eva123

Also, you have to think about the mechanism of action. Oral antidiabetics can work like insulin or produce more insulin, so when they do not work or when there is a medical emergency (hospitalization usually results in a patient needing insulin instead of just oral agents) insulin is given.

I am in nursing school currently and we have to taught to always aspirate on an IM, because if you don't it might be is the vasculature and hit the bloodstream, resulting in a much faster and potentially more serious reaction. So I would go on the side of caution and always aspirate to make sure you're not pulling back blood (plus it only takes a little bit so why not save the risk?).

Oh and the bigger picture on oral medications are that they are used when Type 2 diabetes cannot be controlled with diet and exercise.

Now that you have some good advice on the insulins here's some info on oral antidiabetics: *Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors (Acarbose, Miglitol) act locally in GI tract to inhibit Alpha-glucosidase which is responsible for carb breakdown, because of it's mechanism of action it does not cause hypoglycemia. *Biguanides (Metformin) works by multiple mechanisms. It reduces gluconeogenesis, decreases intestinal reabsorption of glucose, increases cellular uptake of glucose, and increases excretion of glucose. It also does not cause hypoglycemia. *Incretin enhancers (Sitagliptan/Januvia) Inhibits DPP-4 from breaking down incretins, increased levels of incretins lowers blood glucose because incretins respond to glucose load and are responsible for 60% of insulin release. These can cause hypoglycemia. *Meglitinides (Prandin) Stimulate insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells. These can cause hypoglycemia. *Sulfonylureas (Glyburide, Glipizide) stimulate release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells and increase sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin. These can cause hypoglycemia. *Thiazolidinedione aka TZDs (Avandia, Actose) increase cellular sensitivity to insulin and decrease gluconeogenesis by liver. These can cause hypoglycemia. *Antihypoglycemic Agent (Glucogon/Gluca Gen) increases glycogenolysis, stimulates uptake of amino acids, increases gluconeogenesis, and promotes lipolysis. You can find all of this in your drug book and much more information, but this should provide a brief overview. I pulled this information from Davis's Drug Guide and my teachers. Hope it helps. :)

Here is a simple tip for nursing dx...presenting symptom or risk r/t causative factor (then you could put the phrase " secondary to insert med dx" AEB what is seen with the patient, what patient complains of, labs, etc. [important to remember that for a risk dx do not put AEB because they are not actually presenting with it, there is a potential)

No problem :). And you do not have to be the best writer to be a nurse. But for college these tips and grammar skills will come in handy.

This certainly shows that you are compassionate. Just a suggestion...try to work on your transitioning. I was reading it like aw how sweet to be there for your grandmother in her last minutes then BAM toe infection leading to declining health. I am not sure if you should include the whole health background, but I don't think it would harm anything. Check your use of commas and use complete sentences. I am a nursing student myself, so maybe this isn't the best or most complete advice...but I have written quite a few papers. Good luck and well wishes :)

Ok this patient is post-op so implement care as you would for a patient coming out of surgery (Vitals, O2, Assessments, Pain, LOC, Bowel Sounds etc.). They have hypotension...so think safety, fall risk, and look at what could be causing it...think about shock possibly. For all patients start with ABCs (or some recommend CAB or such)...Airway, Breathing, Circulation. As for the rest..go by what the patient is presenting with, since care should be individualized.

Ah cardio drugs..such a fun group. Try Mosby's Pharmacology Memory Notecards. Our book was Adams and Urban, so I do not know how to study your book. Learn inotropic, dromotropic, chronotropic. Make sample drug classification cards for ones you find hard to remember and list stuff like the method of action, uses, generic and trade names, specific info for certain brands, dosage range, what indicates if the drug is effective, common side effects, adverse and life-threatening side effects, contraindications, food and drug and herbal interactions, assessments to be made prior to administration and to follow-up, important labs, patient education needed, and any addition information. Sorry I know it seems like a lot, but it helped me and my classmates survive pharm

I am in need how assistance on how to better read an ECG. I understand the basics, but get thrown off by different rhythms. Tips, advice, book, website..whatever you can recommend would be much appreciated :)

Try Memory Notebook Mnemonics for Nurses. For test-taking, try covering up the choices and forming a guess based on the question. Chew gum while studying then chew the same flavor during the test. Study with peers and ask instructors if something is unclear.

It is true that you cannot just memorize in nursing. You have to know the background, why an intervention or assessment is done, what to do after assessment or intervention, how to document, how to prioritize, how to delegate, and how to communicate. Try nursing mnemonics, the Made Incredibly Easy series, Med-Surg Success (or other Success books), and ATI books (your teachers may give you these, I don't know about your program). While it is good to memorize somethings like structures, certain techniques, lab normal ranges, most of nursing is critical thinking because you will be put in situations where you do not know the patient, only have a brief history to go on, have medications to give, and the appropriate intervention to sit in place. Pace yourself, learn the best way you receive education, form peer groups to study, and ask instructors if something is not clear. It is great that you are preparing, wish the best for you :).

While I don't know how to fit it in your presentation talk about how stethoscopes carry more germs than people think... think about it, the thing hangs around the nurses neck all day and most people forget to clean it when switching from person to person. At a hospital that I had clinicals at a patient got cellulitis because a nurse removed their gloves and repalpated an IV site after cleansing it. Perhaps you could use those as what not to dos.

I am not for sure, but I do not think it gives you an advantage (except that you will already know what college is like). Programs mostly go off of GPAs, test scores (ACT or SAT), and interviews.

This does seem wierd and like an abuse of power. Medications should not be prescribed for "test anxiety". It is certainly an ethical issues and could quite possibly be a legal issue. This seems like a touchy subject so proceed with caution and take sure you cover yourself so nothing turns out to bite you