Pathology

nyapa, RN · Jan 26, 2008

Are you talking pathology or pathophysiology?

NurseCherlove · Jan 26, 2008

Does the subject of pathology really help nurses? Or do the labs and doctors do most the diagnosing? And if so, please tell me how.
Thanks

Well, first of all, nurses don't diagnose - doctors do. Also, pathophysiology is hands down one of (if not THE) most important subjects a nurse should know! PRetty much everything else builds on that. For example, you can better understand why labwork is out of whack and/or why the patient is having the symptoms they are having....in a nutshell.

EmmaG, RN · Jan 26, 2008

Well, first of all, nurses don't diagnose - doctors do. Also, pathophysiology is hands down one of (if not THE) most important subjects a nurse should know! PRetty much everything else builds on that. For example, you can better understand why labwork is out of whack and/or why the patient is having the symptoms they are having....in a nutshell.

I agree, except I think A&P is the foundation everything is built upon... once you know what is 'normal', it's easy to recognize the abnormal.

leslie :-D · Jan 26, 2008

a&p is w/o a doubt, one of the most necessary foundations that we, as nurses, expand and fine-tune our knowledge bases.

it will never be acceptable to merely follow a doctor's order.

we can readily lose our licenses if we do not question an order that sounds out of whack.

so, right there, learning/knowing pathophysiology, is critical.

with experience and a cumulative storage of need-to-know data, much of this stuff will come easier.

i don't know how many times, i've suggested to a doc, to r/o one thing or another.

please.

do not think for one moment, that nurses are non-thinking assistants, computed to respond.

if only doctors et al, knew what we're truly all about...

and the wealth of knowledge we possess and continue to amass.

if only they knew...

leslie

nyapa, RN · Jan 26, 2008

a knowledge of a+p and patho helps you sort out the essential information from the 'rubbish'. For example, you would be more concerned about a small wound on a persons foot if they were diabetic.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2008

Are you talking pathology or pathophysiology?

I agree that we need clarification because those are two different subjects.

In either my ADN or BSN course I didn't have to take pathology.

But as was stated Pathophysiology is the backbone of what what we do.

Katie82, RN · Jan 26, 2008

Well, first of all, nurses don't diagnose - doctors do.
While we do not make diagnoses, we are expected to assess and refer as needed. Diagnostics are one of our most valuable assessment tools. Just let a patient languish on the floor with out of wack blood gasses without the doctor knowing and see who catches ____ for it......

Katie82, RN · Jan 26, 2008

do not think for one moment, that nurses are non-thinking assistants, computed to respond.
if only doctors et al, knew what we're truly all about...
and the wealth of knowledge we possess and continue to amass.
if only they knew...
leslie

They do know, they just choose to ignore.... I just hate the ego-stroking games we have to play. As a case manager, I engage in frequent communication with docs regarding their patients, usually because of information I gather from their own office records. Just once, I would like to say "Hey dummy, you going to do anything about that last A1c that was 13.1????? Can we come up with another plan, because your's obviously isn't working???" Instead, I have to gently manipulate them so they do something. Not all docs are like this, of course, but I have more than my share.

EmmaG, RN · Jan 26, 2008

Instead, I have to gently manipulate them so they do something. Not all docs are like this, of course, but I have more than my share.

I've gotten too old and cranky to tip-toe around these docs anymore; I've stopped dropping hints and just flat out tell them what I think is wrong and what I'd like them to do. If they don't agree, so be it. But I certainly don't have time for these games.