Wulfie

Thanks to both of you for your replies! That is an excellent approach to figure these types of questions and I will use that in future instances. Pertaining to the quality of question statement, I laughed pretty hard. I am a 47 yr old "non-traditional" student. In my first three semesters, I was ignorant enough to challenge a few of my instructors on that very basis. All it achieved was for my future instructors to "look out" for my questions. That is, they knew I was going to a wise @ss and try to nit pick them on things like semantics and real world application as opposed to textbook standards. I learned to listen, learn, and progress. But when the tape does come off my mouth in about a year, I will have a lot to say. Thanks again!

I am a flash card nut. Everything I need to learn(memorize) I put on flashcards. There are a number of online card makers that I have found useful. One is here: http://www.flashcardexchange.com/tag/drug Hope this helps.

Here is something interesting though. I spend a lot of time on here reading significant amounts of information that helps with a lot of my classes. But I also seem to do a bit of socializing while on this forum so it has helped me with the time management. I get to learn, study, and socialize all at the same time. Thank you Allnurses!!! Now, can I get a cot in the corner and a pillow?

Just make sure the information you put out has a flow or connectivity to it. If you tend to jump around or go back and forth it will become boring. Put in to the lecture anything you have experienced yourself that is relevant. Don't just regurgitate what we can read in a book or power point. I hate when I have to sit through three hours of an instructor reading word for word, the power point I am looking at. Throw in some humor once in a while, ask basic hypothetical questions of your class. Get them involved if you can.

Time Management. For me it was trying to squeeze 32 hours out of a 24 hour day. With all the reading, writing, skill practice involved in nursing school, there is little time for anything else. I need the additional 8 hrs just to try to get 6 hours of sleep. In all honesty, the work is difficult and at times stressful, but the time is my biggest obstacle.

When I faced a problem similar to this I sought out help from an upperclassmen. Often times they will have figured out what material will show up on an exam and what doesn't. In some cases there is even methods for studying for certain instructors that will be beneficial. If this is a new instructor, schedule a meeting with her and voice your concerns about the disparity of her teaching notes and the text. Remember, nursing practice does change and so do the ways it is taught.

I am going to be lighting up this section this semester...lol. I have an enormous research project to do this semester and it will be focused on Evidence Based Practice. I was hoping some of the more experienced RN's that peruse this section could give me a heads up on some of the things that have changed in the last couple of years so as to know a few good topics that I can do some in depth research on. Right now I'm thinking of things like prophylactic antibiotics before surgery, perhaps something dealing with the new style needle safety devices to prevent needle sticks, or even necessary vs. unnecessary lab procedures. I do not currently work in a hospital so I am not very familiar with the changes that occur. Please, if you have a few minutes, let me know some of the things you have seen changes in due in part to Evidence Based Practice. Thanks for your time.

i am not one to usually ask for specific answers, but this one is really muddy in my mind. here is the problem: identify the dependent and independent variables for each statement. statement: a research to find out the correlation between the average times spent in the lab each week and course grade for students i understand that the dependent variable relies on the independent, but in the above statement, i cannot determine an independent variable. i am thinking that the dependent is the correlation and the statement has 2 independent, that is the time in lab and the course grade, but it is very muddy to me. any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you. So are these examples of deductive reasoning?: My neighbor has been in the hospital for days My neighbor is ill. Because: The hospital is for ill people. My neighbor is in the hospital, therefore, my neighbor is ill or: Hypertension can kill you. Hypertension may lead to kidney failure. Hypertension may lead to Coronary Artery Disease. Because: Hypertension may lead to kidney failure. Kidney failure may result in death Hypertension may lead to Coronary Artery Disease. CAD may result in Death therefore Hypertension can kill you. I m still at a loss for inductive reasoning. Can you give me similar examples?

I am having a bit of trouble here distinguishing the differences between Inductive and Deductive reasoning. Can someone please give me a couple of examples of each relating to nursing. I know this may seem kinda simple but I have somehow muddled the two of these so they seem like the same concept to me. Even when I reread the text, I cannot form a distinction. Unfortunately, my text does not give real world examples of the two. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You are feeling the way almost everyone feels when they start out. If you knew all there was to know, there would be no reason to be in school would there? Learning is different for everyone. Sometimes it is difficult to put things together to relate them to the real world. This is especially true in nursing. After my first semester, I was absolutely confused about what I had learned and how it would be applied. It seemed as though I was missing huge parts of the puzzle. It was very different than other things I learned. Then, slowly, the pieces came together. Each part that seemed unconnected before was used in different ways for many different "big pictures" You have chosen a career that is very difficult because it is ever changing. Evidence based nursing is an enormous field where no one can truly master it all. Nursing school will allow you to develop many different skills that can be used in many diferent ways. Depending on the field you choose. Hang in there, read your assignments, ask a lot of questions, ask them again if you still don't get it, post the questions here if you need to. Don't be discouraged for not knowing. That is why they call it learning.

My first week at nursing was only a couple of years ago. It had been years since I had been to school and I was feeling very overwhelmed as well. The math calculations was a priority for my class as well. It was "self learning" and I had no idea what to expect. I found an upperclassmen and and they were able to tell me what to expect and I did well enough to move on. If you are an "A" student, I am sure you will do fine. Forming a study group will be a huge benefit as well. The amount of content that a nurse must come to know is unbelievable. Having others to help dissect and digest this content is a plus. As you progress however, you will develop an understanding that will help you comprehend and retain what you learn along the way. Bottom line is this: Nursing is a challenging career. The first year of class is your first challenge. Meet this challenge head on, overcome it, move on to the next challenge. YOU CAN DO IT!! If you need help working the math out, send me a PM. I may be able to help you.

I have 3 semesters left for my BSN and I am 46. The next closest to me is a lady that is 34. They call me pops in class and I am like a surrogate father to probably 7 of the 35 ladies in my class. Life is good!

LOL! I remember the first sterile procedure I attempted. My hands were so shaky I went through 3 pairs of gloves. The lady who's' port I was flushing looked up at me and said, "there's a flask of vodka in the nightstand if you think that will help." Nothing like humor to calm the nerves.

Trust me, once you get buried in your reading, research, care plan construction, patho analysis, and so on, you will hardly notice all of the beautiful people. Notice I said hardly?:)