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

Published

In an effort to not enter nursing school as a completely nieve individual, I was hoping that some 2nd years or RN's could share something beneficial with us students each day.

It can be anything little or totally meaningful. Whatever you contribute will be greatly appreciated and hopefully will help me to be a better student and nurse ;)

Thanks!

As far as care plans on the computer, you can cut and paste all the drugs and abnormal labs too.

Really learn things the first time around. You might think you forget them, but when you are retaught them and then go a little deeper it will be much easier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In MOST NCLEX styled questions, calling the dr is not the answer becuz the writers of NCLEX want to see what YOU as the nurse will do.

Our nursing instructor drilled into our head that if a pt is NEEDING O2, you administer and then call dr after. Your #1 duty is to the patient and his/her safety. Our instructor told us that saving the pts life is obviously more important than calling dr right then. The board of nursing will back you up, becuz you are keeping the pt oxygenated and basically saving their life. Time is of the essence when an emergency presents itself.

I agree that the MD is the LAST person you call when critically thinking, but there are limits to things weas nurses can do without a MD's order. Administering O2 isn't one of them thank God.

NCLEX tests the ABC,s and delegation too. They consistantly test on these questions. Calling the MD is rarely the choice unless you cannot proceed further as a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please, please wash your hands before and after contact with patients and when in contact with any bodily fluids. Use common sense when coming into a patient's room that has a sign reading: "Contact Precautions" of dropplet or airborne. Too many CNA's, students and nurses walk in the room, touch everything near the patient that is probably contaminated without gloves, gown or a mask when neccessary and then walk to the nurse's station touching the phone, the desk, pens, mouse for computer, patient's file, patient's I&O report outside the door and then go in the refridgerator for their food. Think about what you're touching after contact with a patient with a virus or infection that can be spread to others. If not, think about yourself! Don't touch your hair or scratch your face a lot. As you progress in nursing school, you will understand the reason for strict precautions in health care. So please wash your hands and be careful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Critical thinking skills will get you through nursing school. The entire RN program is based on your ability to think through the facts with an open and critical mind. All tests are based on this principle. The tests will be APPLICATION of what you know.

IE: Mr. Smith has the following vital signs.......B/P 145/92 Pulse 98 Respirations -24 he is complaining of nausea and vomiting and has a temperature of 102 orally, he is short of breath and c/o a headache. What will be your FIRST response to the patient?

A) Recheck VS in 1 hour

B) Apply 02 per nasal cannula

C) Administer an analgesic

D) Call the doctor.

This is just an example of how the questions are set up for tests. Learning to critical think is the key to getting through nursing school. It is also a learned behavior that takes practice, practice, practice. Best of Luck.

I am second yesr RN with 2 quarters to go for Graduation!!!!!

Good one

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

I am enjoying reading this forum

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not a nursing student yet (6 weeks before I am!) but thought this might help anyway -

1. when you're dealing with long term caregivers ask them how they are doing...i cared for my mother for several years and it meant the world to me when a nurse said, how are you? (instead of how is your mother!)...taking that time means so much, there was this wonderful nurse in her psych unit (she was admitted to the same one 9 times in two years with bipolar) who always took 5 min to check up on me, to update me on her new meds and just to acknowledge me...

and a study tip...now this one will sound obvious but i'm currently studying for my pharm exam (i'm currently a med student) and i have seen so many students tyring to memorise lists of antibiotics...antibiotic A inhibits RNA polymerase by mechanism A, antibiotic B inhibits cell wall synthesis, antibiotic C inhibits RNA polymerase by mechanism A...its kinda painful to watch...

if you are studying drugs...learn them by functional groups, it makes it a whole lot easier and means when you come across a novel drug, if you are familure with it's group you have a good idea of what it does, how it works, what it will interact with and what it's side effects are...

(that said you probably all know that, nursing student seem to be so much more practical then med students sometimes)

love this thread by the way, ill be reading it a lot when i get going with school!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

Some people say ask questions. I have also read several posts on various threads that say keep your head low around instructors and keep your mouth shut. Is this really necessary? In school, I prefer to sometimes be the student asking the "this may be stupid" questions (although I'm prepared and actually don't think my question is stupid) and let myself be the one roughed up a bit by instructors. I keep in mind that is their shtick and this is mine, we are playing roles... I find that by the end of the semester, we usually have a GREAT relationship! Is that just me?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

By keeping one's head low, we mean, don't stick out like a sore thumb---don't try to be the class know-it-all (every class has one!).

It does NOT mean don't ask questions or volunteer for EVERY learning opportunity that comes your way. You must do this to really succeed and make the most out of your learning experiences.

It does mean, keep your nose clean and study hard!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everyone has posted really great advice. I am a senior student nurse and here's a few tips:

1. Never take a patient's word when it comes to mobility and substance abuse.

I had an elderly patient once who assured me that she could walk. I only wanted to transfer her from a cot to a wheelchair. As soon as she put weight on her legs, she began to head for the floor. I lowered her to the ground and began to look for help in getting her off of the floor and into a wheelchair. I had a hard time finding help, and the one person I was able to find hurt his back lifting my patient. I felt so bad.

One time when I was doing my ED rotation, a man came in after having hit another vehicle. We were trying to obtain some demographic information and he told us that all he took were a few heart medications. The tox screen came back with narcotics (cocaine/benzos/oxys). No wonder he had the accident!

2. Try you best to stay focused. It is east to get side tracked when your in nursing school. If you are a mom (like me) try to get as much support from family, friends, extended family..etc.

3. If you need help, don't wait until the last minute. If you are getting a bad grade and you need help, most instructors are willing to use office hours to help enhance your understanding. It also shows that you care about your progress.

4. Read the syllabus/student handbook. Know the rules. You'll never regret it.

5. Make sure the latch on the catheter bag is closed. One day I opened the valve and leaked urine all over the floor. Quite embarrassing...

6. Don't give up. Nursing school is challenging. Many times, you will find yourself discouraged. Take it from me, quitting sounds alto easier than dealing with mean nurses and backstabbing classmates. But when you get to the end, you won't regret it because most of what you experience in nursing school is preparation for the real world of nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

does anyone know if this is going to be a sticky? i have to keep doing a search to find it...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

save ur back for clinical/s... get a book bag on wheels:rotfl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Everyone has posted really great advice. I am a senior student nurse and here's a few tips:

1. Never take a patient's word when it comes to mobility and substance abuse.

I had an elderly patient once who assured me that she could walk. I only wanted to transfer her from a cot to a wheelchair. As soon as she put weight on her legs, she began to head for the floor. I lowered her to the ground and began to look for help in getting her off of the floor and into a wheelchair. I had a hard time finding help, and the one person I was able to find hurt his back lifting my patient. I felt so bad.

One time when I was doing my ED rotation, a man came in after having hit another vehicle. We were trying to obtain some demographic information and he told us that all he took were a few heart medications. The tox screen came back with narcotics (cocaine/benzos/oxys). No wonder he had the accident! /QUOTE]

I disagree. I don't think pts intentionally lie. If you want correct answers it comes down to how you ask it. As far as the mobility pt- I tend to ask the pt. "How do you usually get out of bed?, do you do it yourself or do you need assistance?" Your pt probably can physically walk, but is unable to bear weight without assistance, or without a walker.

As far as the pt who was using drugs- no pt will tell you the truth if you just outright ask- their afraid and they need to trust you first. I would say "in order to better treat you and your condition I need you to answer honestly...". You might have very well used these tactics, and if so, disregard my note. Maybe I'm an optomist but I do think people are mainly good not bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion