I was driving over to the clinical site when I get a phone call. Unfamiliar number, but I answer it anyways.

“Hey ST, good thing I got you. Listen, sorry that I’m getting ahold of you so late… but I’m sick. I tried to come in, but I just felt worse.”

HOORAY!!!

“I’ve been trying to get a hold of the rest of the group, but I haven’t got through. They’re probably all inside waiting for me…”

HOORAY!!! Er… Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll let them all know what’s going on. HOORAY!!!

“Thanks alot. Sorry again for the last minute call… but these things happen. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

An unexpected and very welcome surprise. I was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing all the assignments that were due today. I am currently running on a little over 2 hours sleep. I walked inside and let everyone know that clinical was cancelled. Their first response?

“Ha ha… very funny.”

No really… get out of here. She’s not coming in.

When it finally sunk in, their next response was something like this:

“We can go shopping!!”

So that has been my day so far. I went over to the mall, not for some clothes shopping, but to hit up Barnes & Noble. I figured since I was in a state of delirum I could at least be studious about it.

Turns out that B&N doesn’t open until ten. Well over an hour to wait. So now I’m at home, and ready to crawl into bed.

Good day. Good night.

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A pregnant woman is hospitalized for treatment of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) in the third trimester. She is receiving magnesium sulfate intravenously. A nurse understands that this medication is used mainly for what purpose?

1. Maintain normal blood pressure
2. Prevent convulsive seizures
3. Decrease the respiratory rate
4. Increase uterine blood flow

The correct answer is: 2 – Prevent convulsive seizures

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A nurse is beginning nutritional counseling/teaching with a pregnant woman. What is the initial step in this interaction?

1. Teach her how to meet the needs of self and her family.
2. Explain the changes in diet necessary for pregnant women.
3. Question her understanding and use of the food pyramid.
4. Conduct a diet history to determine her normal eating routines.

The correct answer is: 4 – Conduct a diet history to determine her normal eating routines

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A nurse is teaching a group of college students about breast self-examination. A student asks for the best time to perform the monthly self-exam. What is the best reply by the nurse?

1. The first of every month, because it is easiest to remember
2. Right after the period ends, when your breasts are less tender
3. Do the exam at the same day and time every month
4. Ovulation, or mid-cycle is the best time to detect changes

The correct answer is: 2 – Right after the period ends, when your breasts are less tender

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A nurse is caring for a client with active tuberculosis and has a history of noncompliance. Which of these actions by the nurse would represent appropriate care for this client?

1. Instruct the client to wear a high efficiency particulate air mask in public places.
2. Ask a family member to supervise daily compliance
3. Schedule weekly clinic visits for the client
4. Ask the health care provider to change the regimen to fewer medications

The correct answer is: 2 – Ask a family member to supervise daily compliance

I thought this was a pretty clear cut question. Patient is non-compliant, so that knocks out answer 1.  Answer 3  still wouldn’t resolve the non-compliance, so that goes by the wayside. Answer 4 is saying that the regimen should be reduced, which has nothing to do with compliance. All that’s left is answer 2.

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A pregnant client who is at 34 weeks gestation is diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE). Which of these medications should a nurse anticipate the health care provider will order?

1. Oral Coumadin therapy every other day
2. Heparin 5000 units subcutaneously BID
3. Heparin infusion to maintain the PTT at 1.5 to 2.5 times the control value
4. Heparin by subcutaneous injection to maintain the PTT at 1.5 times the control value

The correct answer is – 4 – Heparin by subcutaneous injection to maintain the PTT at 1.5 times the control value

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A nurse is teaching a client about precautions with Coumadin therapy. The client should be instructed to avoid which over-the-counter medication?

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
2. Cough medicines with guaifenesin
3. Histamine blockers
4. Laxatives containing magnesium salts

The correct answer is: 1 – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Here is the weekly question posted on the NCSBN Learning Extension:

A nurse is caring for a client with a deep vein thrombosis. Which finding would require the nurse’s immediate attention?

1. Temperature of 102 F
2. Pulse rate of 98 bpm
3. Respiratory rate of 32r
4. Blood pressure of 90/50

The correct answer is: 3 – respiratory rate of 32r

When you are cleaning out your patient’s puke bucket in the bathroom, make sure you shut the door to spare those walking by of the smell. Also, try to muffle the gagging noises as you measure the emesis, note the color, dump and then clean everything. The patient probably didn’t hear, but it’s still not nice.

I think it’s a lot more about making good guesses than studying everything.

After the last month of doing hardly anything, going back to the old structure of learning proved to be difficult. My head is so not into it right now, and I find that I have to push myself to study. Our first test was on Musculoskeletal and Immune systems. I flew through the MS stuff, but I started to lose focus with the immune system. It was just so many numbers to remember and drugs and which tests to watch for… I finally said screw it. I walked into that test knowing the answers to less than half of them, and guessing on all the rest.

Woohoo! Passed!

The second exam, which covered Cardiovascular and GI, was more of the same- forcing myself to study only to give up the weekend before the test. Answered what I definitely knew… guessed on all the rest.

Woohoo! Pass #2!

This does not mean I will the very same for exam three. I got out of clinical extra early today, so perhaps it would be a good idea to knock out the first half of the info for the test. Everyone else in my clinical group seems to do that- keep their notes under the patient’s chart and study study study.