The "Teach a Student Something-a-Day" thread!

NewEnglandRN, RN · May 10, 2005

Just finishing up my first year and have found the following helpful:

1.) When taking a Nursing exam, do NOT add in extra information. READ the question as it is written and decide your best answer from the info given. Do not assume anything.

2.) LOOK & LISTEN to your patients, don't just rely on the "machines"

3.) If you go on a rotation to the OR, eat breakfast & do not lock your knees. You may end up on the floor...like me :rotfl:

4.) Prepare your clinical bag the night before with everything you need: uniform, shoes, lab coat, photo id, name badge, money, pens, penlight, clinical paperwork. RN Notes is a great source of information during clinicals.

5.) Keep some alcohol swabs in your pockets. Everyone always seems to need one!

6.) If you are at a teaching hospital for clinical, go in your patient's room with the Residents doing their rounds. They are very willing to teach.

7.) Always check & recheck allergies!!!!

8.) Always use the 5 Rights of Med administration and repeat three times.

9.) Enjoy your clinical experience & volunteer for anything that comes up.

NurseFirst · May 10, 2005

1. On NCLEX tests, you are supposed to assume you have a dr's

order for anything you might need. "Call the dr" can be the

answer, but rarely is correct.

2. Not all extended release p.o. meds have an "XR" or "LA"

or some other indication after the name to indicate that it

is extended release. Some come no other way--such as

protonix.

3. Support Hose and orthotics can help with sore feet and legs.

4. Clean up and straighten up the pt's room

5. Trust the patient. Tell them what medication they are getting and what it is for.

If they say that doesn't look like the pill they've been getting, investigate!

6. I 2nd keeping the alcohol swabs in the pockets; also scissors and clamps. I also

carry a calculator and a pen light. And yes, also, RNotes is very very good. Tape,

too.

7. Remember, some "non-technical" interventions can actually be the most satisfying

for the patient--I gave a pt a bedbath who had never had one, and she was really

really pleased with her experience--she looked like she felt better, too.

NurseFirst

crb613, BSN, RN · May 11, 2005

Somebody wanted conversions so here are some.

Temps.

C=(F - 32)/1.8

F=(C X 1.8)+32

1in=2.54cm

Flow rate=(vol. X set calibration)/

time in minutes

1kg=1000g

1g=1000mg 1mg=1000mcq

1L=1000ml

1ml=1cc

1oz=30ml

1Tbsp=15ml

1Tbsp=3tsp

1tsp=5ml

1kg=2.2lbs

1gr=60mg

1dram=4ml

1cup=240ml(8oz)

1pint=500ml(16oz)

1quart=1000ml(32oz)

If you can't remember which way to move the decimal.... there are three decimal places between each unit of measurement. If you need to convert 3kg into grams, move the decimal to the right 3 spaces.

3.0...3.000=3000 (3kg=3000g). It works the same going the other way,too.

Kg...g...mg...mcq Hope this helps! CRB :)

rkrs6673 · May 11, 2005

Thanks for the conversions! This is a wonderful thread.

tnick11 · May 11, 2005

Always remember that the patient is being charged for anything you take into their room. Out of a courtesy to the patient don't take multiple items in or items not needed.

SmilingBluEyes · May 11, 2005

This is my advice from another student thread. Hope it helps:

If anyone wants advice from an experienced nurse, I am willing to help (you may not like some of the things I suggest, cause they may defy conventional beliefs by some):

1. Get some good NCLEX review books at Barnes and Noble or Borders, and do these as an adjunct to reading your texts. The brutal truth is, many nursing schools "teach to the test" (meaning the NCLEX), so this will help you prepare for your exams enormously!

2. Also, if the instructor says, "it won't be on the test" well, don't believe it! Study it, anyhow. It probably WILL be there. I learned this pretty quickly after being "caught" unaware once or twice.

3. Learn to read and make notations in the margins of your text as you go. I used to read the paragraph, and then make a brief notation in the margin of my text of the "main idea" of the paragraph. It forced me to really understand what I was reading as I went, and when I "skimmed" after reading, in preparation for a test, I would read my notations, and that was about it. With 300-400 page reading assignments, you learn efficiency is the key. .

4. Also, I found study "groups" a real drain on me; dont' do them. I had ONE study partner who bounced things with me, and that was IT. If you do a study group, you are bound to have "slugs" who don't do their share, wanting instead, to sponge off your energies. You DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY of time or energy to carry people like this on your back, so DON'T! If you "must" study with others, make darn sure you are with people with VERY good study habits and work ethics that match your own----make sure they are willing to really contribute meaningfully and are serious. You don't have time to re-teach what they should have learned in class and in their readings. You only have all you can do to keep yourself afloat. I found my study partner invaluable. She filled in "gaps" I may have missed in my readings, and I filled in hers. We were very synergystic and beneficial to each other. I tried a study group ONCE and the scored worst grade on that subsequent exam I ever got, as a result. Even my instructor told me she was astounded how poorly I did, and asked what I did differently. That was the last time I ever did that. Study with only 1 or 2 others, and you will do much better, trust me.

5. Eat and sleep well, and care for yourself. Your brain needs energy, and sleep. Your body needs to be well. DO take care of yourself, or it will be harder to do well on tests and studying and keep up with clinical rotations.

6. If you are inclined , it does not hurt to PRAY. I did all the time for our every-other-week tests we had......it was quite stressful. Meditation worked wonders for me, too.

7. Once you find what works, don't change the routine. Routine is what kept me sane in nursing school. It was hard going to school with my husband 2000 mi away and raising a toddler, but I did develop a routine that worked and kept me from "losing it" in school. Everyone needs to find his or her "groove" and stay with it.

8. Do NOT change that first-instinct gut answer. If you go back and look at your tests, don't change the answers unless you are SURE you made a brain-dead error in the first choice. TRUST ME, changing answers cost me some serious points in my tests, til I learned to fly with my first gut- instinct. Chances are, you were right! Leave it alone!

Good luck, I hope these tips help those of you struggling and unsure why. Good study habits are so critical to doing well in school. It's typical to have very high attrition rates, esp in the first couple of semesters. We lost more than 1/2 of my classmates. It's hard to watch, but you don't have to be one of them. Hang in there and keep your heads down! Good luck to all students and aspiring nurses here.

Added for this thread: For new grads, when you start work, OBSERVE carefully the routine and "beat" of your new unit. Figure out who would be a good mentor and example and follow him or her. Like I said earlier, never, ever pretend to know what you don't. We expect new nurses to have a lot to learn. No one is going to fault you for not knowing something nearly as much as he/she would for pretending you did and it coming out in the wash later. Heck, I still "bounce things off" my coworkers when I am unsure. There is ALWAYS sometime new for me to learn and I admit it readily. No one knows it all!

Good luck and best wishes to all students and new nurses! Don't ever stop asking questions; it keeps your mind fresh.

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · May 11, 2005

If you are taking a test, and one of the answers is "handwashing" - that is always the right answer! LOL.:chuckle

Hahaha,

I noticed that already and I only got finished with my first semester. I'm not kidding, EVERY single answer that had handwashing in it WAS the answer(so far anyway) but i'm sure your right.

Oh, and the one thing that I learned as a "begininng student" is to do as MANY practice questions as you can. I know this was already stated, but it can't be emphasized enough.

BTW, GREAT thread!!! :)

crb613, BSN, RN · May 11, 2005

My instructor told us in our 1st semester........Tear the erasers off your pencils. That way you WILL not answer until you are sure, go with your 1st instinct and, with the eraser gone you can't change your answer! Another thing that helps me when I take a test is to cover up the answers. I read the question (twice) and think what is this question asking?? & what do I know about this. I then uncover the answers & look for one that matches mine. This way I don't get confused by all the choices & read too much into it. Hope this helps! :)

EyesForward · May 12, 2005

here are a few:

once you've mastered basic skills don't let them slip away from you until the moment is critical. for example, a whole group of 2nd semester nursing students was crowded around a patient for wound care last fall. the student performing the care spent 25 minutes (i'm not kidding) fumbling around trying to sterile glove. we are all so embarassed for him, and it was pure torture watching. incidentally, the patient was a nurse.

i was the envy of my clinicals with a palm pilot in my pocket with drug guides, etc. once you download the essentials you'll never be without it.

try to get a job as a nurse tech, cna, etc., and consider it an extention of your clinicals. you'll be amazed what you see and learn, and plus you can start shopping for a preceptor way in advance. the alternative is you get stuck with anybody, and that can get ugly.

get a really well-made rolling backpack.

read your textbook casually, with interest...like a magazine. highlight the important stuff, and before exam day review your highlighting. *** important *** supplement by focusing hard on the the corresponding outlines from your nclex review book ( i love my saunders). for example, when you study intracranial pressure, look that up in your index, turn to that outline, and the meat and potatoes is right there. (this technique really worked for me this semester. i prefer not to talk grades much but i did very well.)

as you're studying your nclex outlines, and doing the practice questions, keep a folder with notes to yourself on the questions you get wrong. keep one page for each section. at graduation you will have finished the entire book, and will only have to review. then test yourself with someone else's nclex book (a different one). you do'nt want to wait until graduation to pick up that nclex review. by the inch it's a cinch, by the yard it's hard.

skip group work, especially if they're reviewing nclex questions as a form of study. trust me, it's fun, but it's an inefficient use of time, which will be better spent doing the above...alone. save practice questions for the end to see where you are, and then socialize at the pub after test days.

that's about it for now!

wendy

rkrs6673 · May 12, 2005

here are a few:
once you've mastered basic skills don't let them slip away from you until the moment is critical. for example, a whole group of 2nd semester nursing students was crowded around a patient for wound care last fall. the student performing the care spent 25 minutes (i'm not kidding) fumbling around trying to sterile glove. we are all so embarassed for him, and it was pure torture watching. incidentally, the patient was a nurse.
i was the envy of my clinicals with a palm pilot in my pocket with drug guides, etc. once you download the essentials you'll never be without it.
try to get a job as a nurse tech, cna, etc., and consider it an extention of your clinicals. you'll be amazed what you see and learn, and plus you can start shopping for a preceptor way in advance. the alternative is you get stuck with anybody, and that can get ugly.
get a really well-made rolling backpack.
read your textbook casually, with interest...like a magazine. highlight the important stuff, and before exam day review your highlighting. *** important *** supplement by focusing hard on the the corresponding outlines from your nclex review book ( i love my saunders). for example, when you study intracranial pressure, look that up in your index, turn to that outline, and the meat and potatoes is right there. (this technique really worked for me this semester. i prefer not to talk grades much but i did very well.)
as you're studying your nclex outlines, and doing the practice questions, keep a folder with notes to yourself on the questions you get wrong. keep one page for each section. at graduation you will have finished the entire book, and will only have to review. then test yourself with someone else's nclex book (a different one). you do'nt want to wait until graduation to pick up that nclex review. by the inch it's a cinch, by the yard it's hard.
skip group work, especially if they're reviewing nclex questions as a form of study. trust me, it's fun, but it's an inefficient use of time, which will be better spent doing the above...alone. save practice questions for the end to see where you are, and then socialize at the pub after test days.
that's about it for now!
wendy

wendy,

thanks so much for the advice. i just got a saunders nclex review book yesterday. i start nursing classes in august! i also like you suggestions about the palm pilot and rolling backpack. thanks for all the great suggestions.

YoungWiseWoman · May 12, 2005

:twocents:

1) Rolling backpack is a must. I thought I could carry my books in a designer messanger bag I wanted (just to be fashionable) and I was way off. Can't say I have seen one (rolling backpack) that screams fashion...they all scream nerd, but you have to have one. :specs:

2) One thing I did was got a medium sized plastic container and kept ALL my books, notes, everything in the trunk of my car. That way if I have down time at school or anywhere I could pull out any book I needed and start reading. I found that to be a God send.

3) Leave your attitude at home! You cannot have ANY type of negative attitude with ANYONE at your school. That means professors, secretaries, fellow students, etc. It really pays to have a good attitude about things, even though some things may not be going in the most organized way. People really notice when you hold up under pressure.

4) If your study habits are not working, START OVER. Try something new. I had to revamp my study habits 4 or 5 times to get it right. After you find a good way that works for you stick with it and make it as personalized as you can.

5) Don't believe everything everyone tells you at school. :nono: People at my school would spread so many rumors that had no facts related to them. Get your information from the source if you can. That leads to less confusion about what is going on.

6) Be as FLEXIBLE as possible. Situations in my program changed A LOT, so getting all huffed and angry was useless. It takes so much energy to get mad, but changed nothing. Try to breath and think through the change before blowing up.

7) We have to take ALL of our exams on the computer. As with the NCLEX, once we answer a question we cannot go back. At first I was really ticked about it, but then I realized they are doing it for a reason. It stops us from second-guessing overselves, and helps prepare us for the NCLEX. Once we had to take an exam on paper, and I found that I answered all the questions without going back to look over what I marked.

I think that is enough for now...I have rambled on long enough. I really like nursing school. It stressful, but worth it....(we'll see if I feel that way in my 2nd semester). :redpinkhe

Shastalee99 · May 12, 2005

Do all your care plans on the computer and save them and then when you are writing a care plan for "Pain" or "Infection, risk for" for the umpteenth time, you can recycle most of the old one instead of starting from scratch.
I just figured this one out, sigh.

Lol me too! Someone was talking about it at clinical and I was like, "Oh." I felt like an idiot. Now I do all of my theoreticals on the computer too. It's great practice and my teachers appreciate the effort and neatness.