Starting Med-Surg in Aug ~ advice please

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I'll be starting Med-surg in August. Does anyone have any good advice as to what I should start doing to prepare for this class? I've heard it's really difficult and I'd like to get started on it ASAP. I already bought the HESI book and CDs from the HESI website. I don't know about other schools, but at mine we take the HESI test after every semester and I've heard this book is very helpful. Anyhow ~ any advice would be much appreciated!

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focus on keyword associations. be careful with questions that have the phrase "least likely" or along that line. focus on facts. remember that number one is always assessment. you never do anything without assessing the patient first. and no matter what, make time to study from day one, a lot of students in my group didn't take it seriously until it was too late.

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Specializes in L&D/MB/High-risk antepartum; Hospice.

Review your a&p, more the physiology part. You can't understand what is wrong if you don't know how it's supposed to work. As the person before me said, assess your patient! You can't do anything if you don't assess. If you don't know the answer on a test question, look for the choice that deals with assessment - that's usually it! For me, med-surg was difficult, but a lot better. Things start falling into place and actually make sense! When you are reviewing notes you'll see that a lot of diseases are almost the same...concentrate on what makes them different from each other.

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dont fret. it is just like any other nursing class. some folks try to make others fret. you will do fine if you think of it as just another nursing class which i know you will pass

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Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement. A lot of the students ahead of us are constantly telling us how difficult med-surg is so I guess that's why I'm so worried about it.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

We had to take the HESI exams at my school too. Sounds like you will be very well prepared!

Only advice I can give you is stay on top of your reading. Don't get behind. Everything else will fall into place. good luck!

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is it really important to memorize..any advise how to study effectively pls......thanks!!!!:angryfire :blushkiss ...

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Specializes in Cardiac.
is it really important to memorize..any advise how to study effectively pls......thanks!!!!:angryfire :blushkiss ...

I made flash cards from the class notes. Also, if the teacher ever said anything twice in one lecture, then 99% of the time it was on the test in some form or another.

On my flash cards, I would phrase them in the form of a test question. For one reason so that my DH could help me study, but also it is better than just memorization. So instead of putting HgA1c on one side and putting the normal value on the other, I would say, what is a good way to evaulate a pts blood sugars over a period of 90-120 days? Or, how is the Cardiac Output affected by A-fib? (Instead of just putting that Atrial Kick reduces CO by 30%.) This will help you with critical thinking as it applies to test questions. Afib-->loss of Atrial Kick-->decrease CO by 30%-->increase in HR, decreased cap refill (or other assorted s/s of decreased CO). The actual question on the test will not be how does Afib affect CO. The question on the test will be, Mr jones has just gone into afib, what is his most significant assessment finding. The answer will be something related to a s/s of low CO.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

here's some older threads you might want to take a look at. you are not alone in your anxiety over this.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/fund-nursing-157590.html - fund. of nursing

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/starting-nursing-fall-158337.html - starting nursing in the fall

https://allnurses.com/forums/1643291-post4.html - fundamentals of nursing post

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/what-do-before-classes-start-165765.html - what to do before classes start?

https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/starting-aug-06-a-166290.html - starting in aug. 06

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Specializes in school health.

Is there any where on line that will have scenerio review questions for med surg....thanks......merryheart

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Has anyone ever used the Lippincott Series "Straight A's" or "Review Series"

I was thinking about purchasing them, but I wanted some feedback before I spent my money.

Thanks

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Hi! I am anxious to see the reply that you get as I am starting Med Surg in a couple of weeks and was debating purchasing the Lippincott Review of Med Surg. I am really nervous as everyone has me terrified to take Med Surg. :bugeyes:

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