Psych & Peds Class

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jul 9, 2014

follow your syllabus. Amazing how many people do not even read it.

In psych, you will need to make up a lot of stuff that you would do in a perfect situation. You will not be learning to counsel, but you will need to learn how to communicate. Very important.

Of course, meds and appropriate doses will be taught

2016New · Jul 10, 2014

the syllabus is my "bible", i always read & follow it.

Thanks for your input.

christina731 · Jul 11, 2014

Hey.
So I'm going into my 4/5 semester (yay!)
Next semester i will be taking psych & peds.
I would just like to know your experiences in both the classes & corresponding clinicals.
What'd you do? how was it? etc.
& maybe some tips on how to study for exams for those classes :)
Thanks!

Congrats! I had those classes in my 2nd and 3rd of 4 semesters.

For peds clinical, I went in terrified about seeing children that were injured/in pain and seeing and learning about them in real life was very hard on me. I had a very difficult time with this rotation because there were many children that were admitted for long periods of time because I was on an oncology/intensive care unit. Many of these children had no visitors and I felt really bad for them. I did have 1 day in the pediatric ER (not a trauma ER) and I really enjoyed that day. Most of my duties included personal care (diaper changes/baths), med administration, lots of straight caths, starting IV's and playing with the kids which was the best part!

Peds lecture was interesting because it was similar to medsurg but I learned about how these conditions affected children differently. I really enjoyed this class and did well in it. Practicing NCLEX questions really helped me with exams.

Mental health clinical was not very interesting to me. My rotation was at a state hospital which was recently under scrutiny from the state and the nurses were not willing to work with students so I pretty much sat with any patient who wanted to talk since the basis of the course was therapeutic communication. Unfortunately many patients were not willing to talk and most went running when they saw the group if students walk in. I could not wait for that experience to be over and I'm hoping that you might have a better experience.

Mental health lecture was very dry and boring to me. I'm not interested in psychiatric diseases and I took the class online so I pretty much studied on my own and went to school only for exams. That was probably my least favorite class so far. As far as exams, my instructor did not use NCLEX questions, just questions that she "pulls out of her head" so it made it really hard.

laKrugRN · Jul 11, 2014

I had the same two classes together. I agree in following your syllabuses closely. GET A PLANNER. Write down test, important due dates, etc. My mental health was a lot of busy work. I'd start looking at psych meds now. They were a little overwhelming at the time. A lot of the same drugs treat different things and it can get confusing. But honestly, psych was my favorite!! We did clinical rotations at a psychiatric hospital, psych units (eating disorders, pediatric psych, geriatric psych) and at the prison. (Yay correctional nursing!)

Peds I hated. I'll admit it. I had a very hard time in the class. You will probably spend more time studying for Peds if you are like me haha. Clinicals were fun though. My patients ranged from infants to 16 year olds. We even got to do school nursing!