Feels Like JD

Got a big ole endocrine test coming up tomorrow and as I wrap up loking over my notes I found a side on the power point that I must've missed before. When discussing Diabetes Mellitus, my text references two forms of hyperglycemia Dawn's phenomenon and Somagyi effect. To me they seem to be the same thing: early am hyperglycemia. Can anyone explain the difference? THanks.

Apply and see what happens. If they ask during an interview why you left the first program tell them you had family issues which were resolved when you moved. Don't let "what if's" ever hold you back. EVER.

Hey hopefull, it sucks that this part of your journey seems to be over. I've had similar complaints about my instructors from time to time. It's just like any other job: Just cuz you're a great nurse doesn't necessarily make you a great teacher. I wish you all the best as you try to find the next path.

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I personally am not interested in going to my pinning/graduation since I've already graduated once before. But be that as it may, I've at least tried to be helpful, positive and supporting of those who are interested.

I second picking up the NCLEX study guide. I also recommend picking up any of the books in the reviews and rationales series. They have helped me immensely. When I have to wade through a load of reading, I break it down into manageable sections. Sometimes these means cutting chapters into five or six parts. I read one, grab a snack or whatever and then go back. I've also found that if I do some work/reading each regardless of when the exam is I tend to think about the info more because I'm constantly immersed in it. I also tend to learn well from the old school rote method of learning. When learning fluids and electrolytes, I wrote the values of each over and over and over until they finally stuck. To remember the signs/symptoms and causes I made a nmeunoic which was kind of fun to do because I related everything to stuff I enjoyed like sports and gaming and stuff. Even just making the nmeunoics was fun helpful and fun because it was liking making a code that only I could understand and again, it kept me thinking about the material. Best of luck.

Not sure that can actually be quantified. It's just like assessing a patient for pain. It's what the patient says it is. And nothing else. The OP has a valid point. Just because she is single or doesn't have kids doesn't mean for a minute that school isn't an overwhelming feeling for her. We all internalize the stress of the task before us in similar ways regardless of how we'd like to compare our individual stakes to each others.

Exactly like a high five. Everyone's brain is entitled to a nap at some point.

---double post

Good thing my friend. Good thing.:w00t: Sorry force of habit from when I had time to actually use my XBOX.

hey, sorry it didn't work out. Listen, no matter what you choose to do in life there will always be obstacles. School, home, job, love everything. So even though right now it feels in vain and a big waste of time you can only allow yourself to dwell on for so long. Take a couple of days and be miserable, then start planning your next move. When I crapped out of medsurg the first time I wallowed in self pity for like two weeks feeling like the entire world was laughing at me. Turns out the world wasn't and most people I knew told me to get my but right back to the admissions office. I re-applied and before I knew if I was getting back in I spent the summer reviewing everything I messed up on the first time. When I got the reacceptance letter I knew everything (as cliched as it sounds) happened for a reason. it wasn't my time last semester and I wasn't ready. Now I am and I'm all guns blazing. One more thing. I had an old DI friend from the Marines who always said that when it comes to obstacles you can always find a way: you can go over, go under or around. Or you can drop your shoulder and run right through the SOB. I recommend the last part. All the best.

+1 redtshirt

We actually have to cut the demographic info off of anything we leave the floor with. So the little box with the name and acct# and stuff actually gets shredd ed.

Outstanding!! it's good to hear a success story on here. If we didn't have any it would make it really difficult to be able to support those who are struggling. Celebrate the day my friend, it's yours.

In my class we had to get a manual to lab and diagnostic procedures from Pagana. If you have something similar it should have an explanation for both and low values.

I highly recommend the Fluids and Elctrolytes Reviews and Rationales book. You can get it online cheap. The CD is pretty good and there are good questions with rationales in each chapter. I used it to make a decent table with the elecs I needed for my first exam and it worked wonders.

That sucks. My clinical/lecture groups have formed into cliques as well but it's mainly a function of who you sit closest to in a class of 70. During breaks everyone to my knowledge is cordial and friendly. That's not to say that a few people have been identified as being annoying (something that comes out of any large gathering) but as a whole I'd like to think we have each others backs for things like lecture notes and stuff.

Not sure what you need? Are you having trouble remembering the ranges or what the effects of acidosis/alkalosis would have on systems? Be a little more specific and I'm sure we can get you something. Besides Daytonite is probably typing up a fantastic post as we speak.

Hey I'm in a similar boat. I tanked med-surg 1 last fall and just got back in. The only way I've made it through was to take things mortally serious this go around. Last year I just kinda coasted and ultimately it wasn't enough. I spent the spring and summer trying to re-acquaint with all the basics and really nailing down the A&P, Fluid/Elec balance and so on. Come this first exam I was prepared and my work paid off. It was like a thirty point improvement. Bottom line is you just need to find your own way to make things make sense. For me it was reading and re-reading things over and over. Making organized tables and just rewriting things over and over again like Bart Simpson on the blackboard until they stuck. I also realized that as a single person with no kids that I had no reason to not be able to do this. I questioned my own motivation and found that I had way more time than I needed to get acquainted with the material even with a full time job. I cut out just about all the tv and useless web surfing. My xbox has an inch of dust on it and I can just barely remember what my GF's face looks like. But in the end it will be worth it.

You might want to check out the Fluid and Elec. from the reviews and rationale series. The CD is fantastic and the 20 some odd questions in chapter are really good too. Not to mention I think the Incredibly series doesnt really offer in depth rationales to things (I do like the series just not as primary source of info).

JBudd, your sig quote sent a shiver up my spine. I wish everyone understood it.

I passed maternity with a 77.3. Yup. 0.3 points between me and the reaper. Never give up, never give in. Skipping clinical is a bad call. When I was in the same boat in med-surg I asked my instructor if I should just call it quits when it looked like I wasnt going to make it and she said that if I ever re-applied throwing the towel in would count against me. Long story short, I re-applied and in the acceptance letter they noted that continuing on in the face of adversity was somethiing they were always on the look out for. hang in there. Never surrender!1

+1 Once I gave up memorizing facts and committed to understand concepts/patho my scores increased big time. Can't speak to the study guides but I can say this: Read everything in question slowly and at least twice. The number of times I got a question wrong because I read always instead of never or does instead of doesn't, huh, I wish I could all those back.

Kill em with kindness like my mom always said, And then show them up with skill on the field like my dad always said after my mom walked away.

Congrats!! And keep it up. I hate those "two right answer kind of tests". Some of my med-surg exams have four right answers. Good to learn early how to pick the most right one you can. Again congrats on your success and all the best.

Amy, it seems a bunch of people (myself included) could benefit from your study guides/notes. Think you post them here instead of having to sendout zillionz of messages to people in need? Thanks.