whichway

I graduated from high school wanting to be a nurse. Life got in the way and it didn't happen. I was given the opportunity to re-evaulate after the end of 21 year job and the end of a 16 year marriage. I'm in nursing school now and I can tell you it is tough. There are a few things I've done to help me succeed. I saved enough money to live on while I go to school so I have the time to study. When you commit to taking the courses, you have to commit to study. I'm taking courses in writting and public speaking so my papers and speeches/powerpoints are better. Those courses also helped wth how to organize my thoughts. Right now I'm in a critical thinking course with the idea all combined with my science,math and nursing courses the classes will prepare me for my goal which is to be a nurse. For me, I had to set the goal and figure out what I needed to get there. Your experience as a CNA is a plus. Set a goal. Make a plan. You know where life got in the way last time. Figure how to avoid or over come. You can do it. Plan for the ups and the downs.

I have only taken the fundanmentals and nutrition ati test, but I found both of those to have a few questions from the practice test. I also found the ati tests to have test questions about things not covered in the ati book, but in the ati modules. I'm not complaining. I'm trying to say WELL DONE :yeah:if the ob/maternal test is like the ati tests I have taken.

Interesting test. I did one on discovering your own strengths which is kinda like this one. I'm a ENFJ. Thanks for sharing.

To me, it's the combining of the pharm, patho and the next step in the critical thinking process. Fundanmentals taught assessment and what the nursing process is. Med-surg puts it all together. To me, med-surg is like running after taking a few first steps.

Thank you so much for bringing back this thread and introducing Daytonite's wisdom to a newbie. I'm in the beginning of med-surg 1 and still trying to organize my thoughts. I came to this thread to see if my thoughts are on the right track. So I open the thread and I'm introduced to Daytonite's postings. Wow! What treasures!

water follows sodium. where the sodium is, goes the water. Think of sodium as the magnet for water. The two are hooked up. That's why heart patients are given low salt diets. Salt= fluid More fluid equals increase BP

Let me chime in as a member of the oldie but goodie group. I'm 51 and having the time of life. Wish I had done it years ago. I felt my priority was to raise my children. Done that. Now, it's my turn. No regrets, but I am thankful for the opportunity.

I'm in 3rd semester now. Hands down, pharm is worst than patho. It's the endless memorizing of wierd drug names. In my school, I'm taking med-sur1, patho and pharm. The 3 classes are each teaching on the same system each week. So say it's the heart, I learn patho first, drugs and then nursing which pulls on the knowledge base of the other 2 classes. I'm immersed which actually makes it easier even if it is somewhat overwhelming. I'm just in the beginning stages of my 3rd semester. So far the 2 things I would suggest you know stone cold-the nursing process, how to assessment. BIGGEST FACTOR- I would suggest you take this time to get all your affairs in order. You need to clear your schedule of everything you can. You will need the time to study. Pepare everything you can in advance so you don't have to take time away from studying to do it. Being immersed in the school work can be overwhelming, but it all the other stuff we try to do while being immersed which will make you drown. By the way, the semester is awesome!

Today at clinicals, consent witnessesing came up. One of the licensed practicing LPNs said she is often asked to teach upcoming procedures and then sign,and document the patient understood the teaching. It's my understanding a RN doesn't teach a procedure they aren't licensed to do and when they document consent, they are witnessing just the signature not that the patient understood the procedure teaching they received. Am I confused?

You're showing your children somethings like an education are worth what it takes. You mentioned you are older. Yes, getting an education when you don't have a family to take care would be easier. Some people can preach it to their children, you live by example. Put on the big girl pants and get organized. Make a schedule for chores where the family can share in what needs to be done. Everybody gets a job. It teaches responsablity. Most important- Do not give up!

For me, I make flash cards. I make about 50 from the study guide. Then I have someone flash me. Those cards I didn't get right, I write 25 times. Reflash and repeat. It helps me retain the knowledge base. Then go to practice test questions on concepts and see where the disconnect is. There's normally 4 answers- 1 is off, 3 are good. Of the 3 good, 1 has detail which is a little off and of the other 2 good ones, 1 has higher priority. Once you get through this test, there's something else which has helped me. When we take a test, we review the test so we can see what the correct answer was and what we answered. That review helps me understand the logic. If don't have that review as a class, you might want to request if your instructor would do it with you for future reference.

Each class builds on the other. I would suggest A and P because knowing the parts and how they work will help you understand and retain the knowledge of those 2 classes. That's why many programs combine the 2 classes into 1 class. Patho is about what happens when the body doesn't work as designed. Micro is about the organisms that cause some of the problems. The parts and how they are suppose to work are the foundations, before what if's.