What did you struggle with most in nursing school?

Despareux · Dec 29, 2010

Time management and effective studying specifically for nursing school.

Selene006, BSN, LPN · Dec 29, 2010

I struggle with not knowing what my clinical schedule will be like every couple months. Instructors wait until the last minute to let us students know what time and where our rotations will take place. I have to maintain a full-time job in order to support myself, but it has become quite cumbersome having to go to my DON frequently and having to readjust my work schedule to accomodate my school schedule. I'm tired of it now, even as I have a few more months left until I finish school. I'm taking a vacation (from work) once I graduate, though. It's the only thing I'm looking forward to next year...:)

ag.wade · Dec 30, 2010

if i were in your shoes:

make sure you do not forget a&p i & ii
start learning drug classes (ace inhibitors, diuretics, beta blockers, etc.) a simple google search of "popular nursing school drugs" may help. i wouldn't worry about learning specific meds until school (unless you feel inclined).
know the basics - how to take vital signs, wound care, catheters
in your med-surg book start learning some disease processes (copd, diabetes mellitus, utis, heart failure, etc.)
do some research on "the nursing process"

for each disease process you cover, do something like the following:

introduction:

appendicitis happens when your appendix, a small finger-shaped structure that protrudes from your large intestine on the right side, gets inflamed. the inflammation is usually caused by a blockage, but may be caused by an infection. without treatment, an inflamed appendix can rupture, causing infection of the peritoneal cavity (the lining around the abdominal organs) and even death. appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery. up to 75,000 appendectomies are done each year in the u.s.

signs and symptoms:

the following signs and symptoms may accompany appendicitis:

pain, starting around the navel, then moving down and to the right side of the abdomen. the pain gets worse when moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, or being touched in this area.
loss of appetite
nausea
vomiting
change in bowel movements, including diarrhea or not being able to have a bowel movement or pass gas
low fever that starts after other symptoms
urinating often, or difficult or painful urination

what causes it?:

appendicitis usually happens after an infection in the digestive tract, or when the tube connecting the large intestine and appendix is blocked by trapped feces or food. both situations cause inflammation, which can lead to infection or rupture of the appendix.

who's most at risk?:

the following factors can put you at higher risk for developing appendicitis:

family history
age -- children 2 years of age or younger and people 70 years of age or older are at higher risk for a ruptured appendix

what to expect at your provider's office:

appendicitis is an emergency, because the appendix could rupture. if you have appendicitis symptoms, you should go to an emergency room. the doctor will ask about your symptoms and your medical history, do a physical exam to check for abdominal tenderness, and may order blood and urine tests. some health care providers use ultrasound to check whether the appendix is inflamed (and to rule out ovarian cysts or ectopic pregnancy in women). a computed tomography (ct) scan may also be done.

treatment options:

prevention

there is no proven way to prevent appendicitis. however, eating a diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruit may lower your risk of getting appendicitis.

treatment plan

appendicitisis most often treated with a combination of surgery and antibiotics. along with antibiotics, you may receive intravenous (iv) fluids and medication to control vomiting. if your doctor can' t tell from the ct scan or ultrasound whether you have appendicitis, you may have exploratory surgery. if you do have appendicitis, your appendix will be removed (appendectomy).

drug therapies

your health care provider may prescribe the following medications:

antibiotics
medications taken to ease nausea (anti-emetics)

surgical and other procedures

an appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix through an incision in your abdomen that can be several inches long. a laparoscopic appendectomy involves making several tiny cuts in the abdomen and inserting a tiny camera and surgical instruments. the surgeon then removes the appendix through one of the small incisions. recovery is usually faster than with traditional surgery, and the scars are smaller. however, not everyone is a candidate for a laparoscopic appendectomy.

complementary and alternative therapies

acute appendicitis is a medical emergency, and you should get conventional treatment immediately. never try to treat appendicitis with alternative therapies alone. some studies show that certain herbs and supplements may help to prevent appendicitis, strengthen your immune system, or help you recover faster from surgery.

nutrition

in england and wales, a study reviewed whether a diet that was low in fiber and high in sugar and meat had any influence on people getting appendicitis. no specific link was found with sugar or meat. but the study did suggest that the more fresh and frozen green vegetables and fresh and processed tomatoes people ate, the less likely they were to develop appendicitis. eating green vegetables -- particularly cabbages, cauliflowers, peas, beans, and brussels sprouts and maybe tomatoes -- may protect against appendicitis.

herbs

appendicitis should be treated with surgery. there are herbs that may help you recover faster from surgery; ask your doctor.

acupuncture

in chinese medical terms, appendicitis is thought to be caused by blockages in the circulation of blood and flow of vitality. acupuncture may help relieve pain, control peristalsis (the wave-like movements of muscles in the intestines), and improve blood flow. a licensed and certified acupuncturist would work with your doctor to monitor your condition closely. in some parts of the world, an acupuncturist works in the hospital to deliver care at the same time as conventional medical practices. even with surgery, acupuncture may be helpful for anesthesia, pain control, and better recovery.

prognosis and possible complications:

if the appendix does not rupture, the risk of death is very low. in cases where the appendix ruptures, the death rate is higher, especially among the elderly (15%). complications may include recurring appendicitis, inflammation of the abdominal lining, abscess (pus-filled inflamed area), sepsis ("blood poisoning" caused by infectious bacteria), blocking of a fallopian tube, infertility, and wound infection. appendicitis occurs in only about 1 in 1,000 pregnancies.

following up:

if you have surgery, you will need to see your health care provider 2 weeks after the operation, and again at 6 weeks.

that should hold you over for 6-8 months. good luck! :)

WandererRNBSN, BSN · Dec 31, 2010

i'm going into my third semester of a five semester program, and in med-surg i struggled with fluid and electrolyte imbalance.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2011

To be brutally honest, what I struggle with most is not yelling **** to the class idiot that asks 47 questions every class hour and has to recount how some member of her family has every type of disease known to mankind. What makes it worse is she can't piece together more than three words without taking a six second pause and saying "ummmm" before adding additional three words and repeating the cycle.

Trilldayz,RN BSN · Jan 1, 2011

I had the hardest time with dealing with catty and gossipy students! Be sure not to broadcast your life or grades to your classmates!

barleynhopsBSN · Jan 1, 2011

If you have time before you start nursing school you might consider becoming a CNA (if you do not already have a job in healthcare). The reason for this is two fold. First, you will be more comforatable during your clinicals. For many nursing students clinical is the most stressful parts of nursing school. Second and more importantly if you can get in a hospital as a CNA you will have a better chance of getting an RN job after you graduate.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jan 2, 2011

Honestly I had the most issues with money so save up and work hard.

blonde mommy2 · Jan 2, 2011

The hardest thing for me is time management. I go to school full-time, work as CNA part-time, mother of 2 boys (6&2) and the household chores. I have a supportive partner who helps with the kids and household chores. I think the most important thing that you need to make priority is yourself. Make time in the day to take afew minutes for yourself,reading, a hobby ,watching t.v. etc. I like to get up a few mintues early with my coffee and sit quiet before my day starts. Believe me it helps.

semester1kid · Jan 2, 2011

One of the harder things to overcome (imho) is realizing you're training to become a nurse, not a doctor - which means making sure your answers are related to nursing processes and treating symptoms vs the underlying cause/disease...

And when I say that, I mean in terms of letting it sink in (obviously we all know that at a conscious level)

bella65 · Jan 3, 2011

The hardest thing for me was dealing with mean clinical instructors! I think everyone has given awesome advice. Definitely, try to learn the drug classes, and some pathophysiolgy if you can. Good luck to you!!!!!!