Whats a good way to prep for Nursing/medical situation?

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Specializes in aged care.

Hi,

I'm about to start my Nursing course in a few weeks.

I'd like to know if anybody else has also started watching medical dramas, medical tv shows,

read up on medical case studies/history, to prep themselves for work.

Is it a total waste of time to check out Grey's anatomy tv show...., are there any other shows that

are more realistic than that, to depict the sort of work performed by nurses/paramedics/health professionals?

Trying to desensitize myself if at all possible,

how else do you guys prep yourself for medical situations at work, pre-study?

Any suggestions would be Reaaally helpful!

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

"seriously?!" as they would say on Grey's Anatomy

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Just relax and get plenty of rest. All TV medical dramas are just for entertainment purposes and have nothing to do with reality . . . if you enjoy them, then, by all means, watch them. The way I get ready for my next work day is sleep!!

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Specializes in PACU.

Some of the programs on Discovery Health are (were--I haven't watched lately, but in going through the guide I've noticed they all seem to be about multiple births and such now :L ) somewhat realistic and interesting. I don't know if those are available in your country or not.

The entertainment shows are basically just good for laughing at. Oh, and ogling the hollywood docs and nurses, who somehow look nothing like anyone I work with.

On a more practical level you might want to review some A&P, look into common medical terminology roots and suffixes, and mainly relax. Drink a few extra beers (or whatever you prefer) and take some naps.:cheers:

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

Don't refer to scripted medical dramas. Once you start going to nursing school you'll start to notice many things that are wrong with these shows. (However, I do love watching SCRUBS)

Try watching some health documentaries. They usually (but not always) have a realistic view of what nurses do.

I would read up on my Anatomy, physio, pathophysiology, and other nursing process books.

Good luck in nursing school.

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