How to Study for Medical-Surgical Nursing

Presenter: Registered Nurse Orient Comm

Introduction

• Discussed methods for studying medical-surgical nursing.
• Explained why students struggle.
• Covered common mistakes and how to study effectively.
• Provided a sample topic breakdown and test question.

Why Students Struggle

• Medical-surgical nursing requires integration of knowledge from pathophysiology, pharmacology, and fundamentals of nursing.
• Introduction to NCLEX-style questions, which need critical thinking skills rather than mere memorization.
• Students often try to memorize instead of understanding the material.

Common Mistakes

1. Reading Every Chapter:
   • Inefficient and overwhelming due to the vast amount of material.
   • Suggested strategies to extract key information instead.
2. Difficulty with NCLEX Questions:
   • Recommended checking out a video on strategies to answer NCLEX questions.
3. Lack of True Understanding:
   • Example: Understanding congestive heart failure deeply helps grasp medication needs and nursing interventions.
4. Not Enough Study Time:
   • Suggested organizing time and using planners effectively.

Study Strategies

1. Identify Your Learning Style:
   • Visual, auditory, tactile, or read/write learner.
   • Tailor study methods accordingly.
2. Use Study Guides:
   • Professors often provide study guides highlighting key concepts.
   • Recommended study guides:
     • Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review Guide
     • Medical-Surgical Made Incredibly Easy
     • Pearson Review and Rationales for Medical-Surgical Nursing.
3. Organize Resources:
   • Use textbooks, classroom notes, PowerPoints, and study guides effectively.
   • Focus on key concepts and highlights in these resources.
4. Utilize YouTube and Practice Questions:
   • Watch videos for better understanding of difficult concepts.
   • Practice NCLEX questions regularly to develop strategies and familiarity.

Example Topic: Pneumothorax

• Study Guide and Class Note Comparison:
  • Focus on pathophysiology, causes, assessment findings, nursing interventions, and test orders.
  • Highlight similarities between class notes and study guide details.

Sample Test Question

• Scenario: Blunt trauma to the chest leading to suspected tension pneumothorax.
• Assessment Findings:
  • No breath sounds on one side, low oxygen saturation, high heart rate.
• Question Analysis:
  • Evaluate each option for its truth and relevance to the condition.
  • Correct answer: Deviated trachea on the right side.

Conclusion

• Focus on critical areas, utilize study guides, and practice NCLEX questions.
• Recommended checking out additional videos for other nursing classes.

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