Medical Surgical Nursing

[Adaggiote]

Has any of you guys taken a nursing course known as medical surgical nursing (i.e. medsur for short).....WAIT!!! This is a nursing forum so of course you have! 🙂 My question to those who have survived the course is: What makes medsurg so challenging and why? I know several people who ordered test banks in the first couple of weeks of class. In fact, I recently came across a new one that was just made.....

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[zenman]

I'd rather go back into the Army than work med/surg again. I've seen good ICU nurses fall apart when pulled to a med/surg unit.

 

[AbbyNormal]

I have ~25 years experience in critical care as paramedic, then critical care nurse and was comfortable with pretty much everything except burns and head trauma w/ ICP monitoring. Or so I thought. I agreed to float one shift to an oncology unit and spent 3/4 of my time looking up the meds that I knew nothing about. 😱

 

[fab4fan]

I have ~25 years experience in critical care as paramedic, then critical care nurse and was comfortable with pretty much everything except burns and head trauma w/ ICP monitoring. Or so I thought. I agreed to float one shift to an oncology unit and spent 3/4 of my time looking up the meds that I knew nothing about. 😱

They're always coming up with new stuff, too. It's maddening trying to keep up with it.

 

[oldiebutgoodie]

They're always coming up with new stuff, too. It's maddening trying to keep up with it.

Shoot! It's easy. First of all, on my floor, everybody was over 70. There were just a few diagnoses:

1. Altered mental status
2. Arthritis + gout + chronic kidney disease + hypertension
3. Hypertension + diabetes + morbid obesity
4. Diarrhea (usually c. diff) from antibiotics from UTI + pneumonia

Of course, feel free to add dementia, more diabetes, and more HTN to all diagnoses.

Just learn statins, BP meds, pain meds, Flagyl + Vanco for c. diff, don't forget Namenda for dementia!

Okay, I lied. It was a nightmare.

Oldiebutgoodie

 

[fab4fan]

Shoot! It's easy. First of all, on my floor, everybody was over 70. There were just a few diagnoses:

1. Altered mental status
2. Arthritis + gout + chronic kidney disease + hypertension
3. Hypertension + diabetes + morbid obesity
4. Diarrhea (usually c. diff) from antibiotics from UTI + pneumonia

Of course, feel free to add dementia, more diabetes, and more HTN to all diagnoses.

Just learn statins, BP meds, pain meds, Flagyl + Vanco for c. diff, don't forget Namenda for dementia!

Okay, I lied. It was a nightmare.

Oldiebutgoodie

Actually, I was referring to oncology. Every time you turn around, there's a new kid on the block when it comes to chemo.

But it would be my worst nightmare to go back to med-surg. No, my worst nightmare would be OB. I would run screaming from that.

 

[oldiebutgoodie]

Actually, I was referring to oncology. Every time you turn around, there's a new kid on the block when it comes to chemo.

But it would be my worst nightmare to go back to med-surg. No, my worst nightmare would be OB. I would run screaming from that.

Yeah, OB (esp mother-baby) is bad. Either the patients are entitled and have a "birth plan" involving god only knows what, or are 14 and clueless.

 

[Smb8041]

To the OP, I believe you're asking about the tests in school. For med/surg, I would suggest you get an NCLEX review book and start doing questions. The more questions you practice, the familiar you'll get with the type of answer they're looking for. Also, with med/surg disorders, make sure you have a really good understanding of the A&P before you delve into nursing care, meds given, ect. I liked to go on youtube and search for the disorder to get a better understanding of it. I am a visual learner, so I try to Youtube any disorder I am trying to get a better understanding about. Hope this helps!!! Good luck!