Shortly after embarking on the Excelsior nursing adventure I realized that the volume of information to digest was overwhelming. Required reading, Study Guide 101, practice exams, youtube videos, etc. The amount of resources available to independent learners is at times staggering and at other times disappointing and frustrating. I was finding myself having to hunt down lectures as well because I am much more of a classroom learner.
On this blog I am including my own personal notes from the required reading along with any useful youtube videos I find. Feel free to use any of this information as an adjunct to your own studying. The best method I have found to prepare is to complete the required reading then pick apart the practice questions on both practice exams.
Example of how I break down the practice exam:
(the following question is taken directly from Saunders NCLEX Prep, 6th ed., pg 398)
345. The nurse in a newborn nursery is monitoring a preterm newborn for respiratory distress syndrome. Which assessment findings would alert the nurse to the possibility of this syndrome?
- tachypnea and retractions
- acrocyanosis and grunting
- hypotension and bradycardia
- presence of a barrel chest and acrocyanosis
The first step I take is to define respiratory distress syndrome in newborns and look up everything I can about it in the required reading. After that do the same thing with all the terms in the answers (tachypnea, retractions, acrocyanosis, grunting, hypotension, bradycardia, barrel chest). Now I am prepared for that question in any form.
In the right column you will find a list of the courses. In each courses 'page' you will find all related notes and videos I use for that specific course.
So far I have completed A&P and Transitions. I will be adding my notes from Transitions soon.
So far I have completed A&P and Transitions. I will be adding my notes from Transitions soon.
