Learning can be fun!

The online resources that come with our Lewis book include Web links to lots of good additional information. People are always trying to explain complicated stuff in creative, new ways. I am grateful they do! Here's just a sample of supplementary information you can find on the Evolve site:

HIV Infection Overview (from Cell's Alive!) with animations and video clips

Cell-mediated and humoral immunity - includes a good visual of different types of cells

Immune System Defender Game - well-done, and fun!

Cartoon-like illustrations - from NobelPrize.org - the cells in the immune system with clear, simple descriptions. Highly recommended for anyone who's having trouble picturing things (like me!).

Tootsie Pops = viruses: an immunologist's "dumbed-down" description of the cells of the immune system and HIV. (Not too dumbed down for me, though. I need this sort of thing to reach those occasional "aha" moments!)

Fluid, Immune response and HIV

One click away from questions! Oh the excitement!!

Fluids
Disorders of Fluid Volume, Osmolality, and Electrolytes
Immunoglobulins
How the Immune System Protects
MedSurg Immune Responses
Inflammation and Infection
Immune Response and Inflammation
Autoimmunity
Infection Interventions
Inflammation and the Immune Response
Med Surg and HIV
HIV

Test Taking Tips for Nursing Students

• The key is to move quickly but carefully through each question. If you miss one important word, the whole meaning of the question could be changed.
• Don't spend too much time on any one question -- skip the hard questions (or take a guess, and mark them) and then come back, if you have the time.
• Before you look at the answer choices, try to understand what the question is asking – is it an assessment question? Does it relate to another stage in the nursing process? Is patient safety an issue? Identify key words in the stem that may set a priority, indicate negative polarity, etc.
• Also – before looking at your choices – try to think of what YOU would do, THEN look at them. Maybe the one you thought of is there.
• There are many people who will advise that your first choice is usually right. If you find that you're second-guessing yourself, and going back to change answers, only to discover that you've changed to the wrong choice, this one may apply to you!
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a good guideline, where basic physiological needs come first.
• Remember your ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation). Anything related to oxygenation is usually the #1 priority.
• Positioning can be big, too. Especially if the patient is at risk for aspiration.
• Therapeutic communication is also an area you'll encounter again and again. Be sure you recognize the hallmarks of therapeutic communication. The answers that sound client-centered, respectful, and promote maximum client independence are usually your best bet.
• Practice doing NCLEX-style questions every day (Bonnie Boss recommends a minimum of 10 a day). For starters, do the questions in your textbook, accompanying study guide and using online resources from the publisher that relate to the chapters you're studying.
  
  Other good resources for test-taking:
• Book: Test Success – Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students (authors: Patricia M. Nugent and Barbara A. Vitale). The whole book is good, but Chapter 7 (Test-taking techniques) is especially good for helping you to analyze questions.
• Free online: Top Ten Test-Taking Tips (Link to: Evolve student development videos) with Linda Anne Silvestri
• Interactive tutorial: MEDS Successful Problem Solving and Test-Taking for Beginning Nursing Students (This tutorial software is available on the medspub.com site or free in the computer lab)

SNA Meeting Minutes

We had a GREAT turnout at the most recent SNA meeting, which provided all those who attended some great tips on how to survive different semesters in the nursing program. Here are the minutes from that meeting.

SNA Meeting Minutes for March 24th

Meeting began at 1305
I. Continued research on fundraising and community service projects
II. NSSP – Robin Shum and LaShonna Parker–
a. Stress Management – time is a big factor
i. I’M SOR
1. Identify goals in life, what do you like? (*if you enjoy what you are doing, your stress will be lower. Have a positive attitude!)
a. Don’t get too worried about details. Look at big picture.
b. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete assignments/study.
2. Modify
3. Simplify
4. Organize – split up your time accordingly
a. Planner
b. Look at one week. How much time did you spend on different activities? Analyze it.
c. Modify your lifestyle to make best use of your time and reduce stress.
i. Grocery stores not as full at night (time saver!)
ii. There is always a solution to things that happen in life. Don’t let stress affect your health.
iii. Planning doesn’t mean anything unless you take action.
5. Recognize
**I LIKE NURSING!!
**Knowing and not doing is like not knowing. (I like that!)
ii. Relaxation and Health
1. eating habits – eat breakfast
2. get exercise
3. emotional health is important
4. schedule time for yourself to sit still or do something you enjoy
5. relaxing music
III. Danielle Mathias-Lamb
a. Don’t study more, study smarter
b. Nursing 4 very important!!
c. Know how theory applies to real world
i. Ask questions to instructors and nurses
d. Keep pamphlets that can and will come up again in later classes
i. Organized into body systems or what will work for you
e. grasp the concepts, everything else will follow
f. Books that helped Danielle
i. Critical Care Nursing Care Plan, 2nd Ed. - Delmar
ii. Study guide for Medical-surgical Nursing; Critical thinking in client Care, 3rd ed. – Lemone/Burke
iii. Nursing Diagnoses reference manual, 5th ed. – sparks/taylor
iv. Illustrated Study guide for the NCLEX – RN exam, 6th ed - Mosby
v. Memory notecards – pathophysiology and fluids and electrolytes (Mosby’s)
IV. Erin Shelby
a. Use your resources/study guides!!
b. It is very beneficial to study in groups
c. Prioritize
d. DON’T STRESS!!
e. Theory is only a few hours a week vs 12-20 hours of clinicals.
i. Get through theory and focus your learning on clinicals.
V. Ana Hernandez
a. Study smart!! – article, “Undergraduate Medical Education is NOT Rocket Science: But that does NOT mean it’s easy!
VI. Questions
a. Nursing 4?
i. Romena’s lectures follow the textbook
ii. Use study guide that goes with Lewis textbook.
1. It is a guideline for what to study
2. Why are the answers in the study guide wrong (not just right)
3. You may not get to all reading, doing questions, look at tables is good
4. Taking tests in nursing skills lab
b. don’t wait until you are failing to speak with the Nursing Student Success program
c. Everyone learns different, so find the person who learns how you learn.
VII. Nominations for SNA Leadership Award
a. Majority vote for Danielle Mathias-Lamb and Nicole Porter to be given award
VIII. Raffle
IX. 4th semester students, Nicole Porter and Danielle Mathias-Lamb requested funds from SNA for graduation flowers. TBD at next SNA meeting
Meeting adjourned at 1435

Using SBAR for more effective professional communication

SBAR is a standardized way of communicating with other healthcare givers. It promotes patient safety because it helps physicians and nurses communicate with each other. Staff and physicians can use SBAR to share what information is important about a patient. It improves efficiency because this standardized form of communication helps caregivers speak about patients in a concise and complete way.

Utilized extensively in medicine, and originating from the nuclear submarine service, SBAR stands for:

• Situation
• Background
• Assessment
• Recommendation

A sample of how to use SBAR

Talking the Talk — Hospitals Use SBAR to Standardize Communication (from NurseWeek)

Good stuff

The student development site from Evolve offers nursing students tips on time management, test-taking, and includes some nifty printable "quick reference guides" at the bottom. Try it, you'll like it...

Hi guys going into Nursing 4. If I did it than you all definately can do it. I am available if anyone needs help.....it's all still somewhat fresh in my mind! Good luck all, I will be enjoying Mental Health....Whew!

Maureen

N-04, the very LAST day at Dameron. A few of us are missing... SHAME ON YOU, Michael!

SNA Agenda for March 24th

I. Community service projects
a. Canned food drive
b. Family ties
c. March of dimes
i. Support Delta Heat, represent SNA
ii. May 17th, Weber Point Event Center – 221 North

Center St.
d. Cystic fibrosis walk

II. Fundraising projects
a. Cell phone/toner collection
b. Donating back for dinner after pinning ceremony – Outback Steakhouse, BJ’s, Elephant

Bar, Bud’s, etc
c. Donating back if delta student eats at Baja Fresh (or other eatery)

III. Danielle Mathias-Lamb (4th semester student)

IV. Erin Shelby (3rd semester student)

V. Kristin Morone, Lisa Newbold, Michael Dorsey, Trina Eagal (2nd semester students)

VI. Q&A

VII. Confirm nominations for SNA Leadership Award (Nicole Porter and Danielle Mathias – Lamb)
a. Any other nominations
b. Vote

VIII. Raffle

Nursing 4: Cranial Nerves

Nursing 4 will add cranial nerves to the health assessment.

I - Olfactory - smell
II - Optic - vison
III - Oculomotor - most eye muscles
IV - Trochlear - superior oblique
V - Trigeminal - facial sensation or muscles of mastication
VI - Abducens - lateral rectus
VII - Facial - facial expression or taste
VIII - auditory/hearing or balance
IX - Glossopharyngeal - pharynx sensation
X - Vagus - pharynx and larynx muscles
XI - Accessory - trapezius and sternocleidomastoid
XII - Hypoglossal - tongue muscles

The classic mnemonic students use to memorize the 12 cranial nerves in order is: On Old Olympic Towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops

Here's some general information:
Cranial Nerves
Review Information

Assessing cranial nerves - demonstration videos:
Cranial Nerve I (Olfactory)
II (Optic): Visual acuity, pupillary light reflex
III, IV and VI (Oculomotor, trochlear and abducens)
V and VII (Trigeminal and facial)
Abnormal Cranial Nerve VII (sensory, taste)
VIII (Acoustic)
IX, X, XI and XII

ANA giving free access to "Members Only" Nursingworld.org!

Click on this link to sign up for free membership to ANA's Nursingworld.org
It is a great site with articles, policies, interviews and other great stuff that we can get free!

http://www.cnsa.org/ANA.html