Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Dianne Harris, MSN, RN Tips and advice for specific clinical areas Don't shy away from
any clinical area. Take every clinical experience and jump in with both feet! Gene Leutzinger,
MSN, RN Make learning fun!!! Kristi Burgess, DNP, MSN Remember to integrate concepts. 3,4,and
5 keeps you alive! Paula Mundell, MSN, RN It is important to know and understand the
role a nurse must fulfill. The helping role of the nurse is the warm and fuzzy part of
nursing. This is where we make the patient feel better, safe, and cared for. Heather
Kuntz, MSN, RN - Know the difference between Stages of Labor and phases of the first stage
of Labor. - Review stages of bonding Melesia Henry, PhD, MSN, RN Always remember Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs when answering Mental Health questions, basic needs and safety before addressing
the psychosocial issues. Jo Retta Huner, MSN, RN Take classes or certifications to increase
your knowledge. Sandi Annesi, DNP, RN, CNE Take what you know from Medical-Surgical and
apply it to care of the pregnant woman and newborn. Elisabeth Turingan, MSN/MHA, RN Jo
Ellen Greischar-Billiard, RN, MS Karin K. Roberts, PhD, RN, CNE Your success in nursing
school will be impacted by how well you learn the content in Fundamentals and approach the
learning process. Consider Fundamentals the most important course in your curriculum.
It lays the foundation for content in all the other courses. This is also where you
learn how to study and take tests. NCLEX likes diet questions. Try and know a few foods from
each group i.e. foods high in calcium, foods high in iron etc. With maternity - focus on
the 'high risk' areas. Like medication administration, what to do with delcelerations etc. Mental
Health - focus on 'safety'. Watch for suicidal behavior. When you look at a prioritization
question - after you have figured out what the stem is asking (re-phrase question in
your own words first), then if all of the choices look good, step back and say "If I
am the RN, and I do nothing, which client will have the most harm come to them if no
nursing interventions are done?" ABCs, physiological and safety. Maternal Newborn Fundamentals
- Review conversions for I&O - How many cups in a pint? - How many mL in one cup and 1/2
cup? Maternal Newborn Work a variety of shifts to gain a strong baseline of knowledge. Focus
on working as a safe practitioner and using organizational skills to work efficiently.
Medical-Surgical The assessment and findings have not changed, you are just looking at
a targeted assessment for the most part. Look at trends throughout the pregnancy. Know why
you are giving the medication and compare this to Medical-Surgical. Establish a therapeutic
relationship with patients and get to know and what matters to them. a. Culture b. Religion
c. Preferences d. Values High cord injuries affect the plexus of nerves feeding the diaphragm.
Therefore, if these nerves are affected by a spinal cord injury, there is a possibility
the patient will not be able to have spontaneous respiration's and you must support their breathing.
Medical-Surgical Fundamentals and Mental Health concepts are frequently integrated into other
content areas. Know and understand information concerning Erikson and Maslow. Don't try to
memorize "both" endocrine disorders for a specific gland. Since they are mirror opposites,
memorize one and you automatically "know" the opposite (example - Addison's and Cushings).
If you are working on a content area that may be difficult to learn, put on your creative
thinking cap! An example would be that your instructors will expect for you to learn the
content related to mobility/immobility when you are in fundamentals. All the specifics
regarding this content may become confusing. One of the best ways to help you with this
material is not only to see it in writing or hear it, but actually get up out of your
chair and demonstrate it. For example, pretend or "make believe" you have a pair of crutches.
As you read about the different type of gaits (2-point, 3-point, 4-point) related to crutch
walking, "act it out" using your pretend crutches. You can do this with much of the content surrounding
mobility/immobility. While many individuals are auditory or visual learners, this adds
a kinesthetic approach to ensuring you know the content. I was sure I wanted to do emergency
nursing and did not think I would ever do long term care. As it turned out, I had to
work in long term care for a season. It was so rewarding learning stories from the older
generation. I have some of my best memories there. From ATI Nurse Educators