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Sunday, November 6, 2011

Overstuffed Brain?

Hellloooo boys and girls!  There was a comment posted on my wall about remembering procedures and various disorders and illnesses and the nursing care associated with these so here is my response. :) 

When it comes to pathophysiology I do my best to understand the disease holistically, meaning that I look at the overall picture and how it affects the body and the person.  I study for exams and then I feel like the information kind of disappears. The only way information seems to stick is when I do it in clinical. This the same for patho as well as skills. The more and more I do them in clinical the better it sticks in my head. I def have my moments where I'm in clinical and asked a question and I just stare at the teacher like..WHAT?!?!?! Never fear, happens to everyone, but the nice thing is once you know the answer to that question you won't forget it! I feel like once I have learned about a disorder (ex. diabetes) it's hard for me to visualize it until I care for a patient who has diabetes and can put my care plan into action. Clinical is where most of my learning takes place and sticks.

I also find that it helps if I do specific reading prior to going to clinical. For example I recently just completed a rotation on maternity (video coming soon!), before going to maternity I brushed up on post partum readings that I would need to be responsible for. Example, knowing complications of a vaginal delivery and a c section, knowing what kind of assessments need to be done and how to perform them, how to care for a newborn and how to assess newborn, what kinds of things to look for on the newborn. Very basic breastfeeding..etc.etc..anything you feel would be relevant just come prepared. You also learn things on the unit as well which will help pull all your theoretical learning together. I  brush up on skills before going into every semester especially if I feel like a certain skill is more likely to come up that I haven't performed before.  I hope this rambling helped answer your question 'It's Me :)' Have a great weeks guys!! xoxoxoxox. .

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for replying :) I live in Australia and unfortunately we only get 2 months in our 3 years of studies at university of practical/clinical! 2 months!!! We are really unprepared here which makes it soooo much more terrifying and harder. What is funny is that I have now graduated and about to start work as a Registered Nurse in the new year and I have NO IDEA what I am doing! I can't imagine turning up to my first shift. I am going to running around like a headless chicken haha. I am so scared. You guys in Canada have nursing school so much harder but at least you will be prepared when you start working. But thank you for replying and I am taking your tips on board for when I start my new job :)

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  2. I'm pretty sure that the terrifying feeling is universal for all new grads. 3 years in with much clinical experience and I feel as though I never know what I am doing either but never fear! We will learn. Congrats on graduating and good luck with your boards!

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