:banghead:.

I will be starting a critical care consortium course in late July for 6 weeks and then I would be working with a preceptor for 12-16 weeks thereafter. Will this help?

Basically, I am trying to find out, if I am weak in patho will that hinder my performance?

I welcome any advice--Thanks!:nuke:

Patho is one of those things that is a must in nursing and it doesn't come overnight (at least it didn't to me). I constantly pull out my books and look up things because there are so many disease processes, you can't possibly know them all.

I think the fact that you know you are weak is a plus because it will make you look things up and the more you look it up, the more it will be part of your knowledge base.

Good luck with your studies and welcome to critical care!

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Patho is one of those things that is a must in nursing and it doesn't come overnight (at least it didn't to me). I constantly pull out my books and look up things because there are so many disease processes, you can't possibly know them all.

I think the fact that you know you are weak is a plus because it will make you look things up and the more you look it up, the more it will be part of your knowledge base.

Good luck with your studies and welcome to critical care!

Thanks for your response RNFELICITY,

Ive been told that by others that as a Nurse there is constant learning--Im sure it never stops even for the seasoned Rn's. Im already shopping around for a really good critical care book to read before the consortium course starts, any suggestions by the way? A coworker told me about one Im going to check out.

Your absolutely right though, I do know that I am weak in patho, therefore, my med surg/patho books are going to be my new best friends for a while.

As its been said before--nursing school never ends:yldhdbng:...

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.
Thanks for your response RNFELICITY,

Ive been told that by others that as a Nurse there is constant learning--Im sure it never stops even for the seasoned Rn's. Im already shopping around for a really good critical care book to read before the consortium course starts, any suggestions by the way? A coworker told me about one Im going to check out.

Your absolutely right though, I do know that I am weak in patho, therefore, my med surg/patho books are going to be my new best friends for a while.

As its been said before--nursing school never ends:yldhdbng:...

lol..I love that graphic. You are right. Learning never ends and it is one of the coolest parts of being a nurse. Every time I think I know something, it turns out that medicine has passed me by and there is something new on the horizon...lol.

I love www.icufaqs.org. I bought the latest book from them and it is fabulous. You can also read it for free on-line. (they rock!)

I also love Critical Care Nursing Secrets second edition.

I lvoe books and one day I plan on reading all of them that I buy...lol. I spend a lot of time on e-bay buying books at low prices but always know how much the book costs first.

If you are a really visual learner, the Made Incredibly Easy line of nursing books now has several in "Made incredibly visual".

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

Med Surg books will help............. I would suggest going to your college bookstore and see if you can find a patho book......... there is one Pathophysiology Made Incredibly Easy that you can get at Books-A-Million or Barnes & Noble...........

I have been a nurse for a long time and still live by the motto that the day I dont learn something new in nursing is the day I leave. Guess I am still learning, huh?

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Thanks alot you guys for the GREAT suggestions!!!! I will be checking them out right away....finally a book for visual learners!!!!!!!:w00t:

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